John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton Quotes
1834–1902 England
John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, 1st Baron Acton (10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902) was an English Catholic historian, commonly known as Lord Acton.
- England
- Historians
- Non-fiction authors
Also known as: Acton, John, John Acton, Lord Acton, Lord Acton Dalberg, John Emerich Edward Dalberg, Lord Acton
Random John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton quote
87 quotes
The history of institutions is often a history of deception and illusions; for their virtue depends on the ideas that produce and on the spirit that preserves them, and the form may remain unaltered when the substance has passed away.
The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has been sometimes disastrous, by giving to opponents just grounds of opposition, and by kindling dispute over the spoils in the hour of success.
The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)
Where the division of property and labour is incomplete there is little division of classes and of power. Until societies are tried by the complex problems of civilisation they may escape despotism, as societies that are undisturbed by religious diversity avoid persecution.
The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)
[W]e are not so much concerned this evening with the dead letter of edicts and of statutes as with the living thoughts of men.
The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)
These things were repeated so often that they have been sometimes believed; and men have fallen into this way of speaking whose sincerity was unimpeachable, and who were not shaken in their religion by the errors or the vices of Popes.
The Massacre Of St. Bartholomew (1869)
Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral laws are written on the tablets of eternity.
Misattributed
The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks.
Misattributed