Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

A collection of quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political thinker, historian, and writer, known for his seminal work "Democracy in America." He was born on July 29, 1805, in Paris, France, into an aristocratic family. Tocqueville's parents were devoted liberals who encouraged his education and sparked his passion for political studies.

After completing law school, Tocqueville embarked on a trip to the United States with his friend Gustave de Beaumont, where they were sent by the French government to observe the American prison system. However, Tocqueville's observations extended far beyond prisons to the social and political dynamics of the young American democracy. Upon his return to France, he began writing "Democracy in America," a comprehensive analysis of American society, politics, and the unique nature of democracy.

Published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, "Democracy in America" quickly gained international recognition for its profound insights into democratic systems. Tocqueville's work emphasized the importance of local governance, individualism, and civil associations in maintaining democratic institutions. He also highlighted the potential dangers of democratic tyranny and the "tyranny of the majority."

Beyond his magnum opus, Tocqueville continued his political engagement in France. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies and held various governmental positions. Tocqueville's writings, including works on the French Revolution and the rise of socialism, continue to be influential in political and philosophical circles.

Alexis de Tocqueville died on April 16, 1859, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an astute observer of democracy and its challenges. His work remains highly regarded as a source of insight and understanding into the complexities of democratic governance.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who v

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

There are two things which a democratic people will always f

There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it.

Alexis de Tocqueville

What is most important for democracy is not that great fortu

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

It is the dissimilarities and inequalities among men which g

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

In politics... shared hatreds are almost always the basis of

In politics... shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types o

Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations... In democratic countries knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Life Age Progress

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word,

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.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

Alexis de Tocqueville

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress dis

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.

Alexis de Tocqueville

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit w

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.

Alexis de Tocqueville

By and large the literature of a democracy will never exhibi

By and large the literature of a democracy will never exhibit the order, regularity, skill, and art characteristic of aristocratic literature; formal qualities will be neglected or actually despised. The style will often be strange, incorrect, overburdened, and loose, and almost always strong and bold. Writers will be more anxious to work quickly than to perfect details. Short works will be commoner than long books, wit than erudition, imagination than depth. There will be a rude and untutored vigor of thought with great variety and singular fecundity. Authors will strive to astonish more than to please, and to stir passions rather than to charm taste.

Alexis de Tocqueville

The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great numb

The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Not only does democracy make every man forget his ancestors,

Not only does democracy make every man forget his ancestors, but also clouds their view of their descendants and isolates them from their contemporaries. Each man is for ever thrown back on himself alone, and there is danger that he may be shut up in the solitude of his own heart.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Nothing is quite so wretchedly corrupt as an aristocracy whi

Nothing is quite so wretchedly corrupt as an aristocracy which has lost its power but kept its wealth and which still has endless leisure to devote to nothing but banal enjoyments. All its great thoughts and passionate energy are things of the past, and nothing but a host of petty, gnawing vices now cling to it like worms to a corpse.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Scarcely any political question arises in the United States

Scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question.

Alexis de Tocqueville

However energetically society in general may strive to make

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

The best laws cannot make a constitution work in spite of mo

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

The health of a democratic society may be measured by the qu

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

Alexis de Tocqueville

I studied the Quran a great deal. I came away from that stud

I studied the Quran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction that by and large there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as that of Muhammad. As far as I can see, it is the principal cause of the decadence so visible today in the Muslim world and, though less absurd than the polytheism of old, its social and political tendencies are in my opinion more to be feared, and I therefore regard it as a form of decadence rather than a form of progress in relation to paganism itself.

Alexis de Tocqueville

After having thus successively taken each member of the comm

After having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp, and fashioned them at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided: men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting: such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.

Alexis de Tocqueville