1840 Quote by Alexis de Tocqueville
““Another tendency, which is extremely natural to democratic nations and extremely dangerous, is that which leads them to despise and undervalue the rights of private persons. The attachment which men feel to a right, and the respect which they display for it, is generally proportioned to its importance, or to the length of time during which they have enjoyed it. The rights of private persons amongst democratic nations are commonly of small importance, of recent growth, and extremely precarious; the consequence is that they are often sacrificed without regret, and almost always violated without remorse.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy in America, 1835
He warns that democracies tend to undervalue individual rights, treating them as recent, fragile, and easily sacrificed without remorse.
In simple terms: Democratic societies often neglect the importance of personal rights.
Key Takeaway
Protect and respect individual rights consistently.
Themes
democracy
rights
individualism
societal values
Mood
reflective
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
educational
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- human rights advocacy
- education curricula
- media analysis
Key Concepts
political theory
civil liberties
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent the erosion of individual rights?
- How does public perception of rights change over time?
A Different Perspective
Rights can be ignored when they conflict with majority preferences.
