--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our contemporaries are constantly excited…" description: "\"“Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions; they want to be led, and they wish to remain free: as they cannot destroy eithe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_1840_our-contemporaries-are-constantly-excite_2280375.png" --- # Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two… ![“Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions; they want to be led, and they wish to remain free: as they cannot destroy either one or the other of these contrary propensities, they strive to satisfy them both at once. They devise a sole, tutelary, and all-powerful form of…” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_1840_our-contemporaries-are-constantly-excite_2280375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_1840_our-contemporaries-are-constantly-excite_2280375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_1840_our-contemporaries-are-constantly-excite_2280375.png) > ““Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions; they want to be led, and they wish to remain free: as they cannot destroy either one or the other of these contrary propensities, they strive to satisfy them both at once. They devise a sole, tutelary, and all-powerful form of government, but elected by the people. They combine the principle of centralization and that of popular sovereignty; this gives them a respite: they console themselves for being in tutelage by the reflection that they have chosen their own guardians. Every man allows himself to be put in leading-strings, because he sees that it is not a person or a class of persons, but the people at large that holds the end of his chain. By this system the people shake off their state of dependence just long enough to select their master, and then relapse into it again. A great many persons at the present day are quite contented with this sort of compromise between administrative despotism and the sovereignty of the people; and they think they have done enough for the protection of individual freedom when they have surrendered it to the power of the nation at large. This does not satisfy me: the nature of him I am to obey signifies less to me than the fact of extorted obedience.”” [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. People seek both guidance and autonomy, leading to hybrid governance that pretends to empower while maintaining control. **In simple terms:** Freedom and control clash in politics. Key Takeaway Beware of false freedoms. Themes politics freedom control society Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - civic engagement - policy advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts social contract authoritarianism democratic illusion Questions to Reflect On - What does true autonomy look like? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Balancing liberty and order is complex and often contradictory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Individual freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-freedom/) [Popular sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-sovereignty/) [Present day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-day/) [Tutelage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tutelage/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [“Our contemporaries are constantly wracked by two warring passions: they feel the need to be led and the desire to remain free. Unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/our-contemporaries-are-constantly-wracked-by-two-warring-passions/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions: they want to be led, and they wish to remain free. As they cannot destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/our-contemporaries-are-constantly-excited-by-two-conflicting-passions/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“If the whole community takes a decision, actors and interests are identical: they coincide. In the case of popular sovereignty the people are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-klinkers/if-the-whole-community-takes-a-decision-actors-and-interests-are/) [Leo Klinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-klinkers/) > [“But in America the sovereignty of the people is neither hidden nor sterile as with some other nations; mores recognize it, and the laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/but-in-america-the-sovereignty-of-the-people-is-neither-hidden-nor/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“In running over the pages of our history for seven hundred years, we shall scarcely find a single great event which has not promoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-running-over-the-pages-of-our-history-for-seven-hundred-years-we/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Aristocracy naturally leads the human mind to the contemplation of the past, and fixes it there. Democracy, on the contrary, gives men a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/aristocracy-naturally-leads-the-human-mind-to-the-contemplation-of/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“It is extremely difficult to obtain a hearing from men living in democracies, unless it be to speak to them of themselves. They do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-obtain-a-hearing-from-men-living-in/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Another tendency, which is extremely natural to democratic nations and extremely dangerous, is that which leads them to despise and undervalue the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/another-tendency-which-is-extremely-natural-to-democratic-nations-and/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Now, these eager and apprehensive men of small property constitute the class which is constantly increased by the equality of conditions. Hence, in democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/now-these-eager-and-apprehensive-men-of-small-property-constitute-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/it-is-indeed-difficult-to-conceive-how-men-who-have-entirely-given-up/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The Euro is a conquest of sovereignty. It gives us a margin of manoeuvre. Its a tool to help us master globalisation and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-strauss-kahn/the-euro-is-a-conquest-of-sovereignty-it-gives-us-a-margin-of/) Dominique Strauss-Kahn > [The nations of our time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming equal, but it depends upon themselves whether the principle of equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-nations-of-our-time-cannot-prevent-the-conditions-of-men-from/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“The poor man retains the prejudices of his forefathers without their faith, and their ignorance without their virtues; he has adopted the doctrine of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-poor-man-retains-the-prejudices-of-his-forefathers-without-their/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Nothing conceivable is so petty, so insipid, so crowded with paltry interests, in one word, so anti-poetic, as the life of a man in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/nothing-conceivable-is-so-petty-so-insipid-so-crowded-with-paltry/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“The principle of equality, which makes men independent of each other, gives them a habit and a taste for following, in their private actions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-principle-of-equality-which-makes-men-independent-of-each-other/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## More by Alexis de Tocqueville > [All around you everything is on the move,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/all-around-you-everything-is-on-the-move/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [No state of society or laws can render men so much alike