Character Quote by Alexis de Tocqueville
““We must first understand what the purport of society and the aim of government is held to be. If it be your intention to confer a certain elevation upon the human mind, and to teach it to regard the things of this world with generous feelings, to inspire men with a scorn of mere temporal advantage, to give birth to living convictions, and to keep alive the spirit of honorable devotedness; if you hold it to be a good thing to refine the habits, to embellish the manners, to cultivate the arts of a nation, and to promote the love of poetry, of beauty, and of renown; if you would constitute a people not unfitted to act with power upon all other nations, nor unprepared for those high enterprises which, whatever be the result of its efforts, will leave a name forever famous in time—if you believe such to be the principal object of society, you must avoid the government of democracy, which would be a very uncertain guide to the end you have in view. But if you hold it to be expedient to divert the moral and intellectual activity of man to the production of comfort, and to the acquirement of the necessaries of life; if a clear understanding be more profitable to man than genius; if your object be not to stimulate the virtues of heroism, but to create habits of peace; if you had rather witness vices than crimes and are content to meet with fewer noble deeds, provided offences be diminished in the same proportion; if, instead of living in the midst of a brilliant state of society, you are contented to have prosperity around you; if, in short, you are of opinion that the principal object of a Government is not to confer the greatest possible share of power and of glory upon the body of the nation, but to ensure the greatest degree of enjoyment and the least degree of misery to each of the individuals who compose it—if such be your desires, you can have no surer means of satisfying them than by equalizing the conditions of men, and establishing democratic institutions.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
The passage argues that a government should prioritize equalizing conditions and ensuring individual well‑being over promoting power, glory, or heroic virtues, suggesting democracy best achieves this.
In simple terms: Government should aim for equality and personal happiness, not just power or prestige.
Key Takeaway
Focus on policies that reduce inequality and improve daily life.
Themes
equality
individual welfare
government purpose
democracy
social philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- public policy design
- social welfare programs
- education reform
- healthcare access
- community development
Key Concepts
social contract
utilitarianism
political theory
civil virtue
Questions to Reflect On
- What balance should be struck between individual comfort and collective excellence?
- How can democratic systems foster both equality and cultural vitality?
A Different Perspective
Democracy can still produce inequality and may neglect collective ambition or cultural refinement.
