158 Quotes by Lord Acton

History is not only a particular branch of knowledge, but a particular mode and method of knowledge in other branches.

History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.

Before God, there is neither Greek nor barbarian, neither rich nor poor, and the slave is as good as his master, for by birth all men are free; they are citizens of the universal commonwealth which embraces all the world, brethren of one family, and children of God.

Whenever a single definite object is made the supreme end of the State, be it the advantage of a class, the safety of the power of the country, the greatest happiness of the greatest number, or the support of any speculative idea, the State becomes for the time inevitably absolute. Liberty alone demands for its realization the limitation of the public authority, for liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition.

Writers the most learned, the most accurate in details, and the soundest in tendency, frequently fall into a habit which can neither be cured nor pardoned,-the habit of making history into the proof of their theories.

Before men can find peace and harmony within themselves they must first fall in love with their country.

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

By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes to be his duty against the influences of authority and majorities, custom and opinion.

No public character has ever stood the revelation of private utterance and correspondence.