Lord Acton Quotes

All power is fast getting into the hands of the very lowest people.

The more I support with my economic plans the building of a middle class, the quicker they're going to turn around and say, 'Hey, we want a bigger say in things.' So, I knew what I was getting into right at the beginning. It's the right thing to do.

Opening China to the world has dramatically affected the movement for democracy. The process of opening up is a process whereby the government loosens its control of the people. On the other hand, simply opening the economy is not enough. Very few people are actually able to enjoy the economic reforms. The privileged classes, or those who have connections with the privileged classes, enjoy more benefits from an open policy.

Here in America, we have labored long and hard to achieve a social order worthy of our great heritage. In our time, tremendous progress has been made toward a really democratic way of life. Let me assure the forward-looking people of America that there will be no relaxation in our efforts to improve the lot of the common people.

Political power is now widely diffused; and whatever may be the evils of democracy, this good has come of it, that it has forced men to open their eyes to the misery of the masses, and to inquire more zealously as to the possibility of a better distribution of wealth.

Our democracy is designed to speak truth to power.

Nelson Mandela understood that social transformation and economic transformation go hand in hand.

China is at a different stage of development, human rights are violated here much more often. And still, we see improvements even here.

All Moroccans are justifiably proud of the development of democratic institutions in Morocco.

Women are in positions of power the most radical of activists could only dream of in 1960.

Democracy is indispensable to socialism.

The motive power of democracy is love.

Grant me thirty years of equal division of inheritances and a free press, and I will provide you with a republic.

The 'Arab Spring' is the most spectacular example of the dispersal of power.

Like everywhere in the world, people of the Middle East aspire to liberty and justice. They wish to have a better life and a decent education for their children.

Sweden is an open, liberal, secular and democratic country. We strive towards achieving equality; we are forward-looking and refuse to be pulled back by social constructs such as religion.

Are things getting better with each generation? Yes. It's quite interesting to be living in these times, for me to witness an African-American being elected president. It's quite extraordinary.

My father was criticized as a dictator, but that should not overshadow his accomplishments in restructuring the country. He brought Korea out of 5,000 years of poverty. What he left unaccomplished was democratization of the system.

The hope that poverty and ignorance may gradually be extinguished, derives indeed much support from the steady progress of the working classes during the nineteenth century.

There can be no permanent disfranchised peasantry in the United States.

Perhaps the best definition of progress would be the continuing efforts of men and women to narrow the gap between the convenience of the powers that be and the unwritten charter.

Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the federal government.

Our women have minds too. Let them show their faces to the world, and see it with their eyes…Don’t be afraid. Change is essential, so much so that, if need be, we are prepared to sacrifice lives for its sake.

Those above are going down, those below are going up.

If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom.