Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Reform can destabilize bad governments by exposing their flaws to opposition.
In plain terms
When a bad government tries to change, it often risks being overthrown.
What can you take from it?
Reform can provoke instability in weak regimes.

Where it applies

  • political reform
  • regime change
  • protests

Putting it to work

  • monitor reform impacts
  • anticipate backlash

Questions to consider

  • Why does reform threaten bad rulers?
  • Is change always risky?

Another view

Some reforms succeed without destabilizing the regime.

More from Alexis de Tocqueville

  1. The man who asks of freedom anything other than itself is born to be a slave.

    Permalink to quote #86
  2. The New Englander is attached to his township because it is strong and independent; he has an interest in it because he shares in its management; he loves it b…

    Permalink to quote #88
  3. The main business of religions is to purify, control, and restrain that excessive and exclusive taste for well-being which men acquire in times of equality.

    Permalink to quote #85

Related quotes

  1. Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot! A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar on foot. Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again! The beggars have chan…

    William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats quote #158
  2. During the last 100 years, the House of Lords has never contributed one iota to popular liberties or popular freedom, or done anything to advance the common we…

    Joseph ChamberlainJoseph Chamberlain quote #1
  3. If lowborn men could stand up to those born to rule, religion, government, the whole world would fall to pieces...[Merlin replies]...So it would; so it will...…

    John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck quote #11