Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes - Page 11

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In the United States, except for slaves, servants and the destitute fed by townships, everyone has the vote and this is an indirect contributor to law-making. Anyone wishing to attack the
law is thus reduced to adopting one of two obvious courses: they must either change the nation's opinion or trample its wishes under foot.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Law, Two, Feet

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

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Physical strength therefore is one of the first conditions of happiness and even of the existence of nations.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Firsts, Existence, Physical Strength

Alexis de Tocqueville (1839). “Democracy in America”, p.158

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The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Aspect, Animated

Alexis De Tocqueville (2013). “Democracy in America -”, p.237, Read Books Ltd

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There is no philosopher in the world so great but he believes a million things on the faith of other people and accepts a great many more truths than he demonstrates.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Truth, Believe, People

Alexis De Tocqueville (2013). “Democracy in America -”, p.17, Read Books Ltd

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In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race. One never sees them inflict pointless suffering, and they are glad to relieve the sorrows of others when they can do so without much trouble to themselves. They are not disinterested, but they are gentle.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Sacrifice, Men, Compassion

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

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The public, therefore, among a democratic people, has a singular power, which aristocratic nations cannot conceive; for it does not persuade others to its beliefs, but it imposes them and makes them permeate the thinking of everyone by a sort of enormous pressure of the mind of all upon the individual intelligence.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Thinking, People, Mind

Alexis de Tocqueville (1840). “Democracy in America”, p.10

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Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people's reach.

Alexis de Tocqueville

School, People, Democracy

Alexis De Tocqueville (2009). “Democracy in America: Volumes I & II”, p.127, The Floating Press

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Whatever may be the general endeavor of a community to render its members equal and alike, the personal pride of individuals will always seek to rise above the line, and to form somewhere an inequality to their own advantage.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Pride, Community, Lines

Alexis de Tocqueville (2003). “Democracy in America”, p.551, Regnery Publishing

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What is understood by republican government in the United States is the slow and quiet action of society upon itself.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Republican Government, United States, World

Alexis De Tocqueville (2009). “Democracy in America: Volumes I & II”, p.754, The Floating Press

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Among these widely differing families of men, the first that attracts attention, the superior in intelligence, in power, and in enjoyment, is the white, or European, the MAN pre-eminently so called, below him appear the Negro and the Indian.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, White, Attention

Alexis de Tocqueville (2003). “Democracy in America”, p.304, Barnes & Noble Publishing

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The civil jury is the most effective form of sovereignty of the people. It defies the aggressions of time and man. During the reigns of Henry VIII (1509-1547) and Elizabeth I (1158-1603), the civil jury did in reality save the liberties of England.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Reality, Men, Law

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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

Men, Law, Differences

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.506, Bantam Classics

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If a [democratic] society displays less brilliance than an aristocracy, there will also be less wretchedness; pleasures will be less outrageous and wellbeing will be shared by all; the sciences will be on a smaller scale but ignorance will be less common; opinions will be less vigorous and habits gentler; you will notice more vices and fewer crimes.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Ignorance, Vices, Aristocracy

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

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European Christianity has allowed itself to be intimately united with the powers of this world. Now that these powers are falling, it is as if it were buried under their ruins.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Fall, Church, World

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

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A French observer is surprised to hear how often an English or an American lawyer quotes the opinions of others, and how little he alludes to his own; ... This abnegation of his own opinion, and this implicit deference to the opinion of his forefathers, which are common to the English and American lawyer, this servitude of thought which he is obliged to profess, necessarily give him more timid habits and more conservative inclinations in England and America than in France.

Alexis de Tocqueville

England And America, Law, Giving

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.235, Bantam Classics

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Of all nations, those submit to civilization with the most difficulty which habitually live by the chase.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Civilization, World, Difficulty

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.280, Bantam Classics

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Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions

Alexis de Tocqueville

Government, Political, Firsts

Alexis de Tocqueville (2007). “Democracy in America: An Annotated Text Backgrounds Interpretations”, W W Norton & Company Incorporated

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In America a woman loses her independence for ever in the bonds of matrimony. While there is less constraint on girls there than anywhere else, a wife submits to stricter obligations. For the former, her father's house is a home of freedom and pleasure; for the latter, her husband's is almost a cloister.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Marriage, Girl, Husband

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

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There is one universal law that has been formed, or at least adoptedby the majority of mankind. That law is justice. Justice forms the cornerstone of each nation's law.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Law, Justice, Majority

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The most durable monument of human labor is that which recalls the wretchedness and nothingness of man.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Labor, Humans

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.48, Bantam Classics

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On this waterlogged landscape....are scattered palaces and hovels....It is here that the human spirit becomes perfect, and at the same time brutalised, that civilisation produces its marvels and that civilised man returns to the savage.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Men, Cities, Perfect

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The electors see their representative not only as a legislator for the state but also as the natural protector of local interests in the legislature; indeed, they almost seem to think that he has a power of attorney to represent each constituent, and they trust him to be as eager in their private interests as in those of the country.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Country, Thinking, America

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All around you everything is on the move.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Moving

"Democracy in America". Book by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835-1840). Edited by J. P. Mayer, translated by George Lawrence, vol. 1, part 2, chapter 6, p. 242, 1969.

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In democratic countries, however opulent a man is supposed to be, he is almost always discontented with his fortune, because he finds that he is less rich than his father was, and he fears that his sons will be less rich than himself.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Country, Father, Son

Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.463, Bantam Classics

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A great democratic revolution is taking place in our midst.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Revolution, Midst, Democratic

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Alexis de Tocqueville

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

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