Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes About Liberalism

Quotes about: Liberalism

• 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

  Patriotic, Equality, Differences

  "Discours prononcé à l'assemblée constituante le 12 Septembre 1848 sur la question du droit au travail". Oeuvres complètes, Volume IX, p. 546, 1866.

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

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Wisdom, Quality, Citizens

• 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

• All revolutions more or less threaten the tenure of property: but most of those who live in democratic countries are possessed of property - not only are they possessed of property but they live in the condition of men who set the greatest store upon their property.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Wisdom, Country, Men

  Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.534, Bantam Classics

• If ever America undergoes great revolutions, they will be brought about by the presence of the black race on the soil of the United States - that is to say, they will owe their origin not to the equality but to the inequality of conditions.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Wisdom, Race, America

  Democracy in America vol. 2, sec. 3, ch. 21 (1840) (translation by Henry Reeve)

• In democratic countries as well as elsewhere most of the branches of productive industry are carried on at a small cost by men little removed by their wealth or education above the level of those whom they employ.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Country, Men, Cost

  Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.488, Bantam Classics

• Nations are less disposed to make revolutions in proportion as personal property is augmented and distributed among them, and as the number of those possessing it is increased.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Wisdom, Numbers, Politics

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1840). “Democracy in America”, p.190

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