Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of power Absolute power Power

Speaker

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Occupation

National leader Politician

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Pitt, William. Speech in the House of Lords on John Wilkes. 9 Jan. 1770, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

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A quote by William Pitt, Earl of Chatham about nature of power: “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1770s

The happiness of society is the end of government.

John Adams

More information about this quote
Topic
Purpose of government Political theory Politics

Author

John Adams
Source
Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies
Medium
Pamphlet
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Adams, John. Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776.

Current Citation

Adams, John. "Thoughts on Government, Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies, April 1776." John Adams: Revolutionary Writings 1775-1783, edited by Gordon S. Wood. Library of America, 2011.

Another quote about Power

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.

Lord Acton

More information about this quote
Topic
Abuse of power Power Great men Corruption
Speaker
Lord Acton
Source
Letters of Lord Acton
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1887 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 0
Citation

Lord Acton. Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton. 5 Apr. 1887.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

No, I make no pretension to patriotism. So long as my voice can be heard on this or the other side of the Atlantic, I will hold up America to the lightning scorn of moral indignation. In doing this, I shall feel myself discharging the duty of a true patriot; for he is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins.

Frederick Douglass

More information about this quote
Topic
Patriotism
Speaker
Frederick Douglass
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1847 1840s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Douglass, Frederick. "Love of God, Love of Man, Love of Country." 24 Sept. 1847, Syracuse, NY, USA.

Current Citation

Douglass, Frederick. "If I Had a Country, I Should Be a Patriot." American Heritage Book of Great American Speeches for Young People, edited by Suzanne McIntire. John Wiley & Sons, 2002.