tocqueville Quotes

“The main business of religions is to purify, control, and restrain that excessive and exclusive taste for well-being which men acquire in times of equality.”

“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.”

“There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.”

“In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.”

“History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.”

“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.”

“Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”

“A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.”

“Life is to be entered upon with courage.”

“What is 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.”