power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely

proverb

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

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Meanings

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

Origin

From a letter written by Lord Acton in 1887.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Macht korrumpiert, absolute Macht korrumpiert absolut
  • Macht korrumpiert, absolute Macht korrumpiert absolutthe corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Polish władza korumpuje, a władza absolutna korumpuje absolutnie
  • władza korumpuje, a władza absolutna korumpuje absolutniethe corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Portuguese o poder corrompe, o poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente
  • o poder corrompe, o poder absoluto corrompe absolutamentethe corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Russian власть развраща́ет, абсолю́тная власть развраща́ет абсолю́тно
  • власть развраща́ет, абсолю́тная власть развраща́ет абсолю́тно (vlastʹ razvraščájet, absoljútnaja vlastʹ razvraščájet absoljútno)the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Spanish el poder corrompe, el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente
  • el poder corrompe, el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamentethe corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Ukrainian вла́да розбе́щує, а абсолю́тна вла́да розбе́щує абсолю́тно
  • вла́да розбе́щує, а абсолю́тна вла́да розбе́щує абсолю́тно (vláda rozbéščuje, a absoljútna vláda rozbéščuje absoljútno)the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total
Cite this entry
APA

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20corrupts%2C%20absolute%20power%20corrupts%20absolutely

MLA

“power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20corrupts%2C%20absolute%20power%20corrupts%20absolutely. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20corrupts%2C%20absolute%20power%20corrupts%20absolutely.

Source: power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.