Portrait of John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton

John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli,, better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, politician, and writer. A strong advocate for individual liberty, Acton is best known for his timeless observation on the dangers of concentrated authority. In an 1887 letter to an Anglican bishop, he famously wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," underscoring his belief that unchecked power poses the greatest threat to human freedom. His works consistently emphasized the importance of limiting governmental and institutional power in favor of individual rights and personal liberty.

Average Book Rating
4.0
Aggregate review score sourced from Goodreads
5
200
4
200
3
200
2
200
1
200
Total Book Reviews
10.0k
Total reviews from Goodreads may change
Categories