--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [ Alexis de] Tocqueville said it in 1835…" description: "\"[ Alexis de] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true today as it was then: 'Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/paul-kengor-14302_alexis_alexis-de-tocqueville-said-it-in-1835-an_1540411.jpg" --- # \[ Alexis de\] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true… ![“[ Alexis de] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true today as it was then: 'Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is more needed in democratic societies than in any other.'” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/paul-kengor-14302_alexis_alexis-de-tocqueville-said-it-in-1835-an_1540411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/paul-kengor-14302_alexis_alexis-de-tocqueville-said-it-in-1835-an_1540411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/paul-kengor-14302_alexis_alexis-de-tocqueville-said-it-in-1835-an_1540411.jpg) > “\[ Alexis de\] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true today as it was then: 'Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is more needed in democratic societies than in any other.'” [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Liberty requires religion for moral grounding, whereas despotism can exist without faith. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs religion; tyranny does not. Key Takeaway Recognize religion’s role in democratic health. Themes politics religion freedom Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - civic education - public discourse Key Concepts social contract morality Questions to Reflect On - Can secular societies sustain liberty? - What moral sources replace religion? A Different Perspective Religion alone cannot guarantee liberty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexis/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/despotism-may-govern-without-faith-but-liberty-cannot-how-is-it/) [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/) > [We simply must have faith in each other, faith in our ability to govern ourselves, and faith in the future of this Nation. Restoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-simply-must-have-faith-in-each-other-faith-in-our-ability-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Whoever wishes to be free, shall seek the faith of liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-wishes-to-be-free-shall-seek-the-faith-of-liberty/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Our long-term security depends on our deep faith in liberty. And we'll continue to promote freedom around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/our-long-term-security-depends-on-our-deep-faith-in-liberty-and-we-ll/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The Jews themselves, of whom a considerable number were already scattered throughout the colonies, were true to the teachings of their prophets. The Jewish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-jews-themselves-of-whom-a-considerable-number-were-already/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime, from the sowing of the seed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-next-to-religion-has-been-the-motive-of-good-deeds-and-the-2/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [American liberty is a religion. It is a thing of the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/american-liberty-is-a-religion-it-is-a-thing-of-the-spirit/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [I am a believer in liberty . That is my religion to give to every other human being every right that I claim for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-am-a-believer-in-liberty-that-is-my-religion-to-give-to-every-other/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-moral-principles-and-precepts-contained-in-the-scriptures-ought/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Liberty, next to religion has been the motive of good deeds and the common pretext of crime...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-next-to-religion-has-been-the-motive-of-good-deeds-and-the/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“Liberty is my religion and Humans are my God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/liberty-is-my-religion-and-humans-are-my-god/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The late proceedings of those daring invaders to establish a national religion have opened the eyes of all lovers of liberty and religion... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/the-late-proceedings-of-those-daring-invaders-to-establish-a-national/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [“You’ve sufficiently invaded every part of me, Alexis; my heart, my mind, and now my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/you-ve-sufficiently-invaded-every-part-of-me-alexis-my-heart-my-mind/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [“Thank, God,” Jason said as the tide of his blue eyes washed over her. “What?” Alexis asked, her own smile turning the corners of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/thank-god-jason-said-as-the-tide-of-his-blue-eyes-washed-over-her/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) ## More by Paul Kengor > [The American founding is not just about a group of people, a group of men. It is about an ideal: Both a vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-american-founding-is-not-just-about-a-group-of-people-a-group-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Maybe the most interesting find in my research is that it is clear that Ronald Reagan, among all modern presidents, plainly rediscovered the founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/maybe-the-most-interesting-find-in-my-research-is-that-it-is-clear/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only when people are free to worship, create, and build, only when they can decide their destiny and benefit from their own risks—only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-when-people-are-free-to-worship-create-and-build-only-when-they/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [As has been reported, and is unmistakably evident to all but the most naïve, federal employees have been ordered to exploit this crisis, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/as-has-been-reported-and-is-unmistakably-evident-to-all-but-the-most/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ It is quite sad, to me, that that ideal, that vision and understanding \[of American founding \], doesn't seem to be a part of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/it-is-quite-sad-to-me-that-that-ideal-that-vision-and-understanding/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, \[Richard\] Nixon, and \[Bill\] Clinton, cited them somewhat… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-presidents-varied-in-the-degree-to-which-they-cited-the-founders/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ I was a child or didn't live through those presidents prior to \[Ronald\] Reagan, and thus didn't realize how little attention they had paid… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/i-was-a-child-or-didn-t-live-through-those-presidents-prior-to-ronald/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [In the middle of Hillary Clinton's push for national healthcare in 1993, Bill Clinton cited Thomas Jefferson's concern for health issues as, somehow, apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/in-the-middle-of-hillary-clinton-s-push-for-national-healthcare-in/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ If our presidents, or potential presidents, don't know this or don't articulate \[an America ideal\], that's a blown opportunity. The president can teach as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/if-our-presidents-or-potential-presidents-don-t-know-this-or-don-t/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only in the detached from reality world of goofy Hollywood and modern academia could a mass murderer like Che Guevara be turned into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-in-the-detached-from-reality-world-of-goofy-hollywood-and-modern/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Throughout American history our presidents have invoked our nation's founding fathers. This is particularly true of recent presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/throughout-american-history-our-presidents-have-invoked-our-nation-s/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President \[Ronald\] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President \[Bill\] Clinton's view… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/which-founders-have-these-presidents-cited-and-why-what-did-say/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Learning is a good thing, but unless it's tempered by faith and a love of freedom, it can be very dangerous indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/learning-is-a-good-thing-but-unless-it-s-tempered-by-faith-and-a-love/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Ultimately, Reagan presided over the largest tax cut in American history, and accomplished it working in tandem with (rather than against) a huge Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ultimately-reagan-presided-over-the-largest-tax-cut-in-american/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Ronald Reagan \[ cite the founders\] on behalf of emphasizing the faith of our founders, of limited government, of the uniqueness and exceptionalism of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ronald-reagan-cite-the-founders-on-behalf-of-emphasizing-the-faith-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) [Explore all 47 Paul Kengor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## More Alexis quotes > [“Thank, God,” Jason said as the tide of his blue eyes washed over her. “What?” Alexis asked, her own smile turning the corners of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/thank-god-jason-said-as-the-tide-of-his-blue-eyes-washed-over-her/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [“You’ve sufficiently invaded every part of me, Alexis; my heart, my mind, and now my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/you-ve-sufficiently-invaded-every-part-of-me-alexis-my-heart-my-mind/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [By digging into our souls, we often dig up what might better have remained there unnoticed." Alexis Alexandrovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/by-digging-into-our-souls-we-often-dig-up-what-might-better-have/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Couldn't afford a car so he named his daughter Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/couldn-t-afford-a-car-so-he-named-his-daughter-alexis/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“The only reaction Alexis could express to his response was: Mine. She pulled his neck lower, eager to feel his lips on hers, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/the-only-reaction-alexis-could-express-to-his-response-was-mine-she/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [“She felt the smile turn the corners of her lips upward and placed her hand flat on his chest, just above his heart. “That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/she-felt-the-smile-turn-the-corners-of-her-lips-upward-and-placed-her/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-cleon-skousen/i-sought-for-the-greatness-and-genius-of-america-in-her-commodious/) [W. Cleon Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-cleon-skousen/) > [I adore anything Michael Alexis writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/i-adore-anything-michael-alexis-writes/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [World War II proved a hypothesis that Alexis de Tocqueville advanced a century before: the war-fighting potential of a democracy is at its greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/world-war-ii-proved-a-hypothesis-that-alexis-de-tocqueville-advanced/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [“Can I get you anything? A drink? A fresh change of clothes? A membership card to Hypocrites International?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/can-i-get-you-anything-a-drink-a-fresh-change-of-clothes-a-membership/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“It only took Alexis a day to read a five-hundred page book. Fiction stories took her to another world where she could lose herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/it-only-took-alexis-a-day-to-read-a-five-hundred-page-book-fiction/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [“Flat was good; flat meant she didn’t care, meant she wouldn’t get sucked under this time, but she knew not to hope too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/flat-was-good-flat-meant-she-didn-t-care-meant-she-wouldn-t-get/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [I'm going to beat Alexis Davis then take a nap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/i-m-going-to-beat-alexis-davis-then-take-a-nap/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [“Love could be immortalized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-chamberlin/love-could-be-immortalized/) [Lindsay Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-chamberlin/) > [I'm a fiend for costume jewellery and have countless pairs of rhinestone or diamante earrings, which are so flattering when they catch the light.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/i-m-a-fiend-for-costume-jewellery-and-have-countless-pairs-of/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) [Browse all 35 Alexis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[ Alexis de] Tocqueville said it in 1835, and it's as true today as it was then: 'Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. 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