Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of power Absolute power Power

Speaker

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Occupation

National leader Politician

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Pitt, William. Speech in the House of Lords on John Wilkes. 9 Jan. 1770, Palace of Westminster, Westminster, London, England, UK.

Illustrated Quote

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A quote by William Pitt, Earl of Chatham about nature of power: “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1770s

I agree with you, that in Politicks the Middle Way is none at all.

John Adams

More information about this quote
Topic
The political center Political ideology Politics

Author

John Adams
Source
Letters of John Adams
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Adams, John. Letter to Horatio Gates. 23 Mar. 1776.

Current Citation

“From John Adams to Horatio Gates, 23 March 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0023.

Another quote about Power

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.

Lord Acton

More information about this quote
Topic
Abuse of power Power Great men Corruption
Speaker
Lord Acton
Source
Letters of Lord Acton
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Proverbs, aphorisms and adages
Language
English
Time
1887 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 0
Citation

Lord Acton. Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton. 5 Apr. 1887.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

I hold that if the Almighty had ever made a set of men that should do all the eating and none of the work, he would have made them with mouths only and no hands, and if he had ever made another class that he intended should do all the work and none of the eating, he would have made them without mouths and with all hands.

Abraham Lincoln

More information about this quote
Topic
Equality
Speaker
Abraham Lincoln
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1859 1850s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio. 17 Sept. 1859, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 17, 1859." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.