"Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely"

I suspect almost everyone is familiar with the quote, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I also suspect that most people have no idea who uttered these famous words. Lord Acton (1834-1902) brought a unique international perspective to questions of power and morality to Europe during the height of the British Empire.

Following is this great quote in deeper context. "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 to govern. Every class is unfit to govern...Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

These words were inspired by deep historical research illustrated by the following testimony. "His estate at Cannes (France) had more than 3,000 books and manuscripts; his estate at Tegernsee (Bavaria), some 4,000; and Aldenham (Shropshire, England), almost 60,000. He marked thousands of passages he considered important." - www.libertystory.net

Amazingly, Lord Acton was self-taught having not even received a high-school diploma. However he was awarded multiple honorary doctorates. America will be well served to listen to his timeless words. Who will emerge to ask the tough questions and speak truth to power?

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