Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes - Page 9

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I am far from denying that newspapers in democratic countries lead citizens to do very ill-considered things in common; but without newspapers there would be hardly any common action at all. So they mend many more ills than they cause.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Country, America, Would Be

Alexis de Tocqueville (1990). “Democracy in America”

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It must not be forgotten that it is especially dangerous to enslave men in the minor details of life.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Details Of Life, Forgotten

Alexis de Tocqueville (2015). “Democracy In America”, p.326, Sheba Blake Publishing

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The nations of our time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming equal, but it depends upon themselves whether the principle of equality is to lead them to servitude or freedom, to knowledge or barbarism, to prosperity or wretchedness.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Wisdom, Men, Principles

Alexis de Tocqueville (1863). “Democracy in America”, p.412

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Can it be believed that the democracy, which has overthrown the feudal system and vanquished kings, will retreat before tradesmen and capitalists?

Alexis de Tocqueville

Kings, Democracy, Feudal System

"Democracy in America".

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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, America

Alexis de Tocqueville (2003). “Democracy in America”, p.708, Regnery Publishing

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One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their . . . paths [are] diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Mean, Destiny, Hands

"Democracy in America". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville (originally published 1835-1840), translated by George Lawrence, vol. 1, part 2, Conclusion, final paragraphs, p. 412-413, 1969.

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There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it.

Alexis de Tocqueville

War, Two, People

Alexis De Tocqueville (2009). “Democracy in America: Volumes I & II”, p.1253, The Floating Press

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In the United States, if a political character attacks a sect, this may not prevent even the partisans of that very sect, from supporting him; but if he attacks all the sects together, every one abandons him and he remains alone.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Character, Political, Together

Alexis de Tocqueville (1851). “The Republic of the United States of America: And Its Political Institutions, Reviewed and Examined”, p.334

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When, after having examined in detail the organization of the Supreme Court, one comes to consider in sum the prerogatives that have been given it, one discovers without difficulty that a more immense judicial power has never been constituted in any people.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Organization, People, Judicial Power

Alexis de Tocqueville (2012). “Democracy in America”, p.141, University of Chicago Press

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The French constitute the most brilliant and the most dangerous nation in Europe and the best qualified in turn to become an object of admiration, hatred, pity or terror but never indifference.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Europe, Hatred, Brilliant

"The Old Regime and the Revolution". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville, p. 245, 1856.

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The people reign over the American political world as God rules over the universe. It is the cause and the end of all things; everything rises out of it and is absorbed back into it.

Alexis de Tocqueville

People, Political, Causes

Alexis de Tocqueville (1990). “Democracy in America”

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The Union was formed by the voluntary agreement of the States; and these, in uniting together, have not forfeited their Nationality, nor have they been reduced to the condition of one and the same people. If one of the States chose to withdraw its name from the contract, it would be difficult to disprove its right of doing so.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Agreement, Names, People

Alexis de Tocqueville (1847). “Democracy in America”, p.419

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It must not be forgotten that it is especially dangerous to enslave men in the minor details of life. For my part, I should be inclined to think freedom less necessary in the great things than in the little ones, if it were possible to be secure of the one without the other.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Thinking, Details Of Life

Alexis de Tocqueville (2001). “Democracy in America”, p.314, Penguin

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You may be sure that if you succeed in bringing your audience into the presence of something that affects them, they will not care by what road you brought them there; and they will never reproach you for having excited their emotions in spite of dramatic rules.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Care, May, Succeed

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.410, Bantam Classics

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Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to everything except to living in a society which has not their own manners.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Sight, Important

Alexis De Tocqueville (2009). “Democracy in America: Volumes I & II”, p.1164, The Floating Press

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If men are to remain civilized or to become so, the art of associating together must grow and improve in the same ratio in which the equality of conditions is increased.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Art, Men, Together

Alexis de Tocqueville (1863). “Democracy in America”, p.134

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Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort. Do not talk to him about the interests and rights of the human race; that little private business of his for the moment absorbs all his thoughts, and he hopes that public disturbances can be put off to some other time.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Rights, Race, Selfishness

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The First thing that strikes a traveler in the United States is the innumerable multitude of those who seek to emerge from their original condition; and the second is the rarity of lofty ambition to be observed in the midst of the universally ambitious stir of society. No Americans are devoid of a yearning desire to rise, but hardly any appear to entertain hopes of great magnitude or to pursue very lofty aims. All are constantly seeking to acquire property, power, and reputation.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Ambition, Ambitious, Desire

"Democracy in America". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville, Volume II. Book Three, Chapter XIX, 1840.

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In towns it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, America, People

Alexis de Tocqueville (1990). “Democracy in America”

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The last thing abandoned by a party is its phraseology, because among political parties, as elsewhere, the vulgar make the language, and the vulgar abandon more easily the ideas that have been instilled into it than the words that it has learnt.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Party, Ideas, Political

Alexis de Tocqueville (1861). “Memoir, Letters, and Remains of Alexis de Tocqueville”, p.277

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One of the distinguishing characteristics of a democratic period is the taste that all men have for easy success and present enjoyment. This occurs in the pursuits of the intellect as well as in others.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Democracy, Taste

Alexis de Tocqueville (1840). “Democracy in America: Part the Second: The Social Influence of Democracy”, p.16

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Step back in time; look closely at the child in the very arms of his mother; see the external world reflected for the first time in the yet unclear mirror of his understanding; study the first examples which strike his eyes; listen to the first words which arouse within him the slumbering power of thought; watch the first struggles which he has to undergo; only then will you comprehend the source of his prejudices, the habits, and the passions which are to rule his life. The entire man, so to speak, comes fully formed in the wrappings of his cradle.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Mother, Children, Struggle

"Democracy in America". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville. Chapter II, 1835.

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No stigma attaches to the love of money in America, and provided it does not exceed the bounds imposed by public order, it is held in honor. The American will describe as noble and estimable ambition that our medieval ancestors would have called base cupidity.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Ambition, America, Order

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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

Eye, Anxiety, Want

'Voyage en Angleterre et en Irlande de 1835' 18 May

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Of all the countries of the world America is the one where the movement of thought and human industry is the most continuous and swift.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Country, Countries Of The World, America

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Born: July 29, 1805
Died: April 16, 1859
Occupation: Historian
Cite this Page: Citation

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