Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes About Politics

Quotes about: Politics

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

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Government, Discovery, America

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

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Party, Men, America

• 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, Political, Taxation

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

• As for me, I am deeply a democrat; this is why I am in no way a socialist. Democracy and socialism cannot go together. You can't have it both ways. Socialism is a new form of slavery.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Philosophy, Political, Together

  Notes for a Speech on Socialism, 1848.

• 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

  Political, Majority, United States

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1840). “Democracy in America”, p.18

• Any measure that establishes legal charity on a permanent basis and gives it an administrative form thereby creates an idle and lazy class, living at the expense of the industrial and working class.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Class, Giving, Lazy

  Alexis de Tocqueville (2006). “Memoir on Pauperism: Does Public Charity Produce an Idle And Dependent Class of Society?”, p.26, Cosimo, Inc.

• I am deeply convinced that any permanent, regular administrative system whose aim is to provide for the needs of the poor will breed more miseries than it can cure, will deprave the population that it wants to help and comfort, will dry up the sources of savings, will stop the accumulation of capital, will retard the development of trade, and will benumb human industry.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Dry Up, Comfort, Population

  Alexis de Tocqueville, Gustave de Beaumont (1968). “Tocqueville and Beaumont on social reform”

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

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Friendship, Hatred, Politics

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1995). “Recollections: the French Revolution of 1848”, p.73, Transaction Publishers

• Socialism is a new form of slavery.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Political, Slavery, Politics

  "Notes for a Speech on Socialism" by Alexis de Tocqueville, 1848.

• It would seem that if despotism were to be established among the democratic nations of our days, it might assume a different character; it would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them. I do not question that, in an age of instruction and equality like our own, sovereigns might more easily succeed in collecting all political power into their own hands and might interfere more habitually and decidedly with the circle of private interests than any sovereign of antiquity could ever do.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Character, Men, Hands

  Alexis de Tocqueville (2015). “Democracy in America - Vol. I. and II.”, p.760, Read Books Ltd

• 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 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

  Political, Democracy, Aristocracy

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

• In politics a community of hatred is almost always the foundation of friendships.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Community, Hatred, Foundation

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1896). “Recollections”, p.110, Library of Alexandria

• Trade is the natural enemy of all violent passions. Trade loves moderation, delights in compromise, and is most careful to avoid anger. It is patient, supple, and insinuating, only resorting to extreme measures in cases of absolute necessity.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Passion, Enemy, Delight

  "Democracy in America".

• 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

• 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

• 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”

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin