158 Quotes by Lord Acton

I have reached the end of my time, and have hardly come to the beginning of my task.

The idea that the object of constitutions is not to confirm the predominance of any interest, but to prevent it; to preserve with equal care the independence of labour and the security of property; to make the rich safe against envy, and the poor against oppression, marks the highest level attained by the statesmanship of Greece.

Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible tradition of antiquity. Something was wanted, beyond all the gifts of reflection and experience -- a faculty of self government and self control, developed like its language in the fibre of a nation, and growing with its growth.

Judge talent at its best and character at its worst.

Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power – power sufficient to interfere with property.

Machiavelli’s teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith.

I’m not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money.

It is very easy to speak words of wisdom from a comfortable distance, when one sees no reality, no details, none of the effect on men’s minds.