Alexis de Tocqueville - Our contemporaries are constantly wracked by two warring passions: they...

Our contemporaries are constantly wracked by two warring passions: they feel the need to be led and the desire to remain free. Unable to destroy either of these contrary instincts, they seek to satisfy both at once. They imagine a single, omnipotent, tutelary power, but one that is elected by the citizens. They combine centralization with popular sovereignty. This gives them some respite. They console themselves for being treated as wards by imagining that they have chosen their own protectors.

Alexis de Tocqueville

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Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes

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Our contemporaries are constantly wracked by two warring passions: they feel the need to be led and the desire to remain free. Unable to destroy either of these contrary instincts, they seek to satisfy both at once. They imagine a single, omnipotent, tutelary power, but one that is elected by the citizens. They combine centralization with popular sovereignty. This gives them some respite. They console themselves for being treated as wards by imagining that they have chosen their own protectors. Alexis de Tocqueville

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Keywords

contemporaries constantly wracked warring passions feel led desire remain free unable destroy contrary instincts seek satisfy imagine single omnipotent tutelary power elected citizens combine centralization popular sovereignty respite console treated wards imagining chosen protectors

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