~ Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes ~

[MysteRy]

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.

[MysteRy]

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.

[MysteRy]

What is the 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.

[MysteRy]

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.

[MysteRy]

Though it is very important for man as an individual that his religion should be true that is not the case for society. Society has nothing to fear or hope from another life; what is most important for it is not that all citizens profess the true religion but that they should profess religion.

[MysteRy]

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.