Great men are almost always bad men.
Lord ActonRead
There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the position of power should not grant unquestionable authority to its holder.
Lord Acton's quote highlights the danger of equating authority with virtue. It implies that individuals in positions of power may misuse their authority, and that their actions should be scrutinized rather than accepted simply because of their title. This serves as a reminder that moral integrity is not automatically conferred by oneβs role or rank within an institution.
Themes
PowerAuthorityIntegrityLeadershipMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a seminar discussing leadership ethics, one could quote Acton to emphasize the importance of accountability in leadership roles.
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
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.
Lord ActonRead
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