Democracy in America ...

Written in 1820, by Alexis de Tocqueville. Particularly read the first and last.

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.

History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.

In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them.

In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships.In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own.

The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.

The power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.

When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.

And the grand finale!

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.