Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The American Republic will survive until politicians can bribe citizens with their own money.
In plain terms
Corruption could undermine America.
What can you take from it?
Money-driven bribery threatens democratic stability.

Where it applies

  • campaign finance reform
  • public ethics oversight

Putting it to work

  • enforce transparency
  • limit private influence
  • strengthen civic education

Questions to consider

  • What safeguards can prevent bribery?
  • How does money influence voter behavior?

Another view

Other factors besides money also affect a republic's endurance.

More from Alexis de Tocqueville

  1. Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to every…

    Permalink to quote #71
  2. The Americans combine the notions of religion and liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive of one without the other

    Permalink to quote #73
  3. Nothing is quite so wretchedly corrupt as an aristocracy which has lost its power but kept its wealth and which still has endless leisure to devote to nothing …

    Permalink to quote #70

Related quotes

  1. 'My late mother used to say that it did not matter if you came to this country on the Mayflower or a slave ship, across the Rio Grande or through Ellis Island;…

    Carol Moseley BraunCarol Moseley Braun quote #1
  2. Until the control of the issue of currency and credit is restored to government and recognized as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility, all talks of …

    William Lyon Mackenzie KingWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King quote #2
  3. No, let the monarch's bags and others hold The flattering, mighty, nay, al-mighty gold.

    John WolcotJohn Wolcot quote #2