Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations... In democratic countries knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Associations are fundamental to democratic knowledge and progress.
- In plain terms
- Learning to combine in groups is key to democracy.
- What can you take from it?
- Build associations to advance society.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What groups do you belong to?
- How do groups help democracy?
Another view
Individual action also drives progress sometimes.
More from Alexis de Tocqueville
Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
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Permalink to quote #28 America is a country where they have freedom of speech but everyone says the same thing.
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