Feudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.
LORD ACTONFeudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.
LORD ACTONThe strong man with the dagger is followed by the weak man with the sponge.
LORD ACTONIn every age its progress has been beset by its natural enemies, by ignorance and superstition, by lust of conquest and by love of ease, by the strong man’s craving for power, and the poor man’s craving for food.
LORD ACTONIf some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. Nothing in the paper today, we sigh.
LORD ACTONPower tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
LORD ACTONIn every age its (liberty’s) progress has been beset by its natural enemies, by ignorance and superstition, by lust of conquest and by love of ease, by the strong man’s craving for power, and the poor man’s craving for food
LORD ACTONDo not turn yourself from an end into a means-one does not justify the other.
LORD ACTONAnd remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that.
LORD ACTONOfficial truth is not actual truth.
LORD ACTONCharacter is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.
LORD ACTONFor centuries it was never discovered that education was a function of the State, and the State never attempted to educate.
LORD ACTONOpinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity.
LORD ACTONDemocracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power.
LORD ACTONIf the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the safest and the surest emancipation.
LORD ACTONI have reached the end of my time, and have hardly come to the beginning of my task.
LORD ACTONBe not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites.
LORD ACTON