--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A public man has no right to let his…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/lord-acton-3040_accepting_a-public-man-has-no-right-to-let-his-act_2527548.png" --- # A public man has no right to let his actions be determined… ![“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.” quote by Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/lord-acton-3040_accepting_a-public-man-has-no-right-to-let-his-act_2527548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/lord-acton-3040_accepting_a-public-man-has-no-right-to-let-his-act_2527548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/lord-acton-3040_accepting_a-public-man-has-no-right-to-let-his-act_2527548.png) > “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.” [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A public figure must act based on principle, not special interests, like an unbiased judge. **In simple terms:** Public officials should prioritize right over advantage. Key Takeaway Uphold impartiality in service. Themes ethics politics integrity justice Mood cautious principled Type political ethical When to use this quote - government service - judicial decisions - policy making Key Concepts public duty conflict of interest Questions to Reflect On - How can we enforce impartiality? - What safeguards exist? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt even well‑intentioned officials. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Accepts Bribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepts-bribe-1311085/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-determined-1311086/) [Bribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribe/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Judge Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-consider-1311084/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Public Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-man-504452/) ## Related quotes > [In Russia no one is surprised when an official accepts a bribe while at the same time portraying the state as some sacred entity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/in-russia-no-one-is-surprised-when-an-official-accepts-a-bribe-while/) [Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/) > [“A man's actions are determined by necessity, external and internal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-man-s-actions-are-determined-by-necessity-external-and-internal/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In Gerald Ford, the man he was in public, he was also that man in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/in-gerald-ford-the-man-he-was-in-public-he-was-also-that-man-in/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) > [A public man must never forget that he loses his usefulness when he as an individual, rather than his policy, becomes the issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/a-public-man-must-never-forget-that-he-loses-his-usefulness-when-he/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Formerly, a public man needed a private secretary for a barrier between himself and the public. Nowadays he has a press secretary, to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/formerly-a-public-man-needed-a-private-secretary-for-a-barrier/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Several things about Reagan are unusual in a public man. He was not a typical politician at all, but a private man in public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/several-things-about-reagan-are-unusual-in-a-public-man-he-was-not-a/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [The cultivation of a hobby and new forms of interest is a policy of first importance to a public man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-cultivation-of-a-hobby-and-new-forms-of-interest-is-a-policy-of/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There are three ways to spoil a public man: women, gambling, and listening to experts. The first is the pleasantest, the second is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-pompidou/there-are-three-ways-to-spoil-a-public-man-women-gambling-and/) [Georges Pompidou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-pompidou/) > [The most powerful men are not public men: a public man is responsible, and a responsible man is a slave. It is private life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-most-powerful-men-are-not-public-men-a-public-man-is-responsible/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“I remember someone saying that the importance of any public man can be gauged by the number of mellifluous young men he has about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-remember-someone-saying-that-the-importance-of-any-public-man-can/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Courage is the essential element in any great public man or woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/courage-is-the-essential-element-in-any-great-public-man-or-woman/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [A man ain't got no right to be a public man, unless he meets the public views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-man-ain-t-got-no-right-to-be-a-public-man-unless-he-meets-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The public man needs but one patron, namely, the lucky moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-public-man-needs-but-one-patron-namely-the-lucky-moment/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-time-comes-upon-every-public-man-when-it-is-best-for-him-to-keep/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The gardener plants trees, not one berry of which he will ever see: and shall not a public man plant laws, institutions, government, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-gardener-plants-trees-not-one-berry-of-which-he-will-ever-see-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## 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/) [Explore all 141 Lord Acton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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