eXERPTS Democracy in America, Volume 1 By Alexis de Tocqueville
"Zealous Christians may be found amongst us whose minds are nurtured in the love and knowledge of a future life, and who readily espouse the cause of human liberty as the source of all moral greatness. Christianity, which has declared all men are equal in the sight of God, will not refuse to acknowldge that all citizens are equal in the eye of the law. But, by a singular concourse of events, religon is entangled in those institutions which Democracy assails, and it is not unfrequently brought to reject the equality it loves, and to curse the that cause of liberty as a foe which it might hallow by it's alliance.
By the side of these religous men I discern others whose looks are turned to the Earth more than to Heaven; they are the partisans of liberty, not only as the source of the noblest virtues, but more especially as the root of all solid advantages; and they sincerely desire to extend it's sway, and to impart it's blessings to mankind. It is natural that they should hasten to invoke the assistance of religon, for they must know that liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith; but they have seen religon in the ranks of their adversaries, and they inquire no further; some of them attack it openly, and the remainder are afraid to defend it."
PAGE 35
"This state of things is without a parallel in the history of the world. In America, every one finds facilities un-known elsewhere for making or increasing his fortune. The spirit of gain is always on the stretch, and the human mind, constantly diverted from the pleasures of imagination and the labors of the intellect, is there swayed by no impulse but the pursuit of wealth. Not only are manufaturing and commercial classes to be found in the United States, as they are inall other countries; but, what never occured elsewhere, the whole community are simultaneously engaged in productive industry and commerce."
page 39
"When hereditary wealth, the privileges of wealth, the pivileges of rank, and the perogatives of birth have ceased to be, and when every man derives his strength form himself alone, it becomes evident that the chief cause of desparity between the fortunes of man is the mind."
PAGE 45
By the side of these religous men I discern others whose looks are turned to the Earth more than to Heaven; they are the partisans of liberty, not only as the source of the noblest virtues, but more especially as the root of all solid advantages; and they sincerely desire to extend it's sway, and to impart it's blessings to mankind. It is natural that they should hasten to invoke the assistance of religon, for they must know that liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith; but they have seen religon in the ranks of their adversaries, and they inquire no further; some of them attack it openly, and the remainder are afraid to defend it."
PAGE 35
"This state of things is without a parallel in the history of the world. In America, every one finds facilities un-known elsewhere for making or increasing his fortune. The spirit of gain is always on the stretch, and the human mind, constantly diverted from the pleasures of imagination and the labors of the intellect, is there swayed by no impulse but the pursuit of wealth. Not only are manufaturing and commercial classes to be found in the United States, as they are inall other countries; but, what never occured elsewhere, the whole community are simultaneously engaged in productive industry and commerce."
page 39
"When hereditary wealth, the privileges of wealth, the pivileges of rank, and the perogatives of birth have ceased to be, and when every man derives his strength form himself alone, it becomes evident that the chief cause of desparity between the fortunes of man is the mind."
PAGE 45
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