---
title: "2 Central government Quotes By Lord Acton"
description: "2 Central government quotes by Lord Acton. Plus more from Lord Acton and more Central government sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/lord-acton-3040_absolute-power_federalism-is-the-best-curb-on-democracy_1200713.jpg"
---

> [ 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. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/federalism-is-the-best-curb-on-democracy-it-assigns-limited-powers-to/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/lord-acton-3040_absolute-power_federalism-is-the-best-curb-on-democracy_1200713.jpg)

> [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-true-natural-check-on-absolute-democracy-is-the-federal-system/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/lord-acton-3040_absolutes_the-true-natural-check-on-absolute-democ_2810480.png)

## More 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-history-of-institutions-is-often-a-history-of-deception-and/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-liberal-is-only-a-bundle-of-prejudices-until-he-has-mastered-has/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/fanaticism-displays-itself-in-the-masses-but-the-masses-were-rarely/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/in-england-parliament-is-above-the-law-in-america-the-law-is-above/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-is-not-a-more-perilous-or-immoral-habit-of-mind-than-the/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [Towns were the nursery of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/towns-were-the-nursery-of-freedom/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/it-was-from-america-that-the-plain-ideas-that-men-ought-to-mind-their/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/character-is-tested-by-true-sentiments-more-than-by-conduct-a-man-is/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-and-good-government-do-not-exclude-each-other-and-there-are/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [The test of liberty is the position and security of minorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-test-of-liberty-is-the-position-and-security-of-minorities/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-common-vice-of-democracy-is-disregard-for-morality/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [Feudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/feudalism-made-land-the-measure-and-the-master-of-all-things/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [“power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutley”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/power-corrupts-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutley/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

> [There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-are-many-things-the-government-cant-do-many-good-purposes-it/)

[Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/)

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