Great men are almost always bad men.
Lord ActonRead
Government by idea tends to take in everything, to make the whole of society obedient to the idea. Spaces not so governed are unconquered, beyond the border, unconverted, a future danger.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote discusses how governance driven by a singular idea can lead to societal conformity, while ungoverned spaces represent potential risks.
Lord Acton's quote reflects on the nature of governance and the influence of ideas on society. He suggests that when a government operates under a specific ideology, it encompasses all aspects of life, demanding conformity from its citizens. However, he warns that areas not shaped by such governance represent unknown future threats, as they remain free from the control of those ideas. This highlights the tension between structure and freedom, as well as the challenges of governance in recognizing and addressing those areas of ungoverned space.
Themes
GovernmentIdeaSocietyObedienceFreedomRisk
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on political theory, this quote can illustrate the dangers of ideological governance.
More from Lord Acton
All quotes →Save for the wild force of Nature, nothing moves in this world that is not Greek in its origin.
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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
Lord ActonRead
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. ~ Every class is unfit to govern ... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.
Lord ActonRead
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.
Lord ActonRead
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