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Democracy in America[DEMOCRACY IN AMER 2/E][Paperback]
Democracy in America <> Paperback <> lexisDeTocqueville, <> UniversityofChicagoPress
Paperback
Published April 30, 2002
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July 3, 2024
Interesting book that is very philosophical in nature. Based on long-term observation of America in action, the book went into deep analysis of such studies. Most of his thoughts were good but the book did get a bit boring in the 2nd half. Key points below.
- … Tocqueville made many wise observations: about Americans’ intense love of wealth, their growing preference for commerce and industry over agriculture…. P11.
- The English government was not dissatisfied with a large emigration which removed the elements of fresh discord and further revolutions. On the contrary, it did everything to encourage it. P42. PJK: interesting. Encourage folks who disagree with you to leave the home country. Bet their current demographics would incur a different viewpoint.
- The political existence of the majority of the nations of Europe commenced in the superior ranks of society, and was gradually and imperfectly communicated to the different members of the social body. In America, on the contrary, it may be said that the township was organized before the county, the county before the State, the State before the Union. P45.
- I know of no country, indeed, where the love of money has taken stronger hold on the affections of men, and where a profounder contempt is expressed for the theory of the permanent equality of property. P53.
- Nothing is more striking to a European traveler in the United States, than the absence of what we term the government, or the administration. Written laws exist in America, and one sees the daily execution of them; but although everything moves regularly, the mover can nowhere be discovered. The hand which directs the social machine is invisible. P64.
- Separated from their enemies by 3000 miles of ocean, and backed by a powerful ally, the United States owed their victory much more to their geographical position into the valor of their armies or the patriotism of their citizens. P84.
- In time of peace, the well-being of small nations is undoubtedly more general and complete; but they are apt to suffer more acutely from the calamities of war then there's great empires whose distant frontiers may long avert the presence of the danger from a mass of people, who are therefore more frequently afflicted than ruined by the contest. P90.
- Small nations are often miserable, not because they are small, but because they are weak; And great empires prosper, less because they are great, and because they are strong. Physical strength is therefore one of the first conditions of happiness, and even of the existence, of nations. P90.
- To the South, the union has a point of contact with the empire of Mexico; and it is dense that serious hostilities may one day be expected to arise. P94.
- I have already pointed out the distinction between a centralized government and a centralized administration. The former exists in America, but the latter is nearly unknown there. P137.
- When the central government which represents that majority has issued a decree, it must entrust the execution of its will to agents, over whom it frequently has no control, and whom it cannot perpetually direct. P138.
- There are at the present time 2 great nations in the world, which started from different points, but seemed to tend towards the same end. I allude to the Russians and the Americans. Both of them have grown up unnoticed; and whilst the attention of mankind was directed elsewhere, they have suddenly placed themselves in the front rank among the nations, in the world learned their existence and their greatness at almost the same time. P161.
- The conquest of the American are therefore gained by the ploughshare; there's other Russian by the sword. P161.
- When men are no longer united amongst themselves by firm and lasting ties, it is impossible to obtain the cooperation of any great number of them, unless you can't persuade every man whose help you require that his private interest obliges him voluntarily to unite his exertions to the exertions of all the others…. nothing but a newspaper can drop the same thought into 1000 minds at the same moment. P235.
- … whatever affects the condition of women, their habits and their opinions, has great political importance in my eyes. P272.
- In the United States, as soon as a man has acquired some education and pecuniary resources, he either endeavors to get rich by commerce or industry, or he buys land in the Bush and turns pioneer. All that he asks of the state is, not to be disturbed in his toil, and to be secure in his earnings. P305.
- Not only are the men of democracies not naturally desirous of revolutions, but they are afraid of them. All revolutions more or less threaten the tenure of property: but most of those who live in democratic countries are possessed of property; not only are they possessed of property, OK live in the condition where man set the greatest store upon their property. P309.
- When a military spirit forsakes of people, the profession of arms immediately ceases to be held in our common and military men fall to the lowest rank of the public servants: they are a little esteemed, and no longer understood. The reverse of what takes place in aristocratic ages that occurs; the men who entered the army are no longer there to the highest, but at the lowest rank…. The best part of the nation shuns the military profession because that profession is not honored and the profession is not honored because the best part of the nation has ceased to follow it. P323.
- Nothing is so dangerous as an army amidst an unwarlike nation; the excessive love of the whole community for quiet continually puts the constitution at the mercy of the soldiery. P324. PJK: Need to think about this comment as maybe it’s how coups happen so often in other parts of the world.
- There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult, to begin a war and to end it. P325. PJK: Very insightful. Can compare this quote to the U.S. decisions on Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.
- Any army is in danger of being conquered at the outset of a campaign, after a long peace; any army which has long been engaged in warfare has strong chances of victory: this truth is peculiarly applicable to democratic armies. P327. PJK: very insightful comment.
