---
title: "4 John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Quotes"
description: "John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli,, better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, Liberal p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-ac_environment_history-must-be-our-deliverer-not-only-f_317543.jpg"
---

# John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

 **4** quotes in **12** categories

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John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli,, better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, Liberal politician, and writer. A strong advocate for individual liberty, Acton is best known for his observation on the dangers of concentrated authority. I

##  Quotes by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

> [History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/history-must-be-our-deliverer-not-only-from-the-undue-influence-of/)

[John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/)

[Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-ac_environment_history-must-be-our-deliverer-not-only-f_317543.jpg)

> [Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/everything-secret-degenerates-even-the-administration-of-justice/)

[John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/)

[Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-ac_justice_everything-secret-degenerates-even-the-a_1404760.jpg)

> [And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentration-of-power-in-a-few-hands-2/)

[John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/)

[Absolute power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-power/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-ac_absolute-power_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_2334143.jpg)

> [Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favorites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/be-not-content-with-the-best-book-seek-sidelights-from-the-others-2/)

[John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-acton-2/)

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/john-emerich-edward-dalberg-ac_books_be-not-content-with-the-best-book-seek-s_2769201.jpg)

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