The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern: every class is unfit to govern. 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 learning writing fall History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions. Lord Acton disputes opinion history 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 liberty political mean Good and evil lie close together. Seek no artistic unity in character. Lord Acton evil character lying 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 gold rivers past Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word. Lord Acton personality character men 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 trust judgement names Before men can find peace and harmony within themselves they must first fall in love with their country. Lord Acton falling-in-love peace country 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 political government teaching 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 subtle ends might 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 government space ideas At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities. Lord Acton triumph minorities liberty 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