but that education, fortune, and tastes will interpose some differences between them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/no-state-of-society-or-laws-can-render-men-so-much-alike-but-that/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-do-not-know-if-the-people-of-the-united-states-would-vote-for/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [What good does it do me, after all, if an ever-watchful authority keeps an eye out to ensure that my pleasures will be tranquil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-good-does-it-do-me-after-all-if-an-ever-watchful-authority-keeps/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-greatness-of-america-lies-not-in-being-more-enlightened-than-any/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“I am unacquainted with His designs, but I shall not cease to believe in them because I cannot fathom them, and I had rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-am-unacquainted-with-his-designs-but-i-shall-not-cease-to-believe/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I questioned the faithful of all communions; I particularly sought the society of clergymen, who are the depositories of the various creeds and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-questioned-the-faithful-of-all-communions-i-particularly-sought-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts, the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its claims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/christianity-is-the-companion-of-liberty-in-all-its-conflicts-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The more alike men are, the weaker each feels in the face of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-more-alike-men-are-the-weaker-each-feels-in-the-face-of-all/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“There is a twofold liberty, natural (I mean as our nature is now corrupt) and civil or federal. The first is common to man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/there-is-a-twofold-liberty-natural-i-mean-as-our-nature-is-now/) [Alexis De Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/upon-my-arrival-in-the-united-states-the-religious-aspect-of-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/despotism-often-presents-itself-as-the-repairer-of-all-the-ills/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [On this waterlogged landscape…are scattered palaces and hovels…It is here that the human spirit becomes perfect, and at the same time brutalised, that civilisation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/on-this-waterlogged-landscape-are-scattered-palaces-and-hovels-it-is/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/despotism-may-govern-without-faith-but-liberty-cannot/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) [Explore all 438 Alexis de Tocqueville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## More 1840 quotes > [“The principle of equality, which makes men independent of each other, gives them a habit and a taste for following, in their private actions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-principle-of-equality-which-makes-men-independent-of-each-other/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Nothing conceivable is so petty, so insipid, so crowded with paltry interests, in one word, so anti-poetic, as the life of a man in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/nothing-conceivable-is-so-petty-so-insipid-so-crowded-with-paltry/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“The poor man retains the prejudices of his forefathers without their faith, and their ignorance without their virtues; he has adopted the doctrine of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-poor-man-retains-the-prejudices-of-his-forefathers-without-their/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The nations of our time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming equal, but it depends upon themselves whether the principle of equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-nations-of-our-time-cannot-prevent-the-conditions-of-men-from/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/it-is-indeed-difficult-to-conceive-how-men-who-have-entirely-given-up/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Now, these eager and apprehensive men of small property constitute the class which is constantly increased by the equality of conditions. Hence, in democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/now-these-eager-and-apprehensive-men-of-small-property-constitute-the/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Another tendency, which is extremely natural to democratic nations and extremely dangerous, is that which leads them to despise and undervalue the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/another-tendency-which-is-extremely-natural-to-democratic-nations-and/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“It is extremely difficult to obtain a hearing from men living in democracies, unless it be to speak to them of themselves. They do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-obtain-a-hearing-from-men-living-in/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Aristocracy naturally leads the human mind to the contemplation of the past, and fixes it there. Democracy, on the contrary, gives men a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/aristocracy-naturally-leads-the-human-mind-to-the-contemplation-of/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“In running over the pages of our history for seven hundred years, we shall scarcely find a single great event which has not promoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-running-over-the-pages-of-our-history-for-seven-hundred-years-we/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Nothing is more necessary to the culture of the higher sciences, or of the more elevated departments of science, than meditation; and nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/nothing-is-more-necessary-to-the-culture-of-the-higher-sciences-or-of/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“The foremost, or indeed the sole condition, which is required in order to succeed in centralizing the supreme power in a democratic community, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-foremost-or-indeed-the-sole-condition-which-is-required-in-order/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“I have often remarked in the United States that it is not easy to make a man understand that his presence may be dispensed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-often-remarked-in-the-united-states-that-it-is-not-easy-to/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) Browse all 14 1840 quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our contemporaries are constantly excited by two conflicting passions; they want to be led, and they wish to remain free: as they cannot destroy either one or the other of these contrary propensities, they strive to satisfy them both at once. They devise a sole, tutelary, and all-powerful form of government, but elected by the people. They combine the principle of centralization and that of popular sovereignty; this gives them a respite: they console themselves for being in tutelage by the reflection that they have chosen their own guardians. Every man allows himself to be put in leading-strings, because he sees that it is not a person or a class of persons, but the people at large that holds the end of his chain. By this system the people shake off their state of dependence just long enough to select their master, and then relapse into it again. A great many persons at the present day are quite contented with this sort of compromise between administrative despotism and the sovereignty of the people; and they think they have done enough for the protection of individual freedom when they have surrendered it to the power of the nation at large. 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