essay on power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

What's the meaning of the phrase 'power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely'.

The proverbial saying ‘power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ conveys the opinion that, as a person’s power increases, their moral sense diminishes.

Origin – the short version

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is the best known quotation of the 19th century British politician Lord Acton. He borrowed the idea from several other writers who had previously expressed the same thought in different words.

Origin – the full story

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” arose as part of a quotation by the expansively named and impressively hirsute John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902). The historian and moralist, who was otherwise known simply as Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

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

The text is a favourite of collectors of quotations and is always included in anthologies. If you are looking for the exact “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” wording, then Acton is your man.

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

It is not only the slave or serf who is ameliorated in becoming free. The master himself did not gain less in every point of view, for absolute power corrupts the best natures.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is one of the proverbial sayings that seems to be proved correct by experience of people’s actual behaviour.

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Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Meaning of “absolute power corrupts absolutely”, origin of “absolute power corrupts absolutely”, examples in literature, examples #1.

Once in jungle a rat was very frightened by a cat Somehow it escaped from the attack, There the rat met a Saint and prayed To be a large cat, So, it was turned into a cat And it began to kill rats, But dogs often used to chase it, Being unhappy it prayed to be a mighty dog, So it was then turned into a big dog And it began to torture the cats, But tigers began to chase it So, again it prayed to be a tiger, Finally the Saint turned it into a tiger, This tiger began to feel very mighty That made it so proud of power, Ill thoughts entered its brain heavily It planned to attack and kill the Saint; Some evidences made the Saint understand Instantly he turned it into the pre-rat.

Examples #2

“The truth drops like a bomb The truth drops like a bomb The battle is on The hate runs deep, but our hopes cut deeper Now we walk through the valley in the shadow of the reaper Money talks, and it’s speaking in tongues They put a price on our soul like they had already won Now open wide, I see their jaws locked tight Silent in the moment like prey in the floodlights The signal is static, baptised in fire Now we see how they talk with a mouth full of barbed wire Absolute power, absolute power, absolute power Absolute power corrupts absolutely Absolute power, absolute power, absolute power Absolute power corrupts The truth drops like a bomb The truth drops like a bomb The battle is on The truth drops like a… Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Examples #3

“Laurence Connaught was an honest man and an idealist, I think. But what would happen to any man when he became God? Suppose you were told twenty-three words that would let you reach into any bank vault, peer inside any closed room, walk through any wall? Suppose pistols could not kill you? They say power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And there can be no more absolute power than the twenty-three words that can free a man of any jail or give him anything he wants. Larry was my friend . But I killed him in cold blood, knowing what I did, because he could not be trusted with the secret that could make him king of the world.”

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Literary English

Main Theme of Animal Farm | Power and Corruption

The main theme of Animal Farm revolves around the corrupting nature of power and the dangers of totalitarianism. Through the allegorical portrayal of Manor Farm, Orwell explores how the pursuit of power leads to oppression, exploitation, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. The novel underscores the importance of vigilance in safeguarding democracy and resisting authoritarian rule. Additionally, “Animal Farm” examines themes of equality, justice, propaganda, and the cyclical nature of history. Overall, Orwell’s work serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked authority and the enduring struggle for freedom and social justice.

“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”

George Orwell’s influential work, “Animal Farm,” stands as a poignant exploration of the age-old adage, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Through the allegorical depiction of Manor Farm’s transformation into an oppressive regime under the rule of the pigs, Orwell vividly illustrates the insidious nature of power and its corrupting influence on individuals and institutions. This article delves into the main theme of power and corruption in “Animal Farm,” analyzing its manifestation in the characters, events, and overarching narrative of the novel.

The Rise of Tyranny

At the heart of “Animal Farm” lies the transformation of a hopeful revolution into a totalitarian regime. Initially, the animals’ uprising against Mr. Jones symbolizes their quest for freedom and equality. However, as the pigs seize control and consolidate power, they succumb to the allure of absolute authority. Led by Napoleon, the pigs exploit their positions for personal gain, betraying the principles of Animalism and perpetuating a system of oppression reminiscent of the humans they overthrew. Orwell’s portrayal of the pigs’ descent into tyranny underscores the corrupting influence of unchecked power.

The Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals

Throughout “Animal Farm,” Orwell highlights the betrayal of revolutionary ideals in the pursuit of power. The Seven Commandments of Animalism, initially conceived to uphold equality and solidarity, gradually erode as the pigs manipulate them to justify their own privileges. Squealer’s persuasive propaganda tactics and the rewriting of history exemplify the perversion of truth to maintain the pigs’ grip on power. Orwell’s critique extends beyond the farmyard to reflect the broader disillusionment with political movements that deviate from their original aspirations in favor of self-interest and control.

The Role of Fear and Manipulation

Central to the pigs’ consolidation of power is their manipulation of fear and intimidation. Napoleon’s use of the ferocious dogs as enforcers mirrors the tactics of authoritarian regimes, instilling terror to quell dissent and maintain obedience. Similarly, Squealer’s skillful dissemination of propaganda serves to distort reality and suppress opposition. Orwell underscores how fear and misinformation become potent tools in the hands of those seeking to perpetuate their dominance, reinforcing the theme of power’s corrupting influence.

The Cyclical Nature of Tyranny

As “Animal Farm” concludes, the pigs’ transformation into indistinguishable oppressors mirrors the oppressive regime they initially sought to overthrow. Orwell’s narrative reflects the cyclical nature of tyranny, wherein revolutions often give way to new forms of oppression. Through the tragic fate of the animals, Orwell warns against complacency and the dangers of failing to recognize the signs of authoritarianism.

In “Animal Farm,” George Orwell delivers a powerful indictment of the corrupting influence of power, epitomized by the pigs’ descent into despotism. Through allegory and satire, Orwell exposes the dangers of unchecked authority and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. As readers confront the chilling reality of “Animal Farm,” they are reminded of the enduring relevance of Orwell’s cautionary tale in an ever-changing political landscape. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”—a timeless maxim that reverberates throughout Orwell’s seminal work, serving as a stark warning against the allure of unchecked authority.

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Absolute Power in George Orwell’s Animal Farm

This essay will analyze the theme of power and corruption in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” It will discuss how the novel illustrates the idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely, focusing on the characters’ transformation from oppressed to oppressors. The piece will explore Orwell’s critique of totalitarianism and the allegorical representation of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. It will also consider the broader implications of the novel’s message on power and governance. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Animal Farm.

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George Orwell’s Animal Farm suggests, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It simply means the more power and control one has over the other, but then more corruption is possible for that person. There are many examples in the book of power corrupting those in charge. From the essay on Animal Farm , you can learn that in the article the animals in power are the two pigs.. Napoleon is the pig with the most power and Snowball is the second with less power.

Throughout the book, the pigs use their power to get more power.

In the book Old Major, who is a respected animal on the farm. He had given a speech which got all of the animals emotions into rebellion. His power of trust and respect persuaded the other animals into the vision of his dream. Old major at the time had all of the power, but history proved that dictatorship does not work. It will lead them to corruption in a communism style governments. He started to lead the animals into action, which led to a rebellion and problems later on. The power had corrupted society and absolute power that was eventually obtained becomes corrupt within. When Old Major dies, Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball take his place. The first year everything on the farm went great. They were teaching some animals to read and write which helped some of them and the crops that they had grown were perfect at harvest time. Soon after, the farm leaders weren’t so close anymore. Napoleon and Snowball were always in a disagreement. Snowball had made plans to help the farm by building a windmill, but Napoleon decided that he was the one with more power and disagreed with Snowball’s plans. Snowball didn’t want to give up, but one day Napoleon sent his dogs after Snowball and they chased him out of the farm and ended up killing him. After Snowball’s death, Napoleon took over “The Animal Farm. As soon as that happened the farm had food shortages, deaths, and hard laborers. Napoleon used all of his knowledge to take over the farm. He had all the pigs and dogs on his side. Napoleon now had absolute power over all of the animals. Later on, Napoleon’s power had corrupted the whole idea of The Seven Commandments and Animalism. When everything fell into Napoleon’s hands he switched the “All animals are equal to “All animals are equal but some more than others(134). Being equal means everyone is treated the same, not those animals are equal and these animals are more equal. This brought the farm back to exactly how it had started. This exact corrupt decision made the animals think they could not question his unfair decisions simply because some animals are more equal than others. That took away all of their equality and freedom that kept the farm together.

