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About this quote

What does it mean?
Democracy and socialism are incompatible; you cannot have both.
In plain terms
Democracy requires private ownership; socialism opposes it.
What can you take from it?
Choose between democratic freedom and socialist control.

Where it applies

  • political debate
  • ideological choice
  • policy making

Putting it to work

  • evaluate systems
  • choose political path
  • understand trade-offs

Questions to consider

  • Which system fits your values?
  • Can democracy and socialism mix?

Another view

Some systems blend elements of both in practice.

More from Alexis de Tocqueville

  1. Socialism is a new form of slavery.

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  2. If a [democratic] society displays less brilliance than an aristocracy, there will also be less wretchedness; pleasures will be less outrageous and wellbeing w…

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  3. We are sleeping on a volcano... A wind of revolution blows, the storm is on the horizon.

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