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Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes - Page 13

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A state of equality is perhaps less elevated, but it is more just; and its justice constitutes its greatness and beauty.

A state of equality is perhaps less elevated, but it is more just; and its justice constitutes its greatness and beauty.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Greatness, Justice, States
Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.591, Bantam Classics

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

What chiefly diverts the men of democracies from lofty ambition is not the scantiness of their fortunes, but the vehemence of the exertions they daily make to improve them.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Ambition, Men, Democracy
Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.528, Bantam Classics

When a monarchy gradually transforms itself into a republic, the executive power there preserves titles, honors, respect, and even money long after it has lost the reality of power. The English, having cut off the head of one of their kings and chased another off the throne, still go on their knees to address the successors of those princes. On the other hand, when a republic falls under one man's yoke, the ruler's demeanor remains simple, unaffected, and modest, as if he had not already been raised above everybody.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Kings, Fall, Cutting
Alexis de Tocqueville (1990). “Democracy in America”

As I see it, only God can be all-powerful without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. Thus there is no authority on earth so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that I would want to let it act without oversight or rule without impediment (p. 290).

Alexis de Tocqueville
Powerful, Justice, Earth
Alexis de Tocqueville, Arthur Goldhammer (2004). “Democracy in America”, p.290, Library of 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

Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain equality of conditions: they can never attain the equality they desire. It perpetually retires from before them, yet without hiding itself from their sight, and in retiring draws them on. At every moment they think they are about to grasp it; it escapes at every moment from their hold. They are near enough to see its charms, but too far off to enjoy them; and before they have fully tasted its delights they die.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Men, Thinking, Sight
Alexis de Tocqueville (2003). “Democracy in America”, p.494, Regnery Publishing

In democratic centuries, on the contrary, when the duties of each individual toward the species are much clearer, devotion toward one man becomes rarer: the bond of human affections is extended and loosened.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Men, Democracy, Affection
Alexis de Tocqueville (2012). “Democracy in America”, p.483, University of Chicago Press

Nations, as well as man, almost always betray the most prominent features of their future destiny in their earliest years.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Destiny, Men, Years
Alexis de Tocqueville (1991). “Democracy in America”, p.436, Рипол Классик

I considered mores to be one of the great general causes responsible for the maintenance of a democratic republic . . . the term "mores" . . . meaning . . . habits of the heart.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Heart, Maintenance, Republic

I cannot believe that a republic could subsist if the influence of the lawyers in public business did not increase in proportion to the power of the people.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Believe, People, Republic

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