Authority Quotes by Lord Acton

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

A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.

— Lord Acton

Every class is unfit to govern.

— Lord Acton

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

In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.

— Lord Acton

There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success.

— Lord Acton

Towns were the nursery of freedom.

— Lord Acton

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

Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.

— Lord Acton

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

The test of liberty is the position and security of minorities.

— Lord Acton

The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.

— Lord Acton