Alexis de Tocqueville

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Alexis de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 - April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian. His most famous works are Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). He championed liberty and democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville once observed that it is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth.

He was born in Paris and died in Cannes. His work based on his travels in the United States, Democracy in America, is frequently used in courses in 19th century United States history. His advocacy of private charity rather than government aid to assist the poor has often been cited admiringly by American conservatives, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Contents

Works

Du système pénitentaire aux États-Unis et de son application en France (1833)—Translated into English as On the Penitentiary System in the United States and Its Application to France.
De la démocratie (1835 and 1840)—The title literally translates as On Democracy, but the common translation of the title in English is Democracy in America. It was published in two volumes, the first in 1835, the second in 1840. It is Tocqueville's most famous work.
L'Ancien Régime et la Révolution (1856)—The English title is The Old Regime and the Revolution. It is Tocqueville's second most famous work.

Quotations

"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 at the present time two great nations in the world—I allude to the Russians and the Americans—All other nations seem to have nearly reached their national limits, and have only to maintain their power; these alone are proceeding—along a path to which no limit can be perceived."

"Muhammad brought down from heaven and put into the Koran not religious doctrines only, but political maxims, criminal and civil laws, and scientific theories. The Gospels, on the other hand, deal only with the general relations between man and God and between man and man. Beyond that, they teach nothing and do not oblige people to believe anything. That alone, among a thousand reasons, is enough to show that Islam will not be able to hold its power long in ages of enlightenment and democracy, while Christianity is destined to reign in such ages, as in all others."

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money."

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about Alexis de Tocqueville.

http://www.tocqueville.org/

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