--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Amongst democratic nations men easily…" description: "\"Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain equality of conditions: they can never attain the equality they desire. It perpetually retires f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_certain_amongst-democratic-nations-men-easily-at_1676376.png" --- # Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain… ![“Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain equality of conditions: they can never attain the equality they desire. It perpetually retires from before them, yet without hiding itself from their sight, and in retiring draws them on. At every moment they think they are about to grasp it…” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_certain_amongst-democratic-nations-men-easily-at_1676376.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_certain_amongst-democratic-nations-men-easily-at_1676376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_certain_amongst-democratic-nations-men-easily-at_1676376.png) > “Amongst democratic nations men easily attain a certain equality of conditions: they can never attain the equality they desire. It perpetually retires from before them, yet without hiding itself from their sight, and in retiring draws them on. At every moment they think they are about to grasp it; it escapes at every moment from their hold. They are near enough to see its charms, but too far off to enjoy them; and before they have fully tasted its delights they die.” [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. Democratic societies constantly chase an ever‑moving ideal of equality, always seeming just out of reach, prompting perpetual striving without full satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Equality feels always just out of reach. Key Takeaway Accept the pursuit, not the perfection. Themes democracy equality aspiration human nature Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - Policy making - social reform - public discourse - education curricula Key Concepts Philosophical idealism social dynamics psychology of desire Questions to Reflect On - Why does equality remain elusive? - How can societies balance striving with contentment? A Different Perspective May cause chronic dissatisfaction and endless competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attain Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attain-equality-912155/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-equality-912158/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Equality Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-conditions-912157/) [Equality Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-desire-912156/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/democracy-does-not-guarantee-equality-of-conditions-it-only/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/the-best-partnerships-aren-t-dependent-on-a-mere-common-goal-but-on-a-2/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [The defect of equality is that we desire it only with our superiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-becque/the-defect-of-equality-is-that-we-desire-it-only-with-our-superiors/) [Henry Becque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-becque/) > [“Although people are such beings that if there were only three of them in the world, one of them would have been their leader,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osyp-nazaruk/although-people-are-such-beings-that-if-there-were-only-three-of-them/) [Osyp Nazaruk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osyp-nazaruk/) > [When I retire, I want to step away on a positive note. 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