Napoleon and the other pigs take control and have absolute power over the animals. A few examples are one the animals start to agree with Napoleon more as the days go on, Boxer says, “If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right(56). That is how Napoleon gained his motto as “Napoleon is always right. Napoleon continues to make corrupt changes to the commandments and rules as he gains more and more authority. “Napoleon accepted, through Whymper, a contract for four hundred eggs per week(76). It was unfair to the hens and he should have no control over that. Another example would be all of the animals were afraid to question the pigs and their decisions. When Napoleon realizes he has the most power he starts to take an advantage of it. Napoleon starts to tweak the commandments to his own advantage. He creates a rule saying, “The milk and windfall apples should be reserved for the pigs alone(36). Napoleon had only made this rule to benefit himself and his own kind. Squealer says, “surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?(36). Squealer is trying to freak out the other animals into thinking that Napoleon is actually doing the right thing. The pigs should be treated the exact same way as all the other animals. This is actually how Napoleon’s corrupt set of values started. No other animal had the guts to question Napoleon’s power and decisions, which worsened the current situations and made Napoleon become corrupt. Napoleon had made a stern set of rules, but if he happened to break a rule, his fellow pigs would use an euphemism by adding a couple words to the rule to simply explain the true meaning. Then when the other animals thought the pigs were breaking the rules, they were fooled because Napoleon had changed the commandments before they went to read them. Napoleon had so many corrupted morals that he thought any rules he had broke he could simply change them so he was no longer breaking the rules.

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What Does Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Mean?

Home » Phrase and Idiom Dictionary » What Does Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Mean?

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Meaning

Definition: Having power corrupts a man, or lessens his morality, and the more power a man has, the more corrupted he will become.

This idiom means that those in power often do not have the people’s best interests in mind. They are primarily focused on their own benefits, and they may abuse their position of power to help themselves. If you follow the thread that absolute power corrupts absolutely, you can believe that monarchs—those with the most authority—have the least amount of morals. Kinder souls would be found among poorer, less influential people.

Naturally this is not always the case, as there are many examples of kind and good leaders. Of those who are corrupted, it is it is hard to distinguish whether the power corrupted the man or the men who were drawn to power were already corrupted.

Origin of Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

William Pitt the Elder, the British Prime Minister at the time, said in a speech in the House of Lords in 1770:

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

This idea was later expressed in an essay by Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine in 1848 as (translated from French):

“It is not only the slave or serf who is ameliorated in becoming free… the master himself did not gain less in every point of view,… for absolute power corrupts the best natures.”

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton coined the most current incarnation of the phrase, writing, in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887:

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

Example of Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

“People always say absolute power corrupts absolutely… I’m not surprised he spent our tax money on personal interests.”

More Examples

• “Absolute power, they say, corrupts absolutely. Brussels, the seat of power of the European Union, is learning that lesson the hard way… Unelected Brussels bureaucrats, drunk on centralized power and the ability to impose a globalist agenda on their subjects, went too far.” – The Washington Times
• “‘Start with Lord Acton and the famous axiom that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,’ said Wayne Flynt, a retired professor of history at Auburn University. ‘Alabama has had a seamless transition from Democratic one-party rule and synonymous corruption to Republican one-party rule and synonymous corruption.'” – The New York Times

As a person’s power increases, their sense of morality decreases.

‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ (John Dalberg-Acton) Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that power does not necessarily degrade or weaken the morals of those who hold it. To what extent is it possible for someone to hold power without using it for their own personal gain?

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Lord Acton: 'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Lord Acton's famous quote, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely," serves as a timeless reminder of the potential dangers that accompany the acquisition and possession of power. Its meaning is straightforward: power has a tendency to corrupt individuals, and when power becomes absolute, corruption becomes inevitable. This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inherent risks associated with the accumulation of authority and serves as a cautionary reminder for those entrusted with power.At first glance, Acton's quote appears to be a direct observation on the behavior of individuals in positions of power. History is replete with examples of leaders who, once entrusted with authority, succumbed to corruption and abuse. From politicians to dictators, there is a recurrent theme of power exerting a corrupting influence on those who possess it. Yet, Acton's quote invites us to delve deeper into the human psyche and explore a more intriguing philosophical concept - the nature of power itself.Power, by its very nature, is both seductive and intoxicating. The allure of control and the ability to shape the world according to one's vision can be irresistible. However, as Acton suggests, this allure can lead individuals down a treacherous path, where their moral compass becomes distorted, certain that they can wield power without succumbing to its corrupting nature. This juxtaposition between the attraction of power and its corrupting consequences is a profound philosophical paradox that encapsulates the complexity of human nature.It is important to acknowledge that not all individuals are influenced by power in the same way. Some possess an inherent moral compass that guides their actions, allowing them to withstand the temptations that power presents. These individuals are able to utilize power as a force for positive change rather than succumbing to the vices of corruption. However, such individuals remain the exception rather than the rule.To understand power's corrupting influence better, we must also examine the dynamics of absolute power. When power is consolidated and held without any checks or balances, an individual's ability to act without accountability or constraint reaches its peak. In such circumstances, absolute power grants individuals the belief that they are above reproach, immune to consequences, and thus liberated to indulge their darkest desires or unethical ambitions.Understanding the correlation between absolute power and corruption is crucial in our examination of Acton's quote. Throughout history, absolute power has frequently led to tyrannical regimes, where leaders have wrought havoc and devastation upon their domains. Whether it be through stifling dissent, fostering cults of personality, or engaging in systemic oppression, those in positions of absolute power are more prone to becoming despots driven solely by self-interest and megalomania.While Acton's quote holds true in various historical contexts, it is essential to recognize the instances where it has been proven wrong. In some cases, individuals have risen to positions of power and successfully avoided the corrupting influences that Acton warns against. These exceptional figures prove that power, though it carries inherent risks, does not have to inevitably lead to corruption. Nelson Mandela, for example, exemplified the profound impact a virtuous leader can have on society, even when wielding immense power.In conclusion, Lord Acton's observation that "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" serves as a thought-provoking testament to the human experience and the potential pitfalls that accompany the pursuit of authority. It highlights the complex interplay between power, morality, and human nature. While power undoubtedly poses inherent risks, Acton's quote also compels us to consider the exceptions to the rule, where individuals have risen above corrupting influences and utilized power as a force for positive change. Reflecting on Acton's quote encourages introspection and urges us to be vigilant in recognizing the seductive allure and potential danger that power represents.

Charles Rangel: 'For a member to say, 'I'm a lame duck' violates political science 101.'

Anatole france: 'suffering we owe to it all that is good in us, all that gives value to life we owe to it pity, we owe to it courage, we owe to it all the virtues.'.

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Why do we say "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

Well-known expressions, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

People in power are often corrupt, and the more power they have the more corrupt they are.

Background:

Given that both ancient and modern history is replete with examples of absolute power, it is surprising that the earliest known reference to this sentiment is in a speech by British Prime Minister William Pitt who, in 1770, noted that "unlimited power is apt to corrupt the mind of those who possess it." It was more than a century later, in 1887, that another British politician, John Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton, coined the expression as we know it today. Acton, a Catholic historian, politician and writer, opposed the concept of papal infallibility that had been defined dogmatically at the First Vatican Council of 1869-1870, which had been called in response to the rise in contemporary thinking, including rationalism. The concept of the Pope as infallible was not new, but apparently it wasn't until this Council that Papal infallibility became a dogma of the Church. To quote The Catholic Encyclopedia (Vol. 7, 1910), "Infallibility means more than exemption from actual error; it means exemption from the possibility of error." Acton opposed this thinking and, in 1870, traveled to Rome to lobby unsuccessfully against it. In April 1887, he summarized his thoughts in a letter to fellow scholar Mandell Creighton:

But if we might discuss this point until we found that we nearly agreed, and if we do agree thoroughly about the impropriety of Carlylese denunciations and Pharisaism in history, I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way, against the 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. You would hang a man of no position like Ravaillac; but if what one hears is true, then Elizabeth asked the gaoler to murder Mary, and William III of England ordered his Scots minister to extirpate a clan. Here are the greatest names coupled with the greatest crimes; you would spare those criminals, for some mysterious reason. I would hang them higher than Haman, for reasons of quite obvious justice, still more, still higher for the sake of historical science.

Acton may have taken inspiration from the French poet and politician Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine whose essay, France and England: a Vision of the Future (published in English in 1848) includes: "It is not only the slave or serf who is ameliorated in becoming free... the master himself did not gain less in every point of view ... for absolute power corrupts the best natures."

