Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville

Self-interest is the spring of all human actions.

The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting.

The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

The greatest danger to liberty is from those who are perpetually seeking to extend it.

In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.

The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other.

The power of the majority is a dangerous and formidable weapon.

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.

America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

The best laws cannot make a constitution work in spite of morals; morals can turn the worst laws to advantage.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.

Despotism often presents itself as the embodiment of progress; the act of destroying freedom is disguised as the act of trying to perfect the individual.

Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville part 2

Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.

Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and fight for it, we must be prepared to extend it to everyone.

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

The sight of the victim inflames the executioner.

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.

Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.

As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?

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.

The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.

The more equal men become, the more insatiable will be their desires.

The American Republic will endure until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.

Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality.

The taste for equality grows upon us with every increase in our equality.

Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.

It is the dissimilarities and inequalities among men which give rise to the notion of honor.

Slavery does not destroy a man’s virtues; it enhances them.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.

The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

I know of no country, indeed, where the love of money has taken stronger hold on the affections of men.

The very essence of democratic government consists in the absolute sovereignty of the majority.

The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

To be devoured by all factions alike: to be insulted and oppressed by all; to be disregarded, yet subject to the laws; to be driven forth from the society of all men, yet compelled to ask everyone for assistance.

There is hardly a political question in the United States which does not sooner or later turn into a judicial one.

I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.

A false but clear and precise idea always has more power in the world than one which is true but complex.

It is not difficult to see that in democratic centuries men do not always engage in great affairs: but it is easy to recognize that in those times they think of great affairs, and come to conceive what should be more great affairs than those which they execute in their lifetime.

An inability to stay quiet is one of the most conspicuous failings of mankind.

The men of our time are not solely occupied with the pursuit of pleasure, but also with the search for truth.