Freedom is, in truth, a

sacred

[sic] thing. There is only one thing else that better deserves the name: that is virtue. But then what is virtue if not the

free

choice of what is good? (Alexis de Tocqueville,

Journeys to England and Ireland

, translated by George Lawrence and K.P. Mayer, edited by Jacob Peter Mayer, London, Faber and Faber, 1957, p. 117.) Democracy is like a rising tide; it only recoils to come back with greater force, and soon one sees that for all its fluctuations it is always gaining ground. The immediate future of European society is completely democratic: this can in no way be doubted. (Alexis de Tocqueville,

Journeys to England and Ireland

, translated by George Lawrence and K.P. Mayer, edited by Jacob Peter Mayer, London, Faber and Faber, 1957, p. 67)

2451 words

Citation: Cross, Máire Fedelma. "Alexis de Tocqueville". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 May 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4425, accessed 19 March 2024.]

4425 Alexis de Tocqueville 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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