"By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be protected in doing what he believes his duty against the influence of authority and majorities, custom and opinion. The State is competent to assign duties and draw the line between good and evil only in its immediate sphere. Beyond the limits of things necessary for its well-being, it can only give indirect help to fight the battle of life by promoting the influences which prevail against temptation, — religion, education, and the distribution of wealth."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, in The History of Freedom in Antiquity (28 February 1877).
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Duty
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Duty
106 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Duty →
Related Quotes
"Bravery cannot be taught, but duty can."
"Thanks to the gods! my boy has done his duty."
"We live in a nightmare of falsehoods, and there are few who are sufficiently awake and aware to see things as they ar…"
"DUTY, n. That which sternly impels us in the direction of profit, along the line of desire."
"Duty often had undesirable consequences, but if it did not it would be self-indulgence and hedonism."
"If inequalities stare us in the face the essential equality too is not to be missed. Every man has an equal right to …"
"Duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather."
"Jesus ... combines all duties (1) in one universal rule (which includes within itself both the inner and the outer mo…"
"Duty! Thou sublime and mighty name that dost embrace nothing charming or insinuating, but requirest submission, and y…"
"When I'm not thank'd at all, I'm thank'd enough: I've done my duty, and I've done no more."