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About this quote

What does it mean?
America's strength lies in its capacity to fix its own mistakes rather than being perfect.
In plain terms
America is great because it can fix its faults.
What can you take from it?
Self-correction is a national strength.

Where it applies

  • national discourse
  • patriotism
  • historical analysis

Putting it to work

  • embrace learning from mistakes
  • support reform
  • measure progress over perfection

Questions to consider

  • How does your nation correct itself?
  • Is repair enough for greatness?

Another view

It may overlook systemic barriers to repair.

More from Alexis de Tocqueville

  1. The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.

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  2. The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

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  3. The French want no-one to be their superior. The English want inferiors. The Frenchman constantly raises his eyes above him with anxiety. The Englishman lowers…

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