- The man who has long lived amidst the calm and lukewarm atmosphere of democratic matters, can at first ill adapt himself to the harder toils and sterner duties of warfare... P329. PJK: Very true today. Not many want to join the Army as modern life has made things very soft and easy.
- … Tocqueville made many wise observations: about Americans’ intense love of wealth, their growing preference for commerce and industry over agriculture…. P11.
- The English government was not dissatisfied with a large emigration which removed the elements of fresh discord and further revolutions. On the contrary, it did everything to encourage it. P42. PJK: interesting. Encourage folks who disagree with you to leave the home country. Bet their current demographics would incur a different viewpoint.
- The political existence of the majority of the nations of Europe commenced in the superior ranks of society, and was gradually and imperfectly communicated to the different members of the social body. In America, on the contrary, it may be said that the township was organized before the county, the county before the State, the State before the Union. P45.
- I know of no country, indeed, where the love of money has taken stronger hold on the affections of men, and where a profounder contempt is expressed for the theory of the permanent equality of property. P53.
- Nothing is more striking to a European traveler in the United States, than the absence of what we term the government, or the administration. Written laws exist in America, and one sees the daily execution of them; but although everything moves regularly, the mover can nowhere be discovered. The hand which directs the social machine is invisible. P64.
- Separated from their enemies by 3000 miles of ocean, and backed by a powerful ally, the United States owed their victory much more to their geographical position into the valor of their armies or the patriotism of their citizens. P84.
- In time of peace, the well-being of small nations is undoubtedly more general and complete; but they are apt to suffer more acutely from the calamities of war then there's great empires whose distant frontiers may long avert the presence of the danger from a mass of people, who are therefore more frequently afflicted than ruined by the contest. P90.
- Small nations are often miserable, not because they are small, but because they are weak; And great empires prosper, less because they are great, and because they are strong. Physical strength is therefore one of the first conditions of happiness, and even of the existence, of nations. P90.
- To the South, the union has a point of contact with the empire of Mexico; and it is dense that serious hostilities may one day be expected to arise. P94.
- I have already pointed out the distinction between a centralized government and a centralized administration. The former exists in America, but the latter is nearly unknown there. P137.
- When the central government which represents that majority has issued a decree, it must entrust the execution of its will to agents, over whom it frequently has no control, and whom it cannot perpetually direct. P138.
- There are at the present time 2 great nations in the world, which started from different points, but seemed to tend towards the same end. I allude to the Russians and the Americans. Both of them have grown up unnoticed; and whilst the attention of mankind was directed elsewhere, they have suddenly placed themselves in the front rank among the nations, in the world learned their existence and their greatness at almost the same time. P161.
- The conquest of the American are therefore gained by the ploughshare; there's other Russian by the sword. P161.
- When men are no longer united amongst themselves by firm and lasting ties, it is impossible to obtain the cooperation of any great number of them, unless you can't persuade every man whose help you require that his private interest obliges him voluntarily to unite his exertions to the exertions of all the others…. nothing but a newspaper can drop the same thought into 1000 minds at the same moment. P235.
- … whatever affects the condition of women, their habits and their opinions, has great political importance in my eyes. P272.
- In the United States, as soon as a man has acquired some education and pecuniary resources, he either endeavors to get rich by commerce or industry, or he buys land in the Bush and turns pioneer. All that he asks of the state is, not to be disturbed in his toil, and to be secure in his earnings. P305.
- Not only are the men of democracies not naturally desirous of revolutions, but they are afraid of them. All revolutions more or less threaten the tenure of property: but most of those who live in democratic countries are possessed of property; not only are they possessed of property, OK live in the condition where man set the greatest store upon their property. P309.
- When a military spirit forsakes of people, the profession of arms immediately ceases to be held in our common and military men fall to the lowest rank of the public servants: they are a little esteemed, and no longer understood. The reverse of what takes place in aristocratic ages that occurs; the men who entered the army are no longer there to the highest, but at the lowest rank…. The best part of the nation shuns the military profession because that profession is not honored and the profession is not honored because the best part of the nation has ceased to follow it. P323.
- Nothing is so dangerous as an army amidst an unwarlike nation; the excessive love of the whole community for quiet continually puts the constitution at the mercy of the soldiery. P324. PJK: Need to think about this comment as maybe it’s how coups happen so often in other parts of the world.
- There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult, to begin a war and to end it. P325. PJK: Very insightful. Can compare this quote to the U.S. decisions on Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.
- Any army is in danger of being conquered at the outset of a campaign, after a long peace; any army which has long been engaged in warfare has strong chances of victory: this truth is peculiarly applicable to democratic armies. P327. PJK: very insightful comment.
- The man who has long lived amidst the calm and lukewarm atmosphere of democratic matters, can at first ill adapt himself to the harder toils and sterner duties of warfare... P329. PJK: Very true today. Not many want to join the Army as modern life has made things very soft and easy.
March 17, 2025
An astute, ever-relevant read on the foundational issues of the US government & social structures.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews