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Lord Acton

Lord Acton Quotes

Author

British historian and political theorist, renowned for his profound insights into the relationship between freedom, power, and corruption. Lord Acton was one of the most influential thinkers of the Victorian era, and his works are still widely cited today.

Famous Lord Acton Quotes

“A government does not desire its powers to be strictly defined, but the subjects require the line to be drawn with increasing precision.”

Doe Government Desire Lines Subjects Defined Precision

Book:The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

Source: The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

“Do not turn yourself from an end into a means-one does not justify the other.”

Mean Doe Ends Turns Justify

Author:Lord Acton

“Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.”

Doe Shows Reality Political Justice Secret Atheism Bears Safe Administration Discussion Secrecy Publicity Degenerates Administration Of Justice

Author:Lord Acton

“A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.”

“There is not a soul who does not have to beg alms of another, either a smile, a handshake, or a fond eye.”

Doe Soul Eye Smile Affection Alms Handshake

Author:Lord Acton

“Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.”

Doe Force Liberty Authority

Author:Lord Acton

“Live both in the future and the past. Who does not live in the past does not live in the future.”

Author:Lord Acton

“A public man has no right to let his actions be determined by particular interests. He does the same thing as a judge who accepts a bribe. Like a judge he must consider what is right, not what is advantageous to a party or class.”

Men Doe Action Interest Party Accepting Class Particular Judging Determined Bribe

Author:Lord Acton

About the Author

Born: January 10, 1834
Died: June 19, 1902
Known for: Author
Quotes: 153

Related Topics

Men Liberty Political Government Absolutes Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Authority Democracy Absolute Power People States Ends Doe Ideas Politics Power Corrupts Has Beens History Mean Morality

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The History of Freedom (and other Essays)Related source material

The History of Freedom: Great EventRelated source material

Lectures on Modern History: Great EventRelated source material

Historical Essays and Studies: Great EventRelated source material

Lectures on Modern HistoryRelated source material

Lectures on the French RevolutionRelated source material

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