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Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

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Famous Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

“I regard as impious and detestable the maxim that in matters of government the majority of a people has the right to do everything, and nevertheless I place the origin of all powers in the wishes of the majority. Am I in contradiction with myself? There exists a general law which has been made, or at least adopted not only by the majority of this or that people but by the majority of all men. This law is justice. Justice thus forms the limit to the right of each people.”

PoliticsJusticeDemocracyRightsMajorityMinorityRights Of Man
Book:Democracy in America
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“All revolutions more or less threaten the tenure of property: but most of those who live in democratic countries are possessed of property - not only are they possessed of property but they live in the condition of men who set the greatest store upon their property.”

MenCountryWisdomPoliticsEconomyConditionsRevolutionPropertyDemocraticStoresLiberalismPossessedTenureDemocratic Country
Book:Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II
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“In democratic countries as well as elsewhere most of the branches of productive industry are carried on at a small cost by men little removed by their wealth or education above the level of those whom they employ.”

MenWellsLittlesCountryPoliticsWealthLevelsEconomyIndustryCostDemocraticBranchesLiberalismProductiveElsewhereDemocratic Country
Book:Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II
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“It would seem that if despotism were to be established among the democratic nations of our days, it might assume a different character; it would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them. I do not question that, in an age of instruction and equality like our own, sovereigns might more easily succeed in collecting all political power into their own hands and might interfere more habitually and decidedly with the circle of private interests than any sovereign of antiquity could ever do.”

IfsMenDifferentCharacterHandsSeemsMightWould BeAgePoliticalPoliticsNationsInterestSucceedAssumingDemocraticCirclesInstructionInterfereSovereignCollectingDespotismAntiquityPolitical PowerDegradeDifferent Characters
Book:Democracy in America - Vol. I. and II.
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“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.”

PoliticalPoliticsDifferencesCommonLibertyDemocracySeekingEqualitySocialismLiberalismPatrioticRestraintOne WordFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyServitudeDemocracies HaveEquality Of PeopleDemocratic SocialismLiberty And EqualityDemocracy In AmericaLiberal DemocracyRoad To SerfdomCapitalism And Socialism
Author:Alexis de Tocqueville
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“Any measure that establishes legal charity on a permanent basis and gives it an administrative form thereby creates an idle and lazy class, living at the expense of the industrial and working class.”

GivingFormPoliticsClassBasesCharityPermanentLazyExpensesIdleWorking ClassAdministrative
Book:Memoir on Pauperism: Does Public Charity Produce an Idle And Dependent Class of Society?
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“I am deeply convinced that any permanent, regular administrative system whose aim is to provide for the needs of the poor will breed more miseries than it can cure, will deprave the population that it wants to help and comfort, will dry up the sources of savings, will stop the accumulation of capital, will retard the development of trade, and will benumb human industry.”

WantNeedsHumansHelpingPoliticsPoorSourceDevelopmentIndustryComfortAimTradeMiseryPopulationConvincedCuresSavingPermanentDrySavingsAccumulationAdministrativeRetardDry Up
Book:Tocqueville and Beaumont on social reform
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