--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is most important for democracy is…" description: "\"What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png" --- # What is most important for democracy is not that great… ![“What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that way there are rich men, but they do not form a class.” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png) > “What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that way there are rich men, but they do not form a class.” [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. Democracy thrives when wealth is not concentrated in a few hands, preventing a ruling class of the rich. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs wealth spread, not a fixed rich class. Key Takeaway Promote policies that limit wealth concentration. Themes equality political stability economic fairness Mood concerned optimistic Type political economic When to use this quote - tax policy - antitrust law - inheritance law - political reform Key Concepts wealth distribution class formation social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure wealth redistribution without stifling entrepreneurship? - What mechanisms best prevent a permanent elite? A Different Perspective Wealth can still be hoarded through loopholes and influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-great-622075/) [Fortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunes/) [Fortunes Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunes-exist-1031459/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-democracy-1031458/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-men/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I think by any expectation South Africa has come a tremendously long way. We've seen a society that many people thought couldn't withstand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-i-think-by-any-expectation-south-africa-has-come-a-tremendously/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Freedom of speech is central to most every other right that we hold dear in the United States and serves to strengthen the democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-farr/freedom-of-speech-is-central-to-most-every-other-right-that-we-hold/) [Sam Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-farr/) > [Brexit has energised millions of people, young and old, to take part in our democracy and that's a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/brexit-has-energised-millions-of-people-young-and-old-to-take-part-in/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [I have great confidence in Taiwan's democracy. I have great confidence in the universal value and in basic human rights, and I have great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-shui-bian/i-have-great-confidence-in-taiwan-s-democracy-i-have-great-confidence/) [Chen Shui-bian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-shui-bian/) > [Obama has already rejected the bright sunlight of public knowledge, which is democracy's great disinfectant and cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-has-already-rejected-the-bright-sunlight-of-public-knowledge/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [Differences of opinion are healthy and they're a part of what makes our democracy great. We grow by understanding each other's differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-carteris/differences-of-opinion-are-healthy-and-they-re-a-part-of-what-makes/) [Gabrielle Carteris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-carteris/) > [I still have great faith in democracy. I have great belief in the power of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-still-have-great-faith-in-democracy-i-have-great-belief-in-the/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [I do think that our democracy is so great, we can withstand even a candidacy of Donald Trump. And when we emerge from this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-do-think-that-our-democracy-is-so-great-we-can-withstand-even-a/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American experiment with representative democracy has been a great success, but we need to realize that it needs to be a genuine representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-american-experiment-with-representative-democracy-has-been-a/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Everybody says, "Well, if it's a democracy, let them have nuclear weapons." America is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy-let-them-have-nuclear-weapons/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Democracy is a great institution and, therefore, it is liable to be greatly abused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/democracy-is-a-great-institution-and-therefore-it-is-liable-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Every American should feel free to express an informed opinion—to protest peacefully, to convey frustration and even anger in a constructive way. That’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/every-american-should-feel-free-to-express-an-informed-opinion-to/) [Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/) > [Democracy is the great love of the failures and cowards of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/democracy-is-the-great-love-of-the-failures-and-cowards-of-life/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [... when the struggle seems to be drifting definitely towards a world social democracy, there may still be very great delays and disappointments before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/when-the-struggle-seems-to-be-drifting-definitely-towards-a-world/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [“We cannot have an enlightened democracy with one great group living in ignorance. We cannot have a healthy nation with one-tenth of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-have-an-enlightened-democracy-with-one-great-group-living/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes should not remain in the same hands. In that way there are rich men, but they do not form a class.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexis de Tocqueville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is-not-that-great-fortunes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is-not-that-great-fortunes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afc/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_class_what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is_878689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is most important for democracy is not that great fortunes should not exist, but that great fortunes…” — Alexis de Tocqueville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexis de Tocqueville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is most important for democracy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is-not-that-great-fortunes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-is-most-important-for-democracy-is-not-that-great-fortunes/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```