Men cannot be made good by the state, but they can easily be made bad. Morality depends on liberty. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
A people averse to the institution of private property is without the first elements of freedom — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right to do what we ought. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion of equality made vain the hope for freedom. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime... — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty has not only enemies which it conquers, but perfidious friends, who rob the fruits of its victories: Absolute democracy, socialism. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
The law of liberty tends to abolish the reign of race over race, of faith over faith, of class over class. It… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes to be his duty against… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being. — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. It is not for the… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Whenever a single definite object is made the supreme end of the State, be it the advantage of a class, the safety… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
That great political idea, sanctifying freedom and consecrating it to God, teaching men to treasure the liberties of others as their own… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
The idea that the object of constitutions is not to confirm the predominance of any interest, but to prevent it; to preserve… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
I saw in States' rights the only availing check upon the absolutism of the sovereign will, and secession filled me with hope,… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the… — Lord Acton Copy Share Image
The history of institutions is often a history of deception and illusions; for their virtue depends on the ideas that produce and on the… — Lord Acton Copy Share
A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism. — Lord Acton Copy Share
Fanaticism displays itself in the masses; but the masses were rarely fanaticised; and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations… — Lord Acton Copy Share
In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress. — Lord Acton Copy Share
There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success. — Lord Acton Copy Share
It was from America that the plain ideas that men ought to mind their business, and that the nation is responsible to Heaven for… — Lord Acton Copy Share
Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word. — Lord Acton Copy Share
Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means… — Lord Acton Copy Share
There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It… — Lord Acton Copy Share
