The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.
Interpretation
American society is full of constant change, yet these changes lack diversity and uniqueness.
Alexis De Tocqueville highlights a paradox in American society where there is an illusion of vibrant change due to the constant flux of events and people, but upon closer inspection, these changes are fundamentally similar, leading to a sense of monotony. This suggests that while society appears dynamic on the surface, it can lack depth and variety in its transformations.
In practice
In a discussion about societal trends at a conference on urban development.
Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom: left to themselves they will seek it, cherish it, and view any deprivation of it with regret. But for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery.
Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions
The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.
The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing.
Grant me thirty years of equal division of inheritances and a free press, and I will provide you with a republic.
When none but the wealthy had watches, they were almost all very good ones; few are now made which are worth much, but everybody has one in his pocket.
There is no fundamental social change by being simply of individual and interpersonal actions. You have to have organizations and institutions that make a fundamental difference.
[A]ll change, even very large and powerful change, begins when a few people start talking with one another about something they care about.
Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.
Nobody looks like they did when they were 20, so why not take advantage of the fact that you're changing, emotionally as well as physically?
If there are challenges thrown across, then some interesting, innovative solutions are found. Without challenges, the tendency is to go on the same way.
The uplift of the women, the awakening of the masses must come first, and then only can any real good come about for the country, for India.
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