Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being." - Meaning and context.">
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As quoted in Faith in Freedom : Libertarian Principles and Psychiatric Practices (2004) by Thomas Stephen Szasz, p. 10. Selected Writings of Lord Acton, ed. J. Rufus Fears, 3 vols. (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1985-88), 3:490
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Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being.

— John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Liberty is the prevention of control by others. This requires self-control and, therefore, religious and spiritual influences; education, knowledge, well-being." in the context of "As quoted in Faith in Freedom : Libertarian Principles and Psychiatric Practices (2004) by Thomas Stephen Szasz, p. 10. Selected Writings of Lord Acton, ed. J. Rufus Fears, 3 vols. (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1985-88), 3:490" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton" (Quotes, Undated) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app

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#John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton#selfcontrol#prevention#influences#therefore#religious#spiritual#education#knowledge#wellbeing#requires#liberty

About John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, 1st Baron Acton (10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902) was an English Catholic historian, commonly known as Lord Acton.