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Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.

— John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

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More quotes by John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes his duty against the influence of authority and majorities, custom and opinion.

The History of Freedom in Antiquity (1877)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.