The French want no-one to be their superior. The English want inferiors. The Frenchman constantly raises his eyes above him with anxiety. The Englishman lowers his beneath him with satisfaction.

Quote by Alexis De Tocqueville

Topics: Alexis De Tocqueville Quotes

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every...

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every...

Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet...

Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet...

Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves.

Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves.

The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary...

The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary...

There is hardly a political question in the United States which does not sooner or...

There is hardly a political question in the United States which does not sooner or...

In politics... shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.

In politics... shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.

There is hardly a pioneer's hut which does not contain a few odd volumes of...

There is hardly a pioneer's hut which does not contain a few odd volumes of...

The great advantage of the American is that he has arrived at a state of...

The great advantage of the American is that he has arrived at a state of...

The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that...

The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that...

In no other country in the world is the love of property keener or more...

In no other country in the world is the love of property keener or more...

The power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.

The power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but...

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but...

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and...

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and...

I should have loved freedom, I believe, at all times, but in the time in...

I should have loved freedom, I believe, at all times, but in the time in...

No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.

No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

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

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

History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It...

History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It...

You have to know the past to understand the present.

You have to know the past to understand the present.