Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought. Lord Acton More Quotes by Lord Acton More Quotes From Lord Acton Writers the most learned, the most accurate in details, and the soundest in tendency, frequently fall into a habit which can neither be cured nor pardoned,-the habit of making history into the proof of their theories. Lord Acton learningwritingfall History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions. Lord Acton disputesopinionhistory 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. Lord Acton libertypoliticalmean Good and evil lie close together. Seek no artistic unity in character. Lord Acton evilcharacterlying 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 goldriverspast Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word. Lord Acton personalitycharactermen Guard against the prestige of great names; see that your judgments are your own; and do not shrink from disagreement; no trusting without testing Lord Acton trustjudgementnames Before men can find peace and harmony within themselves they must first fall in love with their country. Lord Acton falling-in-lovepeacecountry Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith. Lord Acton politicalgovernmentteaching A history that should pursue all the subtle threads from end to end might be eminently valuable, but not as a tribute to peace and conciliation. Lord Acton subtleendsmight Government by idea tends to take in everything, to make the whole of society obedient to the idea. Spaces not so governed are unconquered, beyond the border, unconverted, a future danger. Lord Acton governmentspaceideas At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities. Lord Acton triumphminoritiesliberty Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral laws are written on the table of eternity. Lord Acton
