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That men should understand that governments do not exist by divine right, and that arbitrary government is the violation of divine right, was no doubt the medicine suited to the malady under which Europe languished.

— John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton The History of Freedom in Christianity (1877)

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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.

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

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.

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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.