power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely

English

Etymology

From a letter written by Lord Acton in 1887.

Proverb

power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

1. The corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total.

Translations

the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total

• Polish: władza korumpuje, a władza absolutna korumpuje absolutnie
• Portuguese: o poder corrompe, o poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente
• Russian: власть развраща́ет, абсолю́тная власть развраща́ет абсолю́тно (vlastʹ razvraščájet, absoljútnaja vlastʹ razvraščájet absoljútno)
• Spanish: el poder corrompe, el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente
• Ukrainian: вла́да розбе́щує, а абсолю́тна вла́да розбе́щує абсолю́тно (vláda rozbéščuje, a absoljútna vláda rozbéščuje absoljútno)