--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first who attracts the eye, the first…" description: "\"The first who attracts the eye, the first in enlightenment, in power and in happiness, is the white man, the European, man par excellence; below him ap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_birth_the-first-who-attracts-the-eye-the-first_277670.jpg" --- # The first who attracts the eye, the first in… ![“The first who attracts the eye, the first in enlightenment, in power and in happiness, is the white man, the European, man par excellence; below him appear the Negro and the Indian. These two unfortunate races have neither birth, nor face, nor language, nor mores in common; only their misfortunes…” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_birth_the-first-who-attracts-the-eye-the-first_277670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_birth_the-first-who-attracts-the-eye-the-first_277670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_birth_the-first-who-attracts-the-eye-the-first_277670.jpg) > “The first who attracts the eye, the first in enlightenment, in power and in happiness, is the white man, the European, man par excellence; below him appear the Negro and the Indian. These two unfortunate races have neither birth, nor face, nor language, nor mores in common; only their misfortunes look alike. Both occupy an equally inferior position in the country that they inhabit; both experience the effects of tyranny; and if their miseries are different, they can accuse the same author for them.” [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. The quote expresses a hierarchical view of races, placing Europeans above Africans and Indigenous peoples, and attributing their suffering to a common oppressor. **In simple terms:** It ranks races, claiming Europeans are superior and others share misfortune. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge racial hierarchies. Themes racism colonialism inequality Mood critical reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - colonial policy - civil rights activism - education reform - historical analysis Key Concepts social hierarchy oppression racial theory Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective affect modern social policies? - What alternative narratives can empower marginalized groups? A Different Perspective Such hierarchical views ignore the agency and diversity of non‑European peoples. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appear Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appear-negro-1679105/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Indian Unfortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian-unfortunate-2701215/) [Inferiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferiors/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Races Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/races-birth-2701214/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Unfortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) ## Related quotes > [Among these widely differing families of men, the first that attracts attention, the superior in intelligence, in power, and in enjoyment, is the white,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/among-these-widely-differing-families-of-men-the-first-that-attracts/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [A Negro just can't be whipped by somebody white and return with his head up in the neighborhood, especially in those days, when sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/a-negro-just-can-t-be-whipped-by-somebody-white-and-return-with-his/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [White man and black man, jew and gentile, protestant and catholic, will be able to hold hands and sing in the words of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/white-man-and-black-man-jew-and-gentile-protestant-and-catholic-will/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [ Most of \[ the Negro leaders\] who - who, whose existence or whose position of leadership depends upon the - on the subsidy or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/most-of-the-negro-leaders-who-who-whose-existence-or-whose-position/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I adore my black skin and my kinky hair. The Negro hair is more educated than the white man's hair. 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