Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton)

John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, known as Lord Acton, was a 19th-century British historian and moral thinker. He is best remembered for his belief that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," emphasizing that those in authority are prone to misuse their power without accountability. Acton valued moral integrity and believed that rulers and individuals should exercise humility and responsibility. His ideas highlight the importance of checks and balances in government and ethics, warning against the dangers of unchecked authority and stressing the need for moral vigilance in leadership.