The true natural check on absolute democracy is the federal system, which limits the central government by the powers reserved, and the state governments by the powers they have ceded.
LORD ACTONPiety sometimes gives birth to scruples, and faith to superstition, when they are not directed by wisdom and knowledge.
More Lord Acton Quotes
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Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power — power sufficient to interfere with property.
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At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities.
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I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favorable presumption that they do no wrong.
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In 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
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The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion of equality made vain the hope for freedom.
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To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.
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Men cannot be made good by the state, but they can easily be made bad. Morality depends on liberty.
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Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes.
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Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.
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Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.
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Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together.
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Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.
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The possession of unlimited power corrodes the conscience, hardens the heart, and confounds the understanding.
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And 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.
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Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.
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