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Fanaticism displays itself in the masses but the masses were rarely fanaticised and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations of dispassionate politicians.

Lord Acton

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Lord Acton
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A public man has no right to let his actions be determined by particular interests. He does the same thing as a judge who accepts a bribe. Like a judge he must consider what is right, not what is advantageous to a party or class.
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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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At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities.
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