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What did Acton mean by saying "absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton said that

"[p]ower tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

What did he mean by this? How might power compel evil or restrict free will?

• political-philosophy
• good-and-evil

• 1 A child cries for candy. The more powerful the child, the less likely a healthy diet. The all powerful child eats nothing but candy never understanding the reason for the fatal stomach ache and untimely death. –  Ronnie Smith Commented Apr 2, 2015 at 2:01
• power to do what one wants / power to act correctly ( Leibniz, New Essays , in a discussion regarding freedom) –  user37859 Commented May 23, 2020 at 7:00
• Also, Bossuet, On Death –  user37859 Commented May 23, 2020 at 7:00
• If you perform a rough calculation of the current leaders of counties labeled as 'illiberal', that is primarily one-person controlled in all government and public aspects, and look into how those people came into power, what you will find is that many started out as real champions of democracy. Apparently once they realized what was in their power to control they became and still remain essentially dictators. Examples include: Erdogan, Orban, Presidents of Peru, Myanmar, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, etc. etc. Living examples of how power corrupts. Oh yes, add Donald Trump. CMS –  user37981 Commented May 23, 2020 at 14:13

2 Answers 2

NOTE: This answer was given to a previous incarnation of this question. The block quotes I am responding to come from this incarnation. If I have the time I will modify my answer to respond more directly to this version of the question.

When a person is placed in a position of absolute power, is it necessarily true that this power will condemn that person to commit evil acts?

No, it isn't necessarily true, and that isn't a part of the claim Acton is making. Note the use of the word "tends". Many people have defended the possibility of a benevolent dictator. Plato's Republic advances an oligarchy of "Philosopher Kings", which he thought would produce the best society.

In effect, does power restrict free will?

I don't think there is any very interesting connection between these two concepts, if anything it seems to be the opposite. Someone with absolute (unchallengeable) power would be faced with no external compulsions and so (assuming the possibility of free will) would have the best chance at freely acting.

NOTE: The following is a bit of an aside that is only indirectly relevant, but which you may, nevertheless, find interesting.

There is, however, an interesting claim that Socrates makes in Plato's Gorgias :

I say, Polus, that both orators and tyrants have the least power in their cities, as I was saying just now. For they do just about nothing they want to, though they certainly do whatever they see most fit to do. (Gorgias, 466e)

This weird claim has to do with Socrates' denial of akrasia , or weakness of will, where you act against what you believe to be best. Essentially, the claim he makes here is tyrants who commit evil are, in fact, slaves to their stupidity (to put it rather crudely). For, Socrates contends, they are making mistakes in measurement and wrongly considering the evil act to be the best.

This is, in fact, a bit of a caricature of the view, at least it doesn't explain it fully. I just thought it was interesting in connection with your question and presents a view on which "doing whatever you see fit" is not to have great power. It is also a view on which someone with the ability to do whatever they see fit actually does very little that they want to do.

Sadly the quote isn't actually correct.

It has gained in popularity due to its appeal, but is entirely misleading. It is fair to say that power for the most part adds choice. The choices we make, given greater freedoms, are reflected in large by our individual characters and circumstances at the time of that choice. Part of the reason the addage often appears to have a measure of truth is that the more self-centered and ambitious individual is more drawn to power than most, and more likely to sacrifice ethics as a means of getting it.

There is a wide and sadly often justified stereotype of the wealthy having little ethical value and little concern for others. Such an individual gaining greater power is certainly no more likely to use it for the benefit of others.

That said, someone with strong ethical values and concern for others, given greater power, is certainly not doomed to corruption and may achieve greater good. It must always be considered that circumstance and behavioural patterns that affect those circumstances can warp statistics, often leading to false positives by individuals that don't dig deeply enough into the reasoning behind them.

Even where you might try to add alternative interpretation and attribute decisions to stupidity, the same spread of stupidity exists across the powerful and the weak. Dennis's summary of a caricature is a fair one. The quote isn't accurate. The quote isn't a rule. It is merely a whimiscal portrayal of stereotype.

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Discover Acton

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Who is Lord Acton?

Biography of lord acton, chronology of lord acton's life, lord acton quote archive, lord acton photo gallery, lord acton's 100 best books.

Books about Acton

Selected writings of lord acton by john emerich edward dalberg acton.

