The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
Every central government worships uniformity: uniformity relieves it from inquiry into an infinity of details.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques how central governments prefer uniformity to avoid dealing with complex details.
Alexis De Tocqueville's quote suggests that central governments often favor uniformity in policy and governance because it simplifies decision-making and reduces the burden of addressing the myriad of unique situations and nuances within a society. This pursuit of uniformity can lead to oversimplification and a lack of responsiveness to the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
Themes
GovernmentUniformityDetailsInquiryCentralization
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political science discussion about the merits and drawbacks of centralized governance.
More from Alexis De Tocqueville
All quotes βDemocratic communities have a natural taste for freedom: left to themselves they will seek it, cherish it, and view any deprivation of it with regret. But for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery.
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Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions
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The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.
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The Indian knew how to live without wants, to suffer without complaint, and to die singing.
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Grant me thirty years of equal division of inheritances and a free press, and I will provide you with a republic.
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