29 APRIL 1995, Page 30

Taking exception

Sir: 'All great men are bad men' (Taking the family name in vain', 25 March). Including, say, Lincoln?

Acton never said it, and it's astonishing that he's misquoted by his great-grandson. What Acton did say was, 'Great men are almost always bad men', which acknowl- edges some great exceptions.

A.G.S. Griffin

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