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Among these widely differing families of men, the first that attracts attention, the superior in intelligence, in power, and in enjoyment, is the white, or European, the MAN pre-eminently so called, below him appear the Negro and the Indian.

— Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America, Volume I (1835)

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Racism

More quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville

Laws are always unstable unless they are founded on the manners of a nation; and manners are the only durable and resisting power in a people.

Democracy in America, Volume I (1835)

What chiefly diverts the men of democracies from lofty ambition is not the scantiness of their fortunes, but the vehemence of the exertions they daily make to improve them.

Democracy in America, Volume II (1840)

It is the dissimilarities and inequalities among men which give rise to the notion of honor; as such differences become less, it grows feeble; and when they disappear, it will vanish too.

Democracy in America, Volume II (1840)

I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.

Democracy in America, Volume I (1835)

In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race.

Democracy in America, Volume II (1840)

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Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism.

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Today, racism is regarded as a crime if practiced by a majority—but as an inalienable right if practiced by a minority.

Ayn Rand The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution (1971)

Racism has never done this country any good, and it needs to be fought against, not put under new management for different groups.

Thomas Sowell

One of the strategies of racism is to confuse the victims into believing all their victories should be awarded to the oppressor.

Stokely Carmichael Black Power: The Politics of Liberation (1967)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Alexis de Tocqueville (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.