Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Money, American, Until

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Equality, Nothing, Democracy

Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Freedom, Equality, Rather

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Faith, Liberty, Cannot

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Government, Vote, Tax

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville Quote

Life is to be entered upon with courage.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Life, Courage, Entered

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.
Alexis de Tocqueville

America, Her, Rather

As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?
Alexis de Tocqueville

Money, Character, Single

History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.
Alexis de Tocqueville

History, Few, Pictures

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics, Men, America

In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Government, Words, Vote

In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Opinions, United, Majority

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Future, Past, Darkness

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Freedom, Mind, Real

In a revolution, as in a novel, the most difficult part to invent is the end.
Alexis de Tocqueville

End, Revolution, Difficult

The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Live, Die, Knew

It is the dissimilarities and inequalities among men which give rise to the notion of honor; as such differences become less, it grows feeble; and when they disappear, it will vanish too.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Give, Become

In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.
Alexis de Tocqueville

May, Him, America

All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
Alexis de Tocqueville

War, Nation, Means

What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that way there are rich men, but they do not form a class.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Great, Men, Important

In no other country in the world is the love of property keener or more alert than in the United States, and nowhere else does the majority display less inclination toward doctrines which in any way threaten the way property is owned.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Love, Country, Else

In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics, Almost, Shared

Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Best, Others, Themselves

We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Business, Positive, Succeed

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: French

Type: Historian

Born: July 29, 1805

Died: April 16, 1859

Links

Find on Amazon: Alexis de Tocqueville

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Michel Foucault
Marc Bloch
Jean Froissart
Fernand Braudel
Jules Michelet
Francois Guizot
Edgar Quinet
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us