power corrupts...

[Admin]

I believe it was George Orwell

[rjm.davis]

Who spoke of power corrrupting absolutely? I need an intro quote to debate the need to decentralize power in governments.
Thanks.

[willmeredith]

I have always heard the quote "Power TENDS to corrupt; Absolute power corrupts absolutely!" attributed to an 1887 letter by Lord Actin.

[AvaJo]

isnt the quote power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely,
i could be wrong
but i dont think it is power tends to corrupt or whatever

i dont think that helps very much
sorry

[den]

.
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~ Lord Acton

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/q109401.html

[VRWC]

All weakness tends to corrupt, and impotence corrupts absolutely. Edgar Z. Freidenburg wrote this quite a few years after Lord Acton. Here's another quote along the same lines:
It has often been said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the faults of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from their sense of inadequacy and impotence. We cannot win the weak by sharing our wealth with them. They feel our generosity as oppression.
- Eric Hoffer

[Lorenzo Steed]

"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."
Steed

[Eric, son of Chuck]

I'm a big fan of that last one. wink