Thisleadsmetoalastreflection，withwhichIshallconcludethischapter。Themoreequaltheconditionsofmenbecome，andthelessstrongmenindividuallyare，themoreeasilydotheygivewaytothecurrentofthemultitude，andthemoredifficultisitforthemtoadherebythemselvestoanopinionwhichthemultitudediscard。Anewspaperrepresentsanassociation;itmaybesaidtoaddresseachofitsreadersinthenameofalltheothers，andtoexertitsinfluenceovertheminproportiontotheirindividualweakness。Thepowerofthenewspaperpressmustthereforeincreaseasthesocialconditionsofmenbecomemoreequal。
ChapterVII:ConnectionOfCivilAndPoliticalAssociationsThereisonlyonecountryonthefaceoftheearthwherethecitizensenjoyunlimitedfreedomofassociationforpoliticalpurposes。Thissamecountryistheonlyoneintheworldwherethecontinualexerciseoftherightofassociationhasbeenintroducedintocivillife，andwherealltheadvantageswhichcivilizationcanconferareprocuredbymeansofit。Inallthecountrieswherepoliticalassociationsareprohibited，civilassociationsarerare。Itishardlyprobablethatthisistheresultofaccident;buttheinferenceshouldratherbe，thatthereisanatural，andperhapsanecessary，connectionbetweenthesetwokindsofassociations。Certainmenhappentohaveacommoninterestinsomeconcern—eitheracommercialundertakingistobemanaged，orsomespeculationinmanufacturestobetried;theymeet，theycombine，andthusbydegreestheybecomefamiliarwiththeprincipleofassociation。Thegreateristhemultiplicityofsmallaffairs，themoredomen，evenwithoutknowingit，acquirefacilityinprosecutinggreatundertakingsincommon。Civilassociations，therefore，facilitatepoliticalassociation:but，ontheotherhand，politicalassociationsingularlystrengthensandimprovesassociationsforcivilpurposes。Incivillifeeverymanmay，strictlyspeaking，fancythathecanprovideforhisownwants;inpolitics，hecanfancynosuchthing。Whenapeople，then，haveanyknowledgeofpubliclife，thenotionofassociation，andthewishtocoalesce，presentthemselveseverydaytothemindsofthewholecommunity:
whatevernaturalrepugnancemayrestrainmenfromactinginconcert，theywillalwaysbereadytocombineforthesakeofaparty。Thuspoliticallifemakestheloveandpracticeofassociationmoregeneral;itimpartsadesireofunion，andteachesthemeansofcombinationtonumbersofmenwhowouldhavealwayslivedapart。
Politicsnotonlygivebirthtonumerousassociations，buttoassociationsofgreatextent。Incivillifeitseldomhappensthatanyoneinterestdrawsaverylargenumberofmentoactinconcert;muchskillisrequiredtobringsuchaninterestintoexistence:butinpoliticsopportunitiespresentthemselveseveryday。Nowitissolelyingreatassociationsthatthegeneralvalueoftheprincipleofassociationisdisplayed。Citizenswhoareindividuallypowerless，donotveryclearlyanticipatethestrengthwhichtheymayacquirebyunitingtogether;itmustbeshowntotheminordertobeunderstood。Henceitisofteneasiertocollectamultitudeforapublicpurposethanafewpersons;athousandcitizensdonotseewhatinteresttheyhaveincombiningtogether—tenthousandwillbeperfectlyawareofit。Inpoliticsmencombineforgreatundertakings;andtheusetheymakeoftheprincipleofassociationinimportantaffairspracticallyteachesthemthatitistheirinteresttohelpeachotherinthoseoflessmoment。Apoliticalassociationdrawsanumberofindividualsatthesametimeoutoftheirowncircle:
howevertheymaybenaturallykeptasunderbyage，mind，andfortune，itplacesthemnearertogetherandbringsthemintocontact。Oncemet，theycanalwaysmeetagain。
