It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppress…

Lord Acton
81 citations
It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist. But from the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason. ✨ John Emerich Edward Dalberg, Lord Acton (2016). The History of Freedom (and other Essays), p.36, Jazzybee Verlag
Humanity Politics
31

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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. ✨ Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 3 April 1887, in Louise Creighton 'Life and Letters of Mandell Creighton' (1904) vol. 1, ch. 13.
Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force. ✨ Essays in the History of Liberty: Selected Writings of Lord Acton, 3 vols. Book by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1985-1988.
Socialism easily accepts despotism. It requires the strongest execution of power -- power sufficient to interfere with property.
It is easier to find people fit to govern themselves than people fit to govern others.
Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime. ✨ John Emerich Edward Dalberg, Lord Acton (2016). The History of Freedom (and other Essays), p.28, Jazzybe … ▶

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