---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And remember, where you have a…"
description: "\"And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png"
---

#  And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a…

![“And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that.” quote by Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png)

> “And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that.”

[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.

When power concentrates among few, it often attracts ruthless, self‑serving individuals, leading to abuse and oppression.

**In simple terms:** Concentrated power invites corrupt leaders.

Key Takeaway

Guard against power concentration.

Themes

politics power corruption

Mood

serious analytical

Type

historical warning

When to use this quote

- government
- corporate board
- media monopoly
- community leadership

Key Concepts

elite control gangster mentality historical cycles

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies limit power concentration?
- What safeguards are effective?

A Different Perspective

Power can be checked by transparency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Gangsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsters/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/)

## Related quotes

> [And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control.…](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

> [“I certainly didn't look like a gangster, but I had a gangster mentality. Gangsters only care about themselves and theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/i-certainly-didn-t-look-like-a-gangster-but-i-had-a-gangster/)

[Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/)

> [Whatever reforms are carried out in the economy, without deep going changes in men?s mentality ? in their opinion about femininity ? women?s equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/whatever-reforms-are-carried-out-in-the-economy-without-deep-going-2/)

[Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/)

> ['The Godfather' changed the way gangsters acted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vincent/the-godfather-changed-the-way-gangsters-acted/)

[Frank Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vincent/)

> [First you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/first-you-get-the-sugar-then-you-get-the-power-then-you-get-the-women/)

[Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/)

> [I always think that politicians are worse than the baddest gangsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-cole/i-always-think-that-politicians-are-worse-than-the-baddest-gangsters/)

[Finn Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-cole/)

> [Especially in gangster films, with the gangster's moll - she would always be more or less of an object. And I'm not convinced of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/especially-in-gangster-films-with-the-gangster-s-moll-she-would/)

[Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/)

> [The FBI was formed because the gangsters were better armed, better financed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/the-fbi-was-formed-because-the-gangsters-were-better-armed-better/)

[Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/)

> [I so wreak of logic and commonsense that it is obviously very refreshing in this world of otherwise soulless politically correct denial and dishonesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-so-wreak-of-logic-and-commonsense-that-it-is-obviously-very/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [Visually I've always liked the 20s 30s for film. I do these because I like the music. I like the clothes. I like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/visually-i-ve-always-liked-the-20s-30s-for-film-i-do-these-because-i/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [God knows America would be the greatest again if she operated like the Nugent family. No takers, no whiners, no gangsters, no dopers, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/god-knows-america-would-be-the-greatest-again-if-she-operated-like/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [I am the epitome of the underdog. By societies standards I should have been dead a long time ago, and I was nobody's gangster,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-am-the-epitome-of-the-underdog-by-societies-standards-i-should-have/)

[Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/)

> [Virginia Woolf was one example. She was called the "Lover of 100 Gangsters."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/virginia-woolf-was-one-example-she-was-called-the-lover-of-100/)

[Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/)

> [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [You know, I often thought that the gangster and the artist are the same in the eyes of the masses. They're admired and hero-worshipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/you-know-i-often-thought-that-the-gangster-and-the-artist-are-the/)

[Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/)

## 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 Concentration quotes

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/)

[Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/)

> [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/)

Ferguson Jenkins

> [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/)

[Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/)

> [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/)

[Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/)

> [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation—choosing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gawler/mindfulness-develops-attention-concentration-and-the-ability-to/)

Ian Gawler

> [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/)

[Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/)

> [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/)

[Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/)

> [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles… So my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/our-mind-is-a-flowing-something-it-oscillates-concentration-is-merely/)

[Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/)

[Browse all 1,154 Concentration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lord Acton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentration-of-power-in-a-few-hands/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Concentration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentration-of-power-in-a-few-hands/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/lord-acton-3040_concentration_and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentrat_1007316.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the…” — Lord Acton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lord Acton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "And remember, where you have a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentration-of-power-in-a-few-hands/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/and-remember-where-you-have-a-concentration-of-power-in-a-few-hands/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
