Alexis de Tocqueville

There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult - to begin a war and to end it.

All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.

Nothing seems at first sight less important than the outward form of human actions, yet there is nothing upon which men set more store: they grow used to everything except to living in a society which has not their own manners.

In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?