Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith. John Dalberg-Acton More Quotes by John Dalberg-Acton More Quotes From John Dalberg-Acton Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. John Dalberg-Acton corrupts corrupt power-corrupts power To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice. John Dalberg-Acton live look life past The greatest men, you can quote for everything. John Dalberg-Acton quote everything you men And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. John Dalberg-Acton you power men history The fate of every democracy, of every government based on the sovereignty of the people, depends on the choices it makes between these opposite principles, absolute power on the one hand, and on the other the restraints of legality and the authority of tradition. John Dalberg-Acton tradition democracy power people Save for the wild force of Nature, nothing moves in this world that is not Greek in its origin. John Dalberg-Acton wild nothing nature world The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers. John Dalberg-Acton short argument used long There is not a soul who does not have to beg alms of another, either a smile, a handshake, or a fond eye. John Dalberg-Acton who smile eye soul History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. John Dalberg-Acton memory burden soul history I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money. John Dalberg-Acton think money business beautiful Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes destitute, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality. John Dalberg-Acton man rich society evil The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections. John Dalberg-Acton fraud democracy party evil There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion. John Dalberg-Acton will development ignorance simple Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity. John Dalberg-Acton nothing how secret justice Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral laws are written on the table of eternity. John Dalberg-Acton moral change manners fall History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong. John Dalberg-Acton wrong compensation suffering history Liberty is the condition of duty, the guardian of conscience. It grows as conscience grows. The domains of both grow together. Liberty is safety from all hindrances, even sin. So that Liberty ends by being Free Will. John Dalberg-Acton grow free safety together Liberty is the prevention of control by others. John Dalberg-Acton others control prevention liberty Learn as much by writing as by reading. John Dalberg-Acton learn much learning reading writing There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men. John Dalberg-Acton among error find men
