John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton Quotes & Sayings

The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

When you perceive a truth, look for the balancing truth. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-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. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

The object of civil society is justice, not truth, virtue, wealth, knowledge, glory or power. Justice is followed by equality and liberty. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

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 Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutley — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Great men are almost always bad men. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Everybody likes to get as much power as circumstances allow, and nobody will vote for a self-denying ordinance. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

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 been sometimes disastrous, by giving to opponents just grounds of opposition, and by kindling dispute over the spoils in the hour of success. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Judge talent at its best but character at its worst. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton