Despotism may be able to do without religion, but democracy cannot. Alexis de Tocqueville More Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville More Quotes From Alexis de Tocqueville Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith. Alexis de Tocqueville ethicslibertypregnancy A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it. Alexis de Tocqueville taxationpoliticalgovernment 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-friendsacrificerights I am deeply convinced that any permanent, regular administrative system whose aim is to provide for the needs of the poor will breed more miseries than it can cure, will deprave the population that it wants to help and comfort, will dry up the sources of savings, will stop the accumulation of capital, will retard the development of trade, and will benumb human industry. Alexis de Tocqueville dry-uppopulationcomfort A man's admiration of absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he feels for those around him. Alexis de Tocqueville collectivismadmirationmen Society is endangered not by the great profligacy of a few, but by the laxity of morals amongst all. Alexis de Tocqueville moral 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. Alexis de Tocqueville libertymindimpossible 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. Alexis de Tocqueville classmenhands 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. Alexis de Tocqueville aristocracydemocracypolitical All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it. Alexis de Tocqueville warpeacemean Rulers who destroy men's freedom commonly begin by trying to retain its forms. ... They cherish the illusion that they can combine the prerogatives of absolute power with the moral authority that comes from popular assent. Alexis de Tocqueville moraltryingmen The French under the old monarchy held it for a maxim that the king could do no wrong . The Americans entertain the same opinion with respect to the majority.... If ever the free institutions of America are destroyed, that event may be attributed to the omnipotence of the majority. Alexis de Tocqueville omnipotencekingsamerica When I refuse to obey an unjust law, I do not contest the right of the majority to command, but I simply appeal from the sovereignty of the people to the sovereignty of mankind. Alexis de Tocqueville lawjusticepeople If an American was condemned to confine his activity to his own affairs, he would be robbed of one half of his existence. Alexis de Tocqueville gossiphalfwould-be Every central government worships uniformity: uniformity relieves it from inquiry into an infinity of details. Alexis de Tocqueville inquirylibertygovernment Because Roman civilization perished through barbarian invasions, we are perhaps too much inclined to think that that is the only way a civilization can die. If the lights that guide us ever go out, they will fade little by little, as if of their own accord.... We therefore should not console ourselves by thinking that the barbarians are still a long way off. Some peoples may let the torch be snatched from their hands, but others stamp it out themselves. Alexis de Tocqueville lighthandsthinking When a large number of organs of the press come to advance along the same track, their influence becomes almost irresistible in the long term, and public opinion, struck always from the same side, ends by yielding under their blows. Alexis de Tocqueville blownumberslong It would seem as if the rulers of our time sought only to use men in order to make things great; I wish that they would try a little more to make great men; that they would set less value on the work and more upon the workman; that they would never forget that a nation cannot long remain strong when every man belonging to it is individually weak; and that no form or combination of social polity has yet been devised to make an energetic people out of a community of pusillanimous and enfeebled citizens. Alexis de Tocqueville strongmenorder The most perilous moment for a bad government is when it seeks to mend its ways. Only consummate statecraft can enable a king to save his throne when, after a long spell of oppression, he sets out to improve the lot of his subjects. Alexis de Tocqueville governmentkingslong Nobody is going to occupy a place higher than I. Alexis de Tocqueville higher
