Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville

About Alexis de Tocqueville:

Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville is today considered an early work of sociology and political science.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

In my opinion the main evil of the present democratic institutions of the United States does not arise, as is often asserted in Europe, from their weakness, but from their overpowering strength; and I am not so much alarmed at the excessive liberty w...

Alexis de Tocqueville

nothing, on the other hand, can be more impenetrable to the uninitiated than a legislation founded upon precedents.

Alexis de Tocqueville

What is called family pride is often founded on the illusion of self-love. A man wishes to perpetuate and immortalize himself.

Alexis de Tocqueville

The practice which obtains amongst the Americans of fixing the standard of their judgment in themselves alone, leads them to other habits of mind. As they perceive that they succeed in resolving without assistance all the little difficulties which th...

Alexis de Tocqueville

Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain equality of conditions: they can never attain the equality they desire. It perpetually retires from before them, yet without hiding itself from their sight, and in retiring draws them on. At ever...

Alexis de Tocqueville

It was not man who implanted in himself what is infinite and the love of what is immortal: those lofty instincts are not the offspring of his capricious will; their steadfast foundation is fixed in human nature, and they exist in spite of his efforts...

Alexis de Tocqueville

When the taste for physical gratifications among them has grown more rapidly than their education . . . the time will come when men are carried away and lose all self-restraint . . . . It is not necessary to do violence to such a people in order to s...

Alexis de Tocqueville

Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy; those who had anything united in common terror.

Alexis de Tocqueville

I have always thought that in revolutions, especially democratic revolutions, madmen, not those so called by courtesy, but genuine madmen, have played a very considerable political part. One thing is certain, and that is that a condition of semi-madn...

Alexis de Tocqueville

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.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves.

Alexis de Tocqueville

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.

Alexis de Tocqueville

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

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.

Alexis de Tocqueville

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.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Life is to be entered upon with courage.

Alexis de Tocqueville

An American cannot converse, but he can discuss, and his talk falls into a dissertation. He speaks to you as if he was addressing a meeting; and if he should chance to become warm in the discussion, he will say 'Gentlemen' to the person with whom he ...

Alexis de Tocqueville

The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary crisis, or a battle.

Alexis de Tocqueville

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

Author Bio

  • NameAlexis de Tocqueville
  • DescriptionFrench political thinker and historian
  • AliasesAlexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville
  • BornJuly 29, 1805
  • DiedApril 16, 1859
  • CountryFrance
  • ProfessionPhilosopher; Politician; Historian; Author
  • WorksDemocracy In America
  • AwardsKnight Of The Legion Of Honour