The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.
Interpretation
Despotism disguises itself as a benevolent force, claiming to fix society's problems while suppressing freedom.
In this quote, Alexis De Tocqueville highlights the deceptive nature of despotism, which often masquerades as a savior of society. It claims to offer solutions to people's suffering and to uphold justice, yet in reality, it tends to undermine freedoms and impose authoritarian control, illustrating the dangerous allure of such regimes for those desperate for stability and order.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of democracy, one could use this quote to highlight the dangers of authoritarian rule.
The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.
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.
Sanctions did indeed help to bring Iran to the negotiating table. But sanctions did not stop the advance of Iran's nuclear program. Negotiations have done that, and it is in our interest not to deny ourselves the chance to achieve a long-term, comprehensive solution that would deny Iran a nuclear weapon.
I don't think anyone in the 1990s, the late '90s, anticipated that the Putin they knew then would become the Putin we know now.
It is not the function of government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error.
A politician is a man who understands government, and it takes a politician to run a government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead 10 or 15 years.
Freedom exists only where the people take care of the government.
I found that it was all right to have Martians saying things Democrats and Republicans could never say.
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