Who said “The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to…”?

Verified

Lord Acton. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Mary Gladstone (1881)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern.”
VerifiedLetter to Mary Gladstone (1881) · evidenceSociety
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Mary Gladstone (1881).

APA

Acton, L. (n.d.). The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30923-the-danger-is-not-that-a-particular-class/

MLA

Acton, Lord. “The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30923-the-danger-is-not-that-a-particular-class/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Acton, Lord. “The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/30923-the-danger-is-not-that-a-particular-class/.