--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man who raises himself by degrees to…" description: "\"A man who raises himself by degrees to wealth and power, contracts, in the course of this protracted labor, habits of prudence and restraint which he c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_contracts_a-man-who-raises-himself-by-degrees-to-w_279877.png" --- # A man who raises himself by degrees to wealth and power… ![“A man who raises himself by degrees to wealth and power, contracts, in the course of this protracted labor, habits of prudence and restraint which he cannot afterwards shake off. A man cannot gradually enlarge his mind as he does his house.” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_contracts_a-man-who-raises-himself-by-degrees-to-w_279877.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_contracts_a-man-who-raises-himself-by-degrees-to-w_279877.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_contracts_a-man-who-raises-himself-by-degrees-to-w_279877.png) > “A man who raises himself by degrees to wealth and power, contracts, in the course of this protracted labor, habits of prudence and restraint which he cannot afterwards shake off. A man cannot gradually enlarge his mind as he does his house.” [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gradual accumulation of wealth and power breeds habits that become hard to break, limiting mental expansion. **In simple terms:** Wealth creates restrictive habits that limit growth. Key Takeaway Beware of habits that restrict thinking. Themes wealth power habitual restraint Mood analytical cautionary Type philosophical social. When to use this quote - career planning - financial growth - political ambition Key Concepts economics psychology social structure Questions to Reflect On - What habits limit your thinking? - How can you balance wealth and openness? A Different Perspective Habits can be reshaped with effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“We shall see how the counsels of prudence and restraint may become the prime agents of mortal danger; how the middle course adopted from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-shall-see-how-the-counsels-of-prudence-and-restraint-may-become/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Progress has always been achieved by probing well-entrenched and well-founded forms of life with unpopular and unfounded values. 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