"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely"
- Lord Acton
About this Quote
This quote by Lord Acton is a warning about the threats of power. It recommends that when someone has power, it can cause corruption and abuse of that power. The quote implies that when someone has outright power, it can result in a lot more corruption and abuse. This is since when someone has outright power, they have no one to response to and can do whatever they desire. This can lead to a scenario where the effective individual is not held liable for their actions and can show impunity. The quote is a pointer that power ought to be utilized responsibly and with care, as it can easily lead to corruption and abuse. It is a tip that those in power must be held liable for their actions which power ought to be used for the higher good.