Authors:
  1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. A
  4. Alexis de Tocqueville
  5. Wisdom

Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes about Wisdom

All Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes Age Ambition Anxiety Art Atheism Character Christianity Church Community Country Democracy Desire Destiny Earth Energy Equality Freedom Giving Greatness Hatred Heart Home House Ignorance Independence Islam Justice Labor Language Liberty Love Lying Mankind Morality Passion Past Politics Power Pride Progress Prosperity Reality Religion Revolution Sacrifice School Slavery Struggle Suffering Tyranny Violence War Wealth Wisdom quotes
How could a society escape destruction if, when political ties are relaxed, moral ties are not tightened, and what can be done with a people master of itself if it not subject to God?

How could a society escape destruction if, when political ties are relaxed, moral ties are not tightened, and what can be done with a people master of itself if it not subject to God?

Alexis de Tocqueville
Wisdom, Ties, People
Alexis de Tocqueville (1990). “Democracy in America”

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)

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 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

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

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

You May Also Like: