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In every age its (liberty's) progress has been beset by its natural enemies, by ignorance and superstition, by lust of conquest and by love of ease, by the strong man's craving for power, and the poor man's craving for food

Lord Acton

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More quotes by Lord Acton

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The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority.
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The law of liberty tends to abolish the reign of race over race, of faith over faith, of class over class. It is not the realisation of a political ideal: it is the discharge of a moral obligation.
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The true natural check on absolute democracy is the federal system, which limits the central government by the powers reserved, and the state governments by the powers they have ceded.
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The true guide of our conduct is no outward authority, but the voice of God, who comes down to dwell in our souls, who knows all our thoughts, to whom are owing all the truth we know, and all the good we do for vice is voluntary, and virtue comes from the grace of the heavenly spirit within.
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Remember that one touch of ill-nature makes the whole world kin.
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History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.
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Monarchy hardens into despotism. Aristocracy contracts into oligarchy. Democracy expands into the supremacy of numbers.
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The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks.
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It is easier to find people fit to govern themselves than people fit to govern others.
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To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.
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Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.
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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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The State is competent to assign duties and draw the line between good and evil only in its immediate sphere. Beyond the limits of things necessary for its well-being, it can only give indirect help to fight the battle of life by promoting the influences which prevail against temptation--religion, education, and the distribution of wealth.
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From the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.
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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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Every error pronounces judgment on itself when it attempts to apply its rules to the standard of truth.
Lord Acton
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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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Political differences essentially depend on disagreement in moral principles.
Lord Acton
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Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
Lord Acton
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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.
Lord Acton