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Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes about Sacrifice

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I have seen Americans making great and sincere sacrifices for the key common good and a hundred times I have noticed that, when needs be, they almost always gave each other faithful support

I have seen Americans making great and sincere sacrifices for the key common good and a hundred times I have noticed that, when needs be, they almost always gave each other faithful support

Alexis de Tocqueville
Sacrifice, Keys, Support

Remember that life is neither pain nor pleasure; it is serious business, to be entered upon with courage and in a spirit of self-sacrifice.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Life, Pain, Sacrifice

I must say that I have seen Americans make great and real sacrifices to the public welfare; and have noticed a hundred instances in which they hardly ever failed to lend faithful support to one another.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Real, Sacrifice, Support
Alexis de Tocqueville (1840). “Democracy in America”, p.105

It is above all in the present democratic age that the true friends of liberty and human grandeur must remain constantly vigilant and ready to prevent the social power from lightly sacrificing the particular rights of a few individuals to the general execution of its designs. In such times there is no citizen so obscure that it is not very dangerous to allow him to be oppressed, and there are no individual rights so unimportant that they can be sacrificed to arbitrariness with impunity.

Alexis de Tocqueville
True Friend, Sacrifice, Rights

The Americans, on the contrary, are fond of explaining almost all the actions of their lives by the principle of interest rightly understood; they show with complacency how an enlightened regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other, and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a portion of their time and property to the welfare of the state.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Sacrifice, Principles, Complacency
Alexis De Tocqueville (2004). “Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II”, p.440, Bantam Classics

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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