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

Occupation

Politician Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 0

Citation

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

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Lord Acton about abuse of power: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men…”
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A quote by Lord Acton about abuse of power: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men…”
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A quote by Lord Acton about abuse of power: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men…”
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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 1880s

The man of business…goes on Sunday to the church with the regularity of the village blacksmith, there to renounce and abjure before his God the line of conduct which he intends to pursue with all his might during the following week.

George Bernard Shaw

More information about this quote
Topic
Morality and business

Author

George Bernard Shaw
Source
Economic Fabian Essays in Socialism
Language
English
Time
1889 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Shaw, George Bernard. "Economic." Fabian Essays in Socialism. The Fabian Society, 1889.

Current Citation

Shaw, George Bernard. "Economic." Political Writings. Oxford University Press, 2021.

Another quote about Power

Power is the great aphrodisiac.

Henry Kissinger

Read this quote at the New York Times
More information about this quote
Topic
Attraction Power

Author

Henry Kissinger
Source
The New York Times
Medium
Newspaper
Language
English
Time
1971 1970s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Kissinger, Henry. Quoted in "Foreign Policy: Kissinger at Hub." Written by Hedrick Smith. The New York Times, 19 Jan. 1971.

Another quote of the following type Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Essays: First Series (Emerson)

More information about this quote
Topic
Going for it Taking risks

Author

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Source
Prudence Essays: First Series (Emerson)
Medium
Essay
Statement Type
Paradox Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1841 1840s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Prudence." Essays: First Series. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1841.

Current Citation

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Prudence." The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, edited by Brooks Atkinson. Modern Library, 2000.