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Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism.

Lord Acton

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Lord Acton
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Political differences essentially depend on disagreement in moral principles.
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At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities.
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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.
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The strong man with the dagger is followed by the weak man with the sponge.
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Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime.
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Federalism is the best curb on democracy. [It] assigns limited powers to the central government. Thereby all power is limited. It excludes absolute power of the majority.
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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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The few have not strength to achieve great changes unaided the many have not wisdom to be moved by truth unmixed.
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There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.
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The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority.
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Every error pronounces judgment on itself when it attempts to apply its rules to the standard of truth.
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A man can be trusted only up to low-water mark.
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Many men can no more be kept straight by spiritual motives than we can live without policemen.
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