Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton More Quotes by Lord Acton More Quotes From Lord Acton 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. Lord Acton minoritiesplaypeople Progress, the religion of those who have none. Lord Acton progress Judge talent at its best and character at its worst. Lord Acton talentjudgingcharacter Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism. Lord Acton victorydemocracyenemy Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. ~ Every class is unfit to govern ... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. Lord Acton classmenmean Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power -- power sufficient to interfere with property. Lord Acton executionsocialismaccepting At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has sometimes been disastrous. Lord Acton triumphminoritiesassociation If the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the safest and the surest emancipation. Lord Acton obstacleshistorypast Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes. Lord Acton alliancesdogmapassion Moral precepts are constant through the ages and not obedient to circumstances. Lord Acton moralcircumstancesage A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism. Lord Acton bundlesprejudicephilosophy Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity. Lord Acton tableslawfall Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power. Lord Acton democracy Learn as much by writing as by reading. Lord Acton readingspiritualwriting I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money. Lord Acton funny-inspirationalbusinessbeautiful 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. Lord Acton governmentpurposepeople There should be a law to the People besides its own will. Lord Acton shouldlawpeople Liberty is the harmony between the will and the law. Lord Acton harmonylibertylaw There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success. Lord Acton politicspoliticalmind The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality. Lord Acton moralitydemocracyvices
