"Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom, but for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, and invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery."
"Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom, but for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, and invincible": who wrote that bollocks? The confederate states were commendably democratic in their time, but dead keen on slavery. Ditto ancient Athens.
I am obliged to make you and argument, Dearieme, not an understanding. Tocqueville was not a fan of democracy, but of liberty, and a tireless opponent of slavery.
"It is, above all, in the details that we risk enslaving men. Freedom in the big things of life is less important than in the slightest. It really is difficult to imagine how people who have entirely given up managing their own affairs could make a wise choice of those who are to do that for them. One should never expect a liberal, energetic, and wise government to originate in the votes of a people of servants. I know nothing so miserable as democracy without liberty."
Tocqueville's bollock's described in minute detail what would happen to us. Not bad for a man who refused the hereditary title due him, and all the affectations the English commonly seek to this day when they have achieved fame.
Slavery?
ReplyDeleteSlavery? Abandoned?
ReplyDelete"Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom, but for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, and invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery."
Guess we weren't paying attention.
Who's the Dandy? Needs a makeover.
The laughing cavalier, Xlbrl.
ReplyDelete"Democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom, but for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, and invincible": who wrote that bollocks? The confederate states were commendably democratic in their time, but dead keen on slavery. Ditto ancient Athens.
ReplyDeleteI am obliged to make you and argument, Dearieme, not an understanding.
ReplyDeleteTocqueville was not a fan of democracy, but of liberty, and a tireless opponent of slavery.
"It is, above all, in the details that we risk enslaving men. Freedom in the big things of life is less important than in the slightest.
It really is difficult to imagine how people who have entirely given up managing their own affairs could make a wise choice of those who are to do that for them. One should never expect a liberal, energetic, and wise government to originate in the votes of a people of servants. I know nothing so miserable as democracy without liberty."
Tocqueville's bollock's described in minute detail what would happen to us. Not bad for a man who refused the hereditary title due him, and all the affectations the English commonly seek to this day when they have achieved fame.
Hmmm. right.
ReplyDelete