“It is the dissimilarities and inequalities among men which give rise to the notion of honor as such differences become less, it grows feeble and when they disappear, it will vanish too.”
Men
“The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.”
SocietyAll Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville
“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.”
Business“What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that way there are rich men, but they do not form a class.”
Great“In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.”
Politics“In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.”
Government“The power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.”
Power“Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”
Equality“No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.”
Freedom“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.”
Men“The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”
Health“Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to everything except to living in a society which has not their own manners.”
Society“When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.”
Future“Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”
Faith“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 the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?”
Money“I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.”
Freedom“A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.”
Government“The debates of that great assembly are frequently vague and perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than to march, to the intended goal. Something of this sort must, I think, always happen in public democratic assemblies.”
Great“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
Money“Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves.”
Best“The main business of religions is to purify, control, and restrain that excessive and exclusive taste for well-being which men acquire in times of equality.”
Business