Lord Acton was among the most illustrious historians of nineteenth-century England, a man of great learning with a deep devotion to individual liberty and a profound understanding of history. This is the most complete collection of Acton essays ever published.

The History of Freedom by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton

• Introduction by James C. Holland
• "The History of Freedom in Antiquity"
• "The History of Freedom in Christianity"

Professor Lord Acton by Owen Chadwick

This lecture was delivered at Cambridge University on March 16, 1995 by Professor Owen Chadwick in celebration of the 100 years since Lord Acton assumed the Regius Chair of Modern History. The author, a distinguished Acton scholar who himself served as Regius Professor, details the history of Acton's tenure at Cambridge, including the intrigue surrounding his appointment, his lectures, his work on the Cambridge Modern History , his philosophy of history, and the influence he had on the writing of history in Britain.

Lord Acton: A Study in Conscience and Politics by Gertrude Himmelfarb

Lord Acton is the author of the maxim, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." In this intellectual biography, Gertrude Himmelfarb regards Acton as a man more of our age than of his own. He was a Liberal Catholic and a distinguished historian, and his vigorous denunciations of nationalism, racism, statism, and bigotry rank among the classics of political and social thought.

Lord Acton by Roland Hill

In this remarkable biography, Roland Hill is the first to make full use of the vast collection of books, documents, and private papers in the Acton archives to tell the story of the enigmatic Lord Acton.

Acton In America by S. W. Jackman, Editor

Lord Acton's journal of his voyage to America in 1853, including visits to New York, Boston and Cambridge, and Emmitsburg, Maryland. With an introduction by the editor, S.W. Jackman.

The Political Thought of Lord Acton: The English Catholics of the Nineteenth Century by Rocco Pezzimenti

Papers about Acton

Lord acton on the historian by josef l. altholz (part of an anthology).

In this essay, Dr. Altholz describes Acton's rigorous approach to the historian's vocation, especially focusing on his view of the historical project in relation to religion and liberty. Altholz examines Lord Acton's views on truth and truthfulness, as well as Acton's differing opinions and eventual departure from his mentor, Ignaz von Dollinger.

The Legacy of an Education by James C. Holland (part of an anthology)

There were highly distinctive elements in the education of Lord Acton. It is Professor Holland's contention that there was a direct relationship between those elements and Acton's life work, including his championing of an educated laity, free intellectual inquiry, historical study as a conserver of truth, and the duty of the informed historian to make moral judgments in history. In his energetic and often brilliant pursuit of these causes, Lord Acton relentlessly invoked the intellectual and moral canons acquired in his youth.

Lord Acton on Revolution by Russell Kirk

This writing examines Lord Acton's views on revolution. Although he did not exactly approve of revolution, he was able to tolerate it because he believed it increased freedom. This essay demonstrates that Acton's views on revolution changed over time.

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The Psychology of Political Power: Does Power Corrupt or is it Magnetic to the Most Corruptible?

In January 2022, I attended a conference on ‘Political Power, Morality and Corruption’. A Socratic dialogue with fellow scholars led me back to one question that epistemologically haunts political theory and philosophy to date—Does power corrupt or is it magnetic to the most corruptible? The cornerstone that this question posits on is antithetical to the idea of power duality as malefic or benefic. Instead, this problem statement is trying to explore and exact the fundamentals of political power. While the former part of the question is striving to deconstruct the soma of power itself, the latter construct of the question is focusing on the agency of an individual with political power.

Now, if you have read Frank Herbert’s  Chapterhouse Dune (1920 – 1986), he writes, “All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted.” Rather than saying absolute power corrupts absolutely, Herbert reveals a common metaphysical denominator: corruptibility, that fundamentally connects all those with political power. However, his sematic interpretation gives birth to more questions than answers. Suppose we take Herbert’s argument in consideration and assume that the most corruptible are indeed attracted to power. In that case, the global political infrastructure as we know today, is then built on the building block of corruption by its very virtue. For example, the 4th edition of the Global Corruption Index (GCI 2021)  covered 196 countries and territories, and provided a comprehensive overview of the state of corruption around the world based on 43 variables. This extensive data revealed that only 52 countries have a low corruption index, with Finland and Norway leading the way. On the other hand, the rest 144 countries are suffering from profane corruption. Using Herbert’s interpretation of power and corruption, should we conclude that political corruption, which is about privatization of average citizens and the use of the public sphere to promote private interests, is the foundational political infrastructure of these 144 countries? And if this assertion is true, does it mean that every government representative of these 144 countries are fundamentally corrupt? Herbert’s simplistic interpretation of the problem statement creates a moral conundrum of either this or that, rather than exploring the connection between the two variables—power and corruption.

Power does not corrupt. It amplifies and reveals a leader’s predispositional traits .

For decades, social psychologists were convinced that power corrupts. One of the key demonstrations of this assertion was the classic Stanford Prison Simulation Experiment (Zimbardo, 1971), where volunteers were randomly assigned to play the role of prisoners or prison guards. As the day passed by, it was observed that the students who were given the role of prison guards became sadistic and exercised their power to subjugate prisoners by taking away their clothes and forcing them to sleep on concrete floors. This subduing was absolute barbaric and callous in nature. The results were shocking. However, the Stanford Prison Experiment failed to explore one crucial variable—the behavioural and cognitive pattern of students who willingly participated and were recruited to be a part of ‘study of prison life.’ So, Thomas Carnahan and Sam McFarland (2007) conducted an experiment, “Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment: could participant self-selection have led to the cruelty?” They wanted to study what kind of people participate and are drawn to the likes of the Stanford Prison Experiment. The research revealed that “volunteers for the prison study scored significantly higher on measures of the abuse-related dispositions of aggressiveness, authoritarianism, Machiavellianism, narcissism, and social dominance and lower on empathy and altruism, two qualities inversely related to aggressive abuse.”

What Carnahan and McFarland’s experiment revealed was that power doesn’t corrupt, but it is a phenomenon that is monopolized by the agency of an individual. Power amplifies and exposes cognitive and behavioral predispositions that already exists within you. It merely reveals your innate tendencies, but it does not corrupt. Let’s take another example of a democratic statesman who wants to introduce a new healthcare bill for his people, but is unexpectedly confronted with an ethical conundrum—he can either strengthen his political power and wealth by collaborating with pharmaceutical giants and increase the prices of the medicines in concern (demand-supply chain), or he can metamorphosize his proposed bill into reality and benefit his subjects. What will he do? Since he already has procured political power and is deliberating on actualizing his healthcare bill to empower people, power here has not corrupted him. In fact, the argument that power corrupts collapses because if power indeed corrupts, this democratic statesman would not have proposed a healthcare bill for the welfare of his people to begin with. However, if he decides to enact the bill in favor of pharmaceutical moguls to increase his wealth and political status quo, it would be due to his predispositioned behavioral and cognitive schema for corruptibility. How he responds to this ethical conundrum will mirror his political psyche. It has nothing to do with power being essentially corruptible. Power only amplifies and exposes a leader’s predispositioned traits. 

Friedrich Hayek   makes a similar point in his chapter ‘Why the worst get on top’ in  The Road to Serfdom (1943), where he highlights that individuals who rise to the top in the government are those who want to wield power and those who are most ruthless in using power. He writes, “Neither the government administration of a concentration camp nor the Ministry of Propaganda is suitable places for the exercise of humanitarian feelings. Yet, positions like these create a totalitarian state. So, when a distinguished American economist concludes that the probability of people in power disliking the possession and exercise of power is low, is similar to falsely assuming that the probability of an extremely tender-hearted person to desire a position of a whipping-master in a slave plantation is high.”

Recently, psychologists have re-investigated this phenomenon and theorised that rather than being a corrupting influence, power amplifies leaders’ innate tendencies. For example, extensive research in ‘Leader corruption depends on power and testosterone’   by Samuel Bendahan, Christian Zehnder, Francois P. Pralong, and John Antonakis used incentivized experimental games to manipulate leaders in power. Here, leaders had complete freedom to decide monthly pay-outs for themselves and their followers. Now, leaders could have made a prosocial decision to benefit the public good. However, they chose to abuse their power by invoking antisocial decisions, which reduced the total pay-outs of their followers but boosted the leaders’ earnings with a high margin. The researchers write, “In Study 1 ( N  = 478), we found that both amount of followers and discretionary choices independently predicted leader corruption. Study 2 ( N  = 240) examined how power and individual differences (e.g., personality, hormones) affected leader corruption over time; power interacted with endogenous testosterone in predicting corruption, which was highest when the leader power and baseline testosterone were both high. Honesty predicted initial level of leader’s antisocial decisions; however, honesty did not shield leaders from the corruptive effect of power.” 

