By a series of violent shocks, the nations in succession have struggled to shake off the past — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Far from being the product of a democratic revolution and of an opposition to english institutions — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right to do what we ought. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Save for the wild force of nature, nothing moves in this world that is not greek in its origin. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The fate of every democracy, of every government based on the sovereignty of the people — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Liberty is the condition of duty, the guardian of conscience. It grows as conscience grows. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
If the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the safest and — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
If some great catastrophe is not announced every morning, we feel a certain void. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Machiavelli’s teaching would hardly have stood the test of parliamentary government — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
To be able to look back upon one’s past life with satisfaction is to live twice. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
There is not a soul who does not have to beg alms of another, either a smile, a handshake, or a fond eye. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The science of politics is the one science that is deposited by the streams of history — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern: every class is unfit to govern. — John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
