Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

French - Historian July 29, 1805 - April 16, 1859

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 Democracy Socialism Liberty

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Day Money Will American

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

Patriotism Greatness Nation America

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Freedom Equality Slavery Equal

The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Health Society Quality May

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

Vote Government Escape Only

The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Time Society See Paint

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

History Pictures Gallery Few Many

The French want no-one to be their superior. The English want inferiors. The Frenchman constantly raises his eyes above him with anxiety. The Englishman lowers his beneath him with satisfaction.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Eyes Anxiety Satisfaction Want

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Future Darkness Past Spirit

Top 10
Alexis de Tocqueville
Quotes

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Faith Morality Without Liberty Nor

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 Independence Country

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics Always Almost Friendships

An American cannot converse, but he can discuss, and his talk falls into a dissertation. He speaks to you as if he was addressing a meeting; and if he should chance to become warm in the discussion, he will say 'Gentlemen' to the person with whom he is conversing.

Alexis de Tocqueville

You Meeting Chance Person

There is hardly a political question in the United States which does not sooner or later turn into a judicial one.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Political Question Turn Judicial

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 Democracy Rich

No state of society or laws can render men so much alike but that education, fortune, and tastes will interpose some differences between them; and though different men may sometimes find it their interest to combine for the same purposes, they will never make it their pleasure.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Education Men Society Sometimes

The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Religion Impossible Without Liberty

He was as great as a man can be without morality.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Man Great Morality Without

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics Men Party America Principle

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 Own Who Necessity

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

Men Innovation Look Step

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 World Country Way

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Best People Never Will

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Live Singing Die Without

There is hardly a pioneer's hut which does not contain a few odd volumes of Shakespeare. I remember reading the feudal drama of Henry V for the first time in a log cabin.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Time Reading Remember Drama

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Carter G. Woodson

Daniel J. Boorstin

Francesco Guicciardini

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