Concluding with Caligula—The Mad Roman Emperor!

After years of witnessing the most barbaric purges, treason laws, exiles, execution, and corruption of all time during Tiberius’s rule, Caligula (37—41 AD) was seen as a breath of fresh air when he took the throne. After going through despondent years of constant fear, Caligula’s initiation was perceived as a hope for a flourishing Roman republic. At first, Caligula lived up to the expectations of the Roman people. He brought back many people exiled by Tiberius and ceremoniously burned the records of the infamous Treason Trails held by Sejanus under the order of Tiberius. This act was celebrated and made Caligula popular and well-liked among the Senate. He then took a step further and eliminated unpopular hefty taxes, initiated constructions of harbors that created massive employment opportunities for Roman citizens, and staged lavish events like chariot races, gladiator shows, and theatre plays to entertain his people. He was indeed a breath of fresh air after Tiberius. 

But, after seven months of his rule, things changed for the worst. Caligula started to use and abuse his political powers so dauntlessly that it pushed Rome into a dark age of political and economic instability. He went on a rampage of committing murder, adultery, and acts of debauchery. His eccentricities became more murderous, including restating the very Treason Trials that he had ended. Dressed in silk robes and covered in jewels, Caligula pretended he was a god. He made it mandatory for his senators to grovel and kiss his feet and seduced their wives at lavish dinner parties. He wanted his statue to be erected in the temple at Jerusalem, which at the point, would have been highly controversial in a region that was already prone to revolt against the Romans. Luckily, Herod Agrippa, who ruled Palestine then, convinced him not to do so. Additionally, since Caligula was spending vast amount of money on his lavish lifestyle, he emptied Rome’s treasury. To reverse this damage, he started blackmailing Roman leaders and senates, and confiscated their properties and wealth. 

There is no denying that there was a method to Caligula’s political madness, but power didn’t corrupt him. If it did, the first initial seven months of ruling Rome after Tiberius, Roman republic would not have experienced economic, political, and cultural growth. However, power certainly did amplify and expose his innate characteristics of corruptibility and debauchery. Caligula’s madness of abusing political power and tyrannical reign grew out of control. An assassination plot structured against him and he was murdered after being stabbed over 30 times by a cabal of Praetorian guards in 41 A.D. This reminds me of what Robert Caro mentioned in his book  The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson (2012), “Power always reveals. When a man is climbing, trying to persuade others to give him power, concealment is necessary. But, as soon as the man obtains more power, camouflage becomes less necessary.” To conclude, it is not that the power corrupts or is magnetic to the most corruptible. The truth is—power only reveals who you truly are.

• Parul Verma

Parul Verma is a political analyst and a human rights activist. Using political philosophy, her work analyses power relation between State-subject, transnational conflict, peace-building and peace-keeping in relation to Israel-Palestine, Northern Ireland and Kashmir. She has also written extensively on corporate governance and violence against women in India. Her work has been published in more than 20+ academic journals and international media establishments. Her part-time job involves talking gibberish to her two naughty rabbits – Whiskey and Beer! For any query or feedback, contact her at parul_edu[at] icloud.com .

• Editor: Maryellen Stohlman-Vanderveen
• Frank Herbert
• Philosophy of Psychology
• political power
• social psychology

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It would seem that power is an intoxicant like alcohol, reducing the inhibitions against anti-social behavior. But politicians are also embedded in a more structured system than simple social interaction and they have gradually built that system to increase their power.

Politicians over the decades have built a warehouse of intoxicants and in the past two years they have been drunk on that power.

“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys” as the P. J. O’Rourke wrote. This is not simple cynicism. Those in power tend to think that their moral and intellectual superiority make them eminently qualified to do what they think is best, with decisions made in that alcohol laden warehouse of government. They have also funneled power to other institutions in order to amplify their own power. The last two years have revealed just how little power the individual has in the face of political power. Power emasculates restraint – just like alcohol.

“The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense of absence of any constraining control must lead to very great restraint, since it makes the bully free to enslave the meek. The idea is, in a slightly different form, and with very different tendency, clearly expressed in Plato.” – Karl Popper

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