Who said “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”?

Verified

Lord Acton. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter 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)

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“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
— Lord Acton
VerifiedLetter 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) · evidencePower

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: 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).

APA

Acton, L. (n.d.). Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/1005-power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts/

MLA

Acton, Lord. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/1005-power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Acton, Lord. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/1005-power-tends-to-corrupt-and-absolute-power-corrupts/.

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More quotes by Lord Acton

“Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.”
VerifiedLetter (23 January 1861), published in Lord Acton and his Circle (1906) by Abbot Gasquet, Letter 74 · evidenceDetails & citeSecrets
“There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.”
VerifiedLetter (23 January 1861), published in Lord Acton and his Circle (1906) by Abbot Francis Aidan Gasquet, Letter 74 · evidenceDetails & citeArgument
“To be able to look back upon one's past life with satisfaction is to live twice.”
Satisfaction
“A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.”
Procrastination
“Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral laws are written on the table of eternity.”
MisattributedListed as misattributed to Lord Acton; no source in their known works. · evidenceDetails & citeOpinions
All 7 Lord Acton quotes →