Quotes By Alexis De Tocqueville

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

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.

He was as great as a man can be without morality.

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.

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.

The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing.

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.

No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.

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

Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort.

History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.

Grant me thirty years of equal division of inheritances and a free press, and I will provide you with a republic.

In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own.