Alexis de Tocqueville: American $
on Sunday, June 20, 2021Alexis de Tocqueville Money Quote saying U.S. citizens are focused on the worth of their actions. Alexis de Tocqueville said:
“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?” — Alexis de Tocqueville
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In this quote, French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville is making an observation about American culture and values during the time of his visit in the 1830s. He suggests that from what he saw, the predominant focus among Americans seemed to be on the financial benefits and profit potential of any endeavor or opportunity.
Tocqueville implies that wealth accumulation and economic gain appeared to be the primary motivators driving many decisions, rather than other considerations like community impact, intellectual fulfillment or work-life balance.
Overall, the quote portrays a critique of a society highly oriented around monetary success and return on investment as the overriding measures of worth and importance.
Birthday: July 29, 1805 – Death: April 16, 1859