“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” was written by Lord Acton (1834-1902). There have been many variants of this famous saying. “Absolute safety enslaves absolutely” has been printed on several images.
“ABSOLUTE SAFETY ENSLAVES ABSOLUTELY” was posted on Twitter by Timothy M. Dougherty on May 3, 2013. “Absolute safety enslaves absolutely” (shown on an image by the Libertarian Party) was posted on Facebook by John Smith on May 4, 2013.
Wikiquote: John Dalberg-Acton,_1st Baron Acton
John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, 1st Baron Acton (10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902) was an English historian, commonly known as Lord Acton.
(...)
I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favorable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way against holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. That is the point at which the negation of Catholicism and the negation of Liberalism meet and keep high festival, and the end learns to justify the means.
. Letter to Mandell Creighton (5 April 1887), published in Historical Essays and Studies, by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton (1907), edited by John Neville Figgis and Reginald Vere Laurence, Appendix, p. 504; also in Essays on Freedom and Power (1972)
. Paraphrased variant: All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Twitter
Timothy M. Dougherty
@SeraphAbra
“ABSOLUTE SAFETY ENSLAVES ABSOLUTELY.” So impressed with this phrase, I may get it tattooed on my body.
10:13 AM · May 3, 2013·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Marc
@marcjustme
Absolute safety enslaves absolutely
12:48 PM · May 3, 2013·Twitter for Android
Twitter
REFICUL
@REFICULMusic
Replying to @JasonTheX
@JasonTheX @kellyayotte stop believing the government will follow their own rules, that’s what. Absolute safety enslaves absolutely #tyranny
4:57 PM · May 3, 2013 from Tumwater, WA·Twitter for iPhone
Facebook
John Smith
May 4, 2013 at 9:31 PM · Hootsuite ·
Absolute safety enslaves absolutely
(This is also shown on an image by the Libertarian Party.—ed.)
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“I read old books because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“I study old buildings because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“Due to personal reasons, I’m still going to be fluffy this summer” (4/18)
•“Do not honk at me. My life is worthless. I will kill us both” (bumper sticker) (4/18)
•Entry in progress—BP16 (4/18)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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