For more information on the works and life of Alexis de Tocqueville, please visit the Alexis de Tocqueville online archive and resource center.

Tocqueville's spirit — the true personality that comes through in his writings — has been described as broad and "omnicurious." It is often possible to find a brief quotation from these works which, taken out of context, will seem to support one side or another.

Tocqueville himself recognized this when he wrote to a friend that his works were often taken to support this or that partisan cause — often, wrongly.

This discussion board has been established with Tocqueville's literary-scientific soul in mind: a cartesian, Aquinas-style of thorough, balanced, and precise inquiry.

So if you're just looking to bash the left from the right, or the right from the left — well, like Tocqueville, we respect your passion, and imagine that on some of those passions, Tocqueville would share your views were he alive today. But you may be disappointed, if what you really want to do is simply find a snappy quotation that you feel tends to support, or oppose, this or that particular issue or proposal.

If, by contrast, you have a serious interest in Tocqueville's thought, and current issues of democracy — its extension, perfection, and practice — we welcome (and thank you for) your interest, and encourage participation.

Appreciatively,
Nick Urstadt
AlexisdeTocqueville ... Rocketmail.com

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Alexis de Tocqueville Institution