Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes About Revolution

Quotes about: Revolution

• 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

  Moving, Men, Innovation

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

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

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Revolution, Rebellious, Invention

  Alexis de Tocqueville (1896). “Recollections”, p.85, 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. Trade makes men independent of one another and gives them a high idea of their personal importance: it leads them to want to manage their own affairs and teaches them to succeed therein. Hence it makes them inclined to liberty but disinclined to revolution.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Love, Passion, Independent

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

• The regime which is destroyed by a revolution is almost always an improvement on its immediate predecessor, and experience teaches that the most critical moment for bad governments is the one which witnesses their first steps toward reform.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Government, Reform, Critical Moments

  Alexis de Tocqueville (2012). “The Old Regime and the French Revolution”, p.214, Courier Corporation

• When the people rule, they must be rendered happy, or they will overturn the state.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  People, Revolution, Rebellion

  Alexis de Tocqueville (2001). “Democracy in America”, p.129, Penguin

• If there ever are great revolutions there, they will be caused by the presence of the blacks upon American soil.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Political, Soil, Revolution

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

• 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)

• 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

• It is almost never when a state of things is the most detestable that it is smashed, but when, beginning to improve, it permits men to breathe, to reflect, to communicate their thoughts with each other, and to gauge by what they already have the extent of their rights and their grievances. The weight, although less heavy, seems then all the more unbearable.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Men, Rights, Gauges

  Alexis de Tocqueville, Roger Boesche, James Toupin (1986). “Selected Letters on Politics and Society”, p.296, Univ of California Press

• A great democratic revolution is taking place in our midst.

  Alexis de Tocqueville

  Revolution, Midst, Democratic

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