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
Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions
Interpretation
What this quote means
Religion plays a fundamental role in shaping American political institutions, despite not directly governing society.
Alexis De Tocqueville asserts that while religion does not intervene directly in the governance of American society, it serves as a cornerstone of their political institutions. This perspective highlights the importance of moral values and community ethics that religion provides, which influences the political landscape and social behavior in a nuanced, yet significant way.
Themes
ReligionPoliticsSocietyInstitutionsGovernance
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of religion in shaping policies.
More from Alexis De Tocqueville
All quotes →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.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
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.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
Grant me thirty years of equal division of inheritances and a free press, and I will provide you with a republic.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
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.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
Similar quotes
I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.
LucanRead
When people come to you for help, do not turn them off with pious words, saying, 'Have faith and take your troubles to God.' Act instead as though there were no God, as though there were only one person in the world who could help -- only yourself.
Martin BuberRead
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
Wilfred OwenRead
It’s strange,” Moominmamma thought. “Strange that people can be sad, and even angry because life is too easy. But that’s the way it is, I suppose. The only thing to do is to start life afresh.
Tove JanssonRead
After a while I started to think of that as an image of something that went a lot deeper than the dead dog, which is you can't bring back anything to life.
Alan AldaRead
True tolerance is not a total lack of judgment. It's knowing what should be tolerated, and refusing to tolerate that which shouldn't.
Charles ColsonRead