|

|

Advertisements

Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes

As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in? Picture Quote #1

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all Picture Quote #1

Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to everything except to living in a society which has not their own manners Picture Quote #1

In a revolution, as in a novel, the most difficult part to invent is the end Picture Quote #1

The debates of that great assembly are frequently vague and perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than to march, to the intended goal. Something of this sort must, I think, always happen in public democratic assemblies Picture Quote #1

The regime which is destroyed by a revolution is almost always an improvement on its immediate predecessor, and experience teaches that the most critical moment for bad governments is the one which witnesses their first steps toward reform Picture Quote #1

Advertisements

He who seeks freedom for anything but freedom’s self is made to be a slave Picture Quote #1

Generally speaking, only simple conceptions can grip the mind of a nation. An idea that is clear and precise even though false will always have greater power in the world than an idea that is true but complex Picture Quote #1

If it be admitted that a man, possessing absolute power, may misuse that power by wronging his adversaries, why should a majority not be liable to the same reproach? Men are not apt to change their character by agglomeration; nor does their patience in the presence of obstacles increase with the consciousness of their strength. And for these reasons I can never willingly invest any number of my fellow creatures with that unlimited authority which I should refuse to any one of them Picture Quote #1

Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach Picture Quote #1

Those which we call necessary institutions are simply no more than institutions to which we have become accustomed Picture Quote #1

The man who submits to violence is debased by his compliance; but when he submits to that right of authority which he acknowledges in a fellow creature, he rises in some measure above the person who give the command Picture Quote #1

Advertisements

Lawyers belong to the people by birth and interest, and to the aristocracy by habit and taste; they may be looked upon as the connecting link of the two great classes of society Picture Quote #1

I cannot believe that a republic could subsist if the influence of the lawyers in public business did not increase in proportion to the power of the people Picture Quote #1

In democratic countries, however opulent a man is supposed to be, he is almost always discontented with his fortune, because he finds that he is less rich than his father was, and he fears that his sons will be less rich than himself Picture Quote #1

What chiefly diverts the men of democracies from lofty ambition is not the scantiness of their fortunes, but the vehemence of the exertions they daily make to improve them Picture Quote #1

Those who prize freedom only for the material benefits it offers have never kept it for long Picture Quote #1

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 Picture Quote #1

Advertisements

Nations are less disposed to make revolutions in proportion as personal property is augmented and distributed among them, and as the number of those possessing it is increased Picture Quote #1

The nations of our time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming equal, but it depends upon themselves whether the principle of equality is to lead them to servitude or freedom, to knowledge or barbarism, to prosperity or wretchedness Picture Quote #1

You need not value it yourself if you do not wish to; but you ought to allow it to us who do value it Picture Quote #1

A newspaper is an adviser who does not require to be sought, but who comes of his own accord, and talks to you briefly every day of the common wealth, without distracting you from your private affairs Picture Quote #1

I do not find fault with equality for drawing men into the pursuit of forbidden pleasures, but for absorbing them entirely in the search for the pleasures that are permitted Picture Quote #1

To commit violent and unjust acts, it is not enough for a government to have the will or even the power; the habits, ideas and passions of the time must lend themselves to their committal Picture Quote #1

Advertisements

Righteous women in their circle of influence, beginning in the home, can turn the world around Picture Quote #1

I have always noticed in politics how often men are ruined by having too good a memory Picture Quote #1

In democracies, nothing is more great or more brilliant than commerce: it attracts the attention of the public, and fills the imagination of the multitude; all energetic passions are directed towards it Picture Quote #1

Whatever may be the general endeavor of a community to render its members equal and alike, the personal pride of individuals will always seek to rise above the line, and to form somewhere an inequality to their own advantage Picture Quote #1

Men seldom take the opinion of their equal, or of a man like themselves, upon trust Picture Quote #1

When the reality of power has been surrendered, it’s playing a dangerous game to seek to retain the appearance of it; the external aspect of vigor can sometimes support a debilitated body, but most often it manages to deal it the final blow Picture Quote #1

1 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Advertisements

Text Quotes

As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in? (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to everything except to living in a society which has not their own manners (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) In a revolution, as in a novel, the most difficult part to invent is the end (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) The debates of that great assembly are frequently vague and perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than to march, to the intended goal. Something of this sort must, I think, always happen in public democratic assemblies (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) The regime which is destroyed by a revolution is almost always an improvement on its immediate predecessor, and experience teaches that the most critical moment for bad governments is the one which witnesses their first steps toward reform (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) He who seeks freedom for anything but freedom’s self is made to be a slave (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Generally speaking, only simple conceptions can grip the mind of a nation. An idea that is clear and precise even though false will always have greater power in the world than an idea that is true but complex (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) If it be admitted that a man, possessing absolute power, may misuse that power by wronging his adversaries, why should a majority not be liable to the same reproach? Men are not apt to change their character by agglomeration; nor does their patience in the presence of obstacles increase with the consciousness of their strength. And for these reasons I can never willingly invest any number of my fellow creatures with that unlimited authority which I should refuse to any one of them (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Those which we call necessary institutions are simply no more than institutions to which we have become accustomed (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) The man who submits to violence is debased by his compliance; but when he submits to that right of authority which he acknowledges in a fellow creature, he rises in some measure above the person who give the command (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Lawyers belong to the people by birth and interest, and to the aristocracy by habit and taste; they may be looked upon as the connecting link of the two great classes of society (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) I cannot believe that a republic could subsist if the influence of the lawyers in public business did not increase in proportion to the power of the people (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) In democratic countries, however opulent a man is supposed to be, he is almost always discontented with his fortune, because he finds that he is less rich than his father was, and he fears that his sons will be less rich than himself (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) What chiefly diverts the men of democracies from lofty ambition is not the scantiness of their fortunes, but the vehemence of the exertions they daily make to improve them (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Those who prize freedom only for the material benefits it offers have never kept it for long (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) 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 (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Nations are less disposed to make revolutions in proportion as personal property is augmented and distributed among them, and as the number of those possessing it is increased (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) The nations of our time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming equal, but it depends upon themselves whether the principle of equality is to lead them to servitude or freedom, to knowledge or barbarism, to prosperity or wretchedness (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) You need not value it yourself if you do not wish to; but you ought to allow it to us who do value it (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) A newspaper is an adviser who does not require to be sought, but who comes of his own accord, and talks to you briefly every day of the common wealth, without distracting you from your private affairs (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) I do not find fault with equality for drawing men into the pursuit of forbidden pleasures, but for absorbing them entirely in the search for the pleasures that are permitted (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) To commit violent and unjust acts, it is not enough for a government to have the will or even the power; the habits, ideas and passions of the time must lend themselves to their committal (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Righteous women in their circle of influence, beginning in the home, can turn the world around (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) I have always noticed in politics how often men are ruined by having too good a memory (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) In democracies, nothing is more great or more brilliant than commerce: it attracts the attention of the public, and fills the imagination of the multitude; all energetic passions are directed towards it (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Whatever may be the general endeavor of a community to render its members equal and alike, the personal pride of individuals will always seek to rise above the line, and to form somewhere an inequality to their own advantage (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) Men seldom take the opinion of their equal, or of a man like themselves, upon trust (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes) When the reality of power has been surrendered, it’s playing a dangerous game to seek to retain the appearance of it; the external aspect of vigor can sometimes support a debilitated body, but most often it manages to deal it the final blow (Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes)

1 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9