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 More Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville More Quotes From Alexis de Tocqueville Chance does nothing that has not been prepared beforehand. Alexis de Tocqueville prepared chance doe There is no philosopher in the world so great but he believes a million things on the faith of other people and accepts a great many more truths than he demonstrates. Alexis de Tocqueville truth believe people A long war almost always places nations in this sad alternative: that their defeat delivers them to destruction and their triumph to despotism. Alexis de Tocqueville triumph war long The best laws cannot make a constitution work in spite of morals; morals can turn the worst laws to advantage. That is a commonplace truth, but one to which my studies are always bringing me back. It is the central point in my conception. I see it at the end of all my reflections. Alexis de Tocqueville moral reflection law The more I view the independence of the press in its principal effects, the more I convince myself that among the moderns the independence of the press is the capital and so to speak the constitutive element of freedom. Alexis de Tocqueville independence elements views 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 compassion men History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies. Alexis de Tocqueville fake-people history reality However energetically society in general may strive to make all the citizens equal and alike, the personal pride of each individual will always make him try to escape from the common level, and he will form some inequality somewhere to his own profit. Alexis de Tocqueville equality pride trying 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. Alexis de Tocqueville differences giving men One of the distinguishing characteristics of a democratic period is the taste that all men have for easy success and present enjoyment. This occurs in the pursuits of the intellect as well as in others. Alexis de Tocqueville democracy taste men The will of the nation is one of those phrases most widely abused by schemers and tyrants of all ages. Alexis de Tocqueville tyrants democracy age At the head of any new undertaking where in France you would find the government, or in England some great lord, in the United States you are sure to find an association. Alexis de Tocqueville united-states government association I shall not fear to say that the doctrine of self-interest rightly understood seems to me of all the philosophic theories the most appropriate to the needs of men in our time, and that I see in it the most powerful guarantee against themselves that remains to them. The minds of the moralists of our day ought to turn, therefore, principally toward it. Even should they judge it imperfect, they would still have to adopt it as necessary. Alexis de Tocqueville powerful self men The First thing that strikes a traveler in the United States is the innumerable multitude of those who seek to emerge from their original condition; and the second is the rarity of lofty ambition to be observed in the midst of the universally ambitious stir of society. No Americans are devoid of a yearning desire to rise, but hardly any appear to entertain hopes of great magnitude or to pursue very lofty aims. All are constantly seeking to acquire property, power, and reputation. Alexis de Tocqueville ambitious ambition desire 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 ties wisdom people Men will not receive the truth from their enemies, and it is seldom offered to them by their friends. Alexis de Tocqueville men enemy Among the droves of men with political ambitions in the United States, I found very few with that virile candor, that manly independence of thought, that often distinguished Americans in earlier times and that is invariably the preeminent trait of great characters wherever it exists. Alexis de Tocqueville ambition character men America is great because she is good. Alexis de Tocqueville democracy-in-america america But what most astonishes me in the United States, is not so much the marvelous grandeur of some undertakings, as the innumerable multitude of small ones. Alexis de Tocqueville multitudes united-states america In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them. Alexis de Tocqueville freedom writing america
