1840 Quote by Alexis de Tocqueville
““It is, indeed, difficult to conceive how men who have entirely given up the habit of self-government should succeed in making a proper choice of those by whom they are to be governed; and no one will ever believe that a liberal, wise, and energetic government can spring from the suffrages of a subservient people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy in America, Volume I, 1835
The quote warns that when citizens abandon self-governance, they cannot select capable rulers, and a strong, wise government cannot arise from a submissive electorate.
In simple terms: People who stop governing themselves cannot choose good leaders.
Key Takeaway
Encourage active civic participation.
Themes
democracy
citizen responsibility
government legitimacy
political engagement
authority
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
critical
Type
political
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- voting
- community meetings
- public debates
- grassroots organizing
- education on civic duties
Key Concepts
social contract
political theory
citizen agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster self‑government among citizens?
- What mechanisms ensure that the electorate remains informed and active?
A Different Perspective
If citizens are disengaged, even well‑intentioned leaders may be ineffective.
![“[It is a] happy truth that man is capable of self-government, and only rendered otherwise by the moral degradation designedly superinduced on him by the wicked acts of his tyrant.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c52/thomas-jefferson-43_truth_it-is-a-happy-truth-that-man-is-capable_434452.jpg)
