---
title: "It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppres… — John Acton Quote #16 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, i… — a quote by John Acton."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. For there is a reserve of latent power in the masses which, if it is called into play, the minority can seldom resist.

[John Acton](https://quotesby.net/John-Acton)\#16

Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

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## More from John Acton

1. > In ancient times the State absorbed authorities not its own, and intruded on the domain of personal freedom. In the Middle Ages it possessed too little authori…

[Permalink to quote \#15](https://quotesby.net/John-Acton/15/ "Permalink to quote 15")
2. > Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means to a higher politica…

[Permalink to quote \#17](https://quotesby.net/John-Acton/17/ "Permalink to quote 17")
3. > 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 …

[Permalink to quote \#14](https://quotesby.net/John-Acton/14/ "Permalink to quote 14")

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