Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805, Paris – April 16, 1859, Cannes) was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.
Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. An eminent representative of the classical liberal political tradition, Tocqueville was an active participant in French politics, first under the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and then during the Second Republic (1849–1851) which succeeded the February 1848 Revolution. He retired from political life after Louis Napoléon Bonaparte's December 2, 1851 coup, and thereafter began work on The Old Regime and the Revolution, Volume I. [source: wikipedia]
Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. An eminent representative of the classical liberal political tradition, Tocqueville was an active participant in French politics, first under the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and then during the Second Republic (1849–1851) which succeeded the February 1848 Revolution. He retired from political life after Louis Napoléon Bonaparte's December 2, 1851 coup, and thereafter began work on The Old Regime and the Revolution, Volume I. [source: wikipedia]
8 Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville
- In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own.
- Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
- The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.
- 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.
- In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.
- Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.
- There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
- A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
BONUSHistory is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.
BONUS BONUS
When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.
No comments:
Post a Comment