In America everybody is of opinion that he has no social superiors, since all men are equal, but he does not admit that he has no social inferiors. p. 204.

Summary

This quote by Alexis de Tocqueville highlights a prominent characteristic of American society - the belief in social equality. While Americans boast of an egalitarian society where no individual is seen as superior to another, de Tocqueville suggests they covertly acknowledge the existence of social inferiors. Despite the aspiration for equality, an underlying hierarchy and class distinctions persist, demonstrating a paradox in the American mindset regarding social status.

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