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Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

Lord Acton

The science of politics is the one science that is deposited by the streams of history, like the grains of gold in the sand of a river; and the knowledge of the past, the record of truths revealed by experience, is eminently practical, as an instrument of action and a power that goes to making the future.
LORD ACTON

Gold Grainm Stream Knowledge Past Politics River Rivers Sand Science
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.
LORD ACTON

Authority Essential Limitation
Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
LORD ACTON

Almost Always Authority Great Influence Men Stillmore
Liberty is the prevention of control by others.
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Control Liberty Other Prevention
Men cannot be made good by the state, but they can easily be made bad. Morality depends on liberty.
LORD ACTON

Bad Easily Good Made Men State
In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.
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Above Congress Country Law Parliament Place
I’m not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money.
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Beautiful Business Funny Inspirational Money
A generous spirit prefers that his country should be poor, and weak, and of no account, but free, rather than powerful, prosperous, and enslaved.
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Account Country Ensalve Generous Powerful Spirit
A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.
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Both Different Fool Last Once Person Same Time Wise
For centuries it was never discovered that education was a function of the State, and the State never attempted to educate.
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Absolutism Attempt Century Children Discover Function Government Modern Opposite State
Political differences essentially depend on disagreement in moral principles.
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Differences Disagreement Essential Moral Political Principles
Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.
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Control Liberty Other Prevention
Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes.
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Alliances Dogma Fanaticism Passion Professes Religious
The minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
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Absolute Appear Entire Minority People Redemption Resist Seldom Treason
There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.
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Ablest Defender Error Failing Men Monstrous
Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.
LORD ACTON

Administration Different Discussion Justice Political Publicity Reality

Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

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Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

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