Mencanembarkinfewcivilpartnershipswithoutriskingaportionoftheirpossessions;thisisthecasewithallmanufacturingandtradingcompanies。Whenmenareasyetbutlittleversedintheartofassociation，andareunacquaintedwithitsprincipalrules，theyareafraid，whenfirsttheycombineinthismanner，ofbuyingtheirexperiencedear。Theythereforepreferdeprivingthemselvesofapowerfulinstrumentofsuccesstorunningtheriskswhichattendtheuseofit。Theyare，however，lessreluctanttojoinpoliticalassociations，whichappeartothemtobewithoutdanger，becausetheyadventurenomoneyinthem。Buttheycannotbelongtotheseassociationsforanylengthoftimewithoutfindingouthoworderismaintainedamongstalargenumberofmen，andbywhatcontrivancetheyaremadetoadvance，harmoniouslyandmethodically，tothesameobject。Thustheylearntosurrendertheirownwilltothatofalltherest，andtomaketheirownexertionssubordinatetothecommonimpulse—thingswhichitisnotlessnecessarytoknowincivilthaninpoliticalassociations。Politicalassociationsmaythereforebeconsideredaslargefreeschools，whereallthemembersofthecommunitygotolearnthegeneraltheoryofassociation。
Butevenifpoliticalassociationdidnotdirectlycontributetotheprogressofcivilassociation，todestroytheformerwouldbetoimpairthelatter。Whencitizenscanonlymeetinpublicforcertainpurposes，theyregardsuchmeetingsasastrangeproceedingofrareoccurrence，andtheyrarelythinkatallaboutit。Whentheyareallowedtomeetfreelyforallpurposes，theyultimatelylookuponpublicassociationastheuniversal，orinamannerthesolemeans，whichmencanemploytoaccomplishthedifferentpurposestheymayhaveinview。Everynewwantinstantlyrevivesthenotion。Theartofassociationthenbecomes，asIhavesaidbefore，themotherofaction，studiedandappliedbyall。
Whensomekindsofassociationsareprohibitedandothersallowed，itisdifficulttodistinguishtheformerfromthelatter，beforehand。Inthisstateofdoubtmenabstainfromthemaltogether，andasortofpublicopinionpassescurrentwhichtendstocauseanyassociationwhatsoevertoberegardedasaboldandalmostanillicitenterprise。*a[Footnotea:Thisismoreespeciallytruewhentheexecutivegovernmenthasadiscretionarypowerofallowingorprohibitingassociations。Whencertainassociationsaresimplyprohibitedbylaw，andthecourtsofjusticehavetopunishinfringementsofthatlaw，theevilisfarlessconsiderable。Theneverycitizenknowsbeforehandprettynearlywhathehastoexpect。Hejudgeshimselfbeforeheisjudgedbythelaw，and，abstainingfromprohibitedassociations，heembarksinthosewhicharelegallysanctioned。Itisbytheserestrictionsthatallfreenationshavealwaysadmittedthattherightofassociationmightbelimited。Butifthelegislatureshouldinvestamanwithapowerofascertainingbeforehandwhichassociationsaredangerousandwhichareuseful，andshouldauthorizehimtodestroyallassociationsinthebudorallowthemtobeformed，asnobodywouldbeabletoforeseeinwhatcasesassociationsmightbeestablishedandinwhatcasestheywouldbeputdown，thespiritofassociationwouldbeentirelyparalyzed。Theformeroftheselawswouldonlyassailcertainassociations;thelatterwouldapplytosocietyitself，andinflictaninjuryuponit。Icanconceivethataregulargovernmentmayhaverecoursetotheformer，butIdonotconcedethatanygovernmenthastherightofenactingthelatter。]
Itisthereforechimericaltosupposethatthespiritofassociation，whenitisrepressedonsomeonepoint，willneverthelessdisplaythesamevigoronallothers;andthatifmenbeallowedtoprosecutecertainundertakingsincommon，thatisquiteenoughforthemeagerlytosetaboutthem。Whenthemembersofacommunityareallowedandaccustomedtocombineforallpurposes，theywillcombineasreadilyforthelesserasforthemoreimportantones;butiftheyareonlyallowedtocombineforsmallaffairs，theywillbeneitherinclinednorabletoeffectit。Itisinvainthatyouwillleavethementirelyfreetoprosecutetheirbusinessonjoint—stockaccount:theywillhardlycaretoavailthemselvesoftherightsyouhavegrantedtothem;and，afterhavingexhaustedyourstrengthinvaineffortstoputdownprohibitedassociations，youwillbesurprisedthatyoucannotpersuadementoformtheassociationsyouencourage。
Idonotsaythattherecanbenocivilassociationsinacountrywherepoliticalassociationisprohibited;formencanneverliveinsocietywithoutembarkinginsomecommonundertakings:butImaintainthatinsuchacountrycivilassociationswillalwaysbefewinnumber，feeblyplanned，unskillfullymanaged，thattheywillneverformanyvastdesigns，orthattheywillfailintheexecutionofthem。
Thisnaturallyleadsmetothinkthatfreedomofassociationinpoliticalmattersisnotsodangeroustopublictranquillityasissupposed;andthatpossibly，afterhavingagitatedsocietyforsometime，itmaystrengthentheStateintheend。Indemocraticcountriespoliticalassociationsare，sotospeak，theonlypowerfulpersonswhoaspiretoruletheState。Accordingly，thegovernmentsofourtimelookuponassociationsofthiskindjustassovereignsintheMiddleAgesregardedthegreatvassalsoftheCrown:theyentertainasortofinstinctiveabhorrenceofthem，andtheycombatthemonalloccasions。Theybear，onthecontrary，anaturalgoodwilltocivilassociations，becausetheyreadilydiscoverthat，insteadofdirectingthemindsofthecommunitytopublicaffairs，theseinstitutionsservetodivertthemfromsuchreflections;andthat，byengagingthemmoreandmoreinthepursuitofobjectswhichcannotbeattainedwithoutpublictranquillity，theydeterthemfromrevolutions。Butthesegovernmentsdonotattendtothefactthatpoliticalassociationstendamazinglytomultiplyandfacilitatethoseofacivilcharacter，andthatinavoidingadangerouseviltheydeprivethemselvesofanefficaciousremedy。
WhenyouseetheAmericansfreelyandconstantlyformingassociationsforthepurposeofpromotingsomepoliticalprinciple，ofraisingonemantotheheadofaffairs，orofwrestingpowerfromanother，youhavesomedifficultyinunderstandingthatmensoindependentdonotconstantlyfallintotheabuseoffreedom。If，ontheotherhand，yousurveytheinfinitenumberoftradingcompanieswhichareinoperationintheUnitedStates，andperceivethattheAmericansareoneverysideunceasinglyengagedintheexecutionofimportantanddifficultplans，whichtheslightestrevolutionwouldthrowintoconfusion，youwillreadilycomprehendwhypeoplesowellemployedarebynomeanstemptedtoperturbtheState，nortodestroythatpublictranquillitybywhichtheyallprofit。
Isitenoughtoobservethesethingsseparately，orshouldwenotdiscoverthehiddentiewhichconnectsthem？Intheirpoliticalassociations，theAmericansofallconditions，minds，andages，dailyacquireageneraltasteforassociation，andgrowaccustomedtotheuseofit。Theretheymeettogetherinlargenumbers，theyconverse，theylistentoeachother，andtheyaremutuallystimulatedtoallsortsofundertakings。Theyafterwardstransfertocivillifethenotionstheyhavethusacquired，andmakethemsubservienttoathousandpurposes。ThusitisbytheenjoymentofadangerousfreedomthattheAmericanslearntheartofrenderingthedangersoffreedomlessformidable。
Ifacertainmomentintheexistenceofanationbeselected，itiseasytoprovethatpoliticalassociationsperturbtheState，andparalyzeproductiveindustry;buttakethewholelifeofapeople，anditmayperhapsbeeasytodemonstratethatfreedomofassociationinpoliticalmattersisfavorabletotheprosperityandeventothetranquillityofthecommunity。
Isaidintheformerpartofthiswork，\"Theunrestrainedlibertyofpoliticalassociationcannotbeentirelyassimilatedtothelibertyofthepress。Theoneisatthesametimelessnecessaryandmoredangerousthantheother。Anationmayconfineitwithincertainlimitswithoutceasingtobemistressofitself;anditmaysometimesbeobligedtodosoinordertomaintainitsownauthority。\"AndfurtheronIadded:\"Itcannotbedeniedthattheunrestrainedlibertyofassociationforpoliticalpurposesisthelastdegreeoflibertywhichapeopleisfitfor。Ifitdoesnotthrowthemintoanarchy，itperpetuallybringsