In every age its (liberty's) progress has been beset by its natural enemies, by ignorance and superstition, by lust of conquest and by love of ease, by the strong man's craving for power, and the poor man's craving for food

Quote by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

Topics: Liberty Quotes

Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favorites

Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favorites

The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of...

The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of...

History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but...

History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but...

Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show...

Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show...

I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful...

I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful...

Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history

Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history

The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is...

The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is...

Guard against the prestige of great names; see that your judgments are your own; and...

Guard against the prestige of great names; see that your judgments are your own; and...

There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest...

There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest...

Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands...

Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands...

No country has suffered so much from the ruins of war while being at peace...

No country has suffered so much from the ruins of war while being at peace...

(History is) not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul

(History is) not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul

There is nothing like an odor to stir memories.

There is nothing like an odor to stir memories.

A man's real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing...

A man's real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing...

She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.

She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.

Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set...

Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set...

Memory is the library of the mind

Memory is the library of the mind

He reminds me of the man who murdered both his parents, and then when sentence...

He reminds me of the man who murdered both his parents, and then when sentence...

Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory.

Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory.

Memory cannot exist without endurance of the things perceived, and the thing perceived cannot remain...

Memory cannot exist without endurance of the things perceived, and the thing perceived cannot remain...