Books Quote by Alexis de Tocqueville
““I seek to trace the novel features under which despotism may appear in the world. The first thing that strikes the observation is an innumerable multitude of men, all equal and alike, incessantly endeavoring to procure the petty and paltry pleasures with which they glut their lives. Each of them, living apart, is as a stranger to the fate of all the rest; his children and his private friends constitute to him the whole of mankind. As for the rest of his fellow citizens, he is close to them, but he does not see them; he touches them, but he does not feel them; he exists only in himself and for himself alone; and if his kindred still remain to him, he may be said at any rate to have lost his country.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
The quote warns that individuals focused solely on personal, trivial pleasures become isolated, losing a sense of community and national identity.
In simple terms: Selfish pursuits isolate people from society.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate communal responsibility.
Themes
individualism
alienation
national identity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- community building
- education
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
social cohesion
political philosophy
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal selfishness contribute to societal decay?
- What can restore collective identity?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook structural forces that also shape despotism.
