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The most perilous moment for a bad government is when it seeks to mend its ways. Only consummate statecraft can enable a king to save his throne when, after a long spell of oppression, he sets out to improve the lot of his subjects.

Alexis de Tocqueville

As the past has ceased to throw its light upon the future, the mind of man wanders in obscurity.
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Future Light Men Mindset Past
Generally speaking, only simple conceptions can grip the mind of a nation. An idea that is clear and precise even though false will always have greater power in the world than an idea that is true but complex.
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Greatness Ideas Mind Nation Power Simplicity True
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
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Genius Greatness Herself Myself Patriot Power Right Secret Understand
When a large number of organs of the press come to advance along the same track, their influence becomes almost irresistible in the long term, and public opinion, struck always from the same side, ends by yielding under their blows.
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End Media News Opinion Politics
It is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth.
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Easy Lying Simplicity Truth World
Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.
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Democracy Difference Equality Liberty Patriotic Seek Service
Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.
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Establishment Faith Liberty Moral
The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.
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Beginning Dangerous Government Moments
The best laws cannot make a constitution work in spite of morals; morals can turn the worst laws to advantage.
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Best Law Moral Worst
This so-called tolerance, which, in my opinion, is nothing but a huge indifference.
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Difference Myself Opinion Tolerance
We can state with conviction, therefore, that a man’s support for absolute government is in direct proportion to the contempt he feels for his country.
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Country Feeling Government Men Support
Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.
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Oppression Order Present Suffering Support
Men are not corrupted by the exercise of power or debased by the habit of obedience, but by the exercise of a power which they believe to be illegal and by obedience to a rule which they consider to be usurped and oppressive.
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Believe Exercise Illegal Men Oppression Power Rule
When I refuse to obey an unjust law, I do not contest the right of the majority to command, but I simply appeal from the sovereignty of the people to the sovereignty of mankind.
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Justice Kind Law Man Myself People Right Simplicity
The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.
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Corruption Discovery Endurance Government Money
The more government takes the place of associations, the more will individuals lose the idea of forming associations and need the government to come to their help. That is a vicious circle of cause and effect.
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Government Help Ideas Lose Need Place