Home / Quotes / Quote by Lord Acton

Quote by Lord Acton

“It is easier to find people fit to govern themselves than people fit to govern others.”

Quote by Lord Acton

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. more

You May Also Like

“It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.”

People Ifs Play Mass Absolutes Majority Redemption Appeals Minorities Reserves Refuge Oppressed Treason Latent

Book:The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

Source: The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

“Moral precepts are constant through the ages and not obedient to circumstances.”

Age Moral Circumstances Constant Obedient

Author:Lord Acton

“A convinced man differs from a prejudiced man as an honest man from a liar.”

Men Honest Convinced Liars Honest Man

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

“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.”

States Government Natural Democracy Limits Absolutes Checks Reserved State Government Central Government

Book:Lectures on the French Revolution

Source: Lectures on the French Revolution

“Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. It is not for the sake of a good public administration that it is required, but for the security in the pursuit of the highest objects of civil society, and of private life.”

Mean Ends Political Liberty Security Objects Higher Highest Sake Pursuit Administration Private Life Civil Society

Book:The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

Source: The History of Freedom (and other Essays)

“There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It cannot feed the people. It cannot enrich the people. It cannot teach the people. It cannot convert the people.”

People Government Purpose Teach Enterprise Cant Renounce

Author:Lord Acton

“Britain, however, has ended up specializing in the ones you don't see as much of: defense aerospace, making drive shafts for cars, pills and drugs, designing chips that go into 94 percent of the world's mobile phones.”

World Car Design Drug Percent Phones Defense Britain Chips Pills Mobile Mobile Phones Aerospace

Author:Evan Davis

“I don't keep it secret that I live with my partner Gio. I'm very proud of my gayness. But there is lots I wouldn't want the press to write about me... it is a matter of regret that being gay is the most interesting thing about me.”

Want Writing Matter Interesting Secret Regret Proud Gay Presses Partners Most Interesting Interesting Things Being Gay Gayness

Author:Evan Davis

“Works of art make rules but rules do not make works of art.”

Art Musician Works Of Art Classical Music Composing Famous Musician Classical Composers

Author:Claude Debussy