“The principle of equality, which makes men independent of each other, gives them a habit and a taste for following, in their private actions, no other guide but their own will. This complete independence, which they constantly enjoy towards their equals and in the intercourse of private life, tends to make them look upon all authority with a jealous eye, and speedily suggests to them the notion and the love of political freedom. Men living at such times have a natural bias to free institutions. Take any one of them at a venture, and search if you can his most deep-seated instincts; and you will find that, of all governments, he will soonest conceive and most highly value that government whose head he has himself elected, and whose administration he may control.”
Quote by Alexis de Tocqueville
Work
Published in the 19th century, this seminal work offers a detailed examination of the American political system, its history, and its societal implications. The author delves into the functioning of democracy, the role of the government, and the cultural fabric of the nation. more
Author
Alexis de Tocqueville was a French historian and political theorist renowned for his seminal work 'Democracy in America'. He embarked on a journey to the United States in the 1830s to examine its democratic institutions, and his observations were compiled into a two-volume book that remains a cornerstone in the study of American democracy and political science. more
You May Also Like
“Freedom is a rare gift... Quite easily taken for granted and even more easily taken away.”
“Ukiwanyima watoto uhuru wa kuwa watoto leo watakuwa na uhuru wa kuwa watoto kesho.”