No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence. Lord Acton More Quotes by Lord Acton More Quotes From Lord Acton The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion of equality made vain the hope for freedom. Lord Acton passion freedom opportunity 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 minorities play people Progress, the religion of those who have none. Lord Acton progress Judge talent at its best and character at its worst. Lord Acton talent judging character Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism. Lord Acton victory democracy enemy 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 class men mean Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power -- power sufficient to interfere with property. Lord Acton execution socialism accepting 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 triumph minorities association If the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the safest and the surest emancipation. Lord Acton obstacles history past Fanaticism in religion is the alliance of the passions she condemns with the dogmas she professes. Lord Acton alliances dogma passion Moral precepts are constant through the ages and not obedient to circumstances. Lord Acton moral circumstances age A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism. Lord Acton bundles prejudice philosophy Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity. Lord Acton tables law fall Democracy generally monopolizes and concentrates power. Lord Acton democracy Learn as much by writing as by reading. Lord Acton reading spiritual writing I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money. Lord Acton funny-inspirational business beautiful 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 government purpose people There should be a law to the People besides its own will. Lord Acton should law people Liberty is the harmony between the will and the law. Lord Acton harmony liberty law There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success. Lord Acton politics political mind
