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Slavery...dishonors labor. It introduces idleness into society, and with idleness, ignorance and pride, luxury and distress. It enervates the powers of the mind and benumbs the activity of man.

Alexis de Tocqueville

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Alexis de Tocqueville
Age: 53 †
Born: 1805
Born: July 29
Died: 1859
Died: April 16
Historian
Jurist
Philosopher
Politician
Sociologist
Writer
Paris
France
Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville
Tocqueville
Alexis-Charles-Henri Clerel de Tocqueville
Slavery
Dishonors
Labor
Introduces
Ignorance
Dishonor
Activity
Idleness
Pride
Introducing
Society
Distress
Mind
Powers
Men
Luxury

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General ideas are no proof of the strength, but rather of the insufficiency of the human intellect.
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If there ever are great revolutions there, they will be caused by the presence of the blacks upon American soil.
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This so-called tolerance, which, in my opinion, is nothing but a huge indifference.
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Of all nations, those submit to civilization with the most difficulty which habitually live by the chase.
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everybody feels the evil, but no one has courage or energy enough to seek the cure
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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.
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I have always noticed in politics how often men are ruined by having too good a memory.
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Physical strength therefore is one of the first conditions of happiness and even of the existence of nations.
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European Christianity has allowed itself to be intimately united with the powers of this world. Now that these powers are falling, it is as if it were buried under their ruins.
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There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
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The more alike men are, the weaker each feels in the face of all.
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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.
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If I were asked ... to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of Americans ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply: To the superiority of their women.
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Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
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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.
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The taste which men have for liberty and that which they feel for equality are, in fact, two different things...among democratic nations they are two unequal things.
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The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.
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