Great men are almost always bad men.
Lord ActonRead
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Authority must have limits to be considered legitimate, as true governance is not absolute.
This quote by Lord Acton emphasizes the importance of constraints on power within government structures. It argues that for a government to wield authority justly, it must recognize and operate within defined limitations; otherwise, it risks becoming tyrannical. Thus, legitimacy in governance is rooted in the balance between authority and its restrictions.
Themes
AuthorityGovernmentLimitationLegitimacyPower
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on political philosophy, one could cite this quote to emphasize the necessity of checks and balances.
More from Lord Acton
All quotes βSave for the wild force of Nature, nothing moves in this world that is not Greek in its origin.
Lord ActonRead
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Lord ActonRead
Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
Lord ActonRead
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. ~ Every class is unfit to govern ... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.
Lord ActonRead
To develop and perfect and arm conscience is the great achievement of history.
Lord ActonRead
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