Tocqueville questions

2. Why does a society devoted to equal opportunity weaken each individual?

A society devoted to equal opportunity usually weakens the individual. This happens because there is such a huge push for everyone to be equal that many of the people at the top are pushed down to level the playing field. Alexis De Tocqueville expresses this in his writing when he writes, “The same equality which allows each man to entertain vast hopes makes each man by himself weak” In this quote Tocqueville is stating how the same equality that makes man free to do what he wants also makes him weak because every man has the ability to do the same and compete with him. The competition of equality is what makes the single man weak. Because with competition comes failure.

5. Does Tocqueville think Americans are restless because they don’t know what they want or because what they want is not attainable.

I believe that Tocqueville thinks Americans are restless because they what they want is not always attainable. They fear that they may never be able to get everything that they want. Tocqueville exemplifies this in his writing when he states,” Americans cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach, as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them.” In this quote, Tocqueville is expressing how Americans never are content and will always continue to want the next thing and the next thing in fear that they will never have what they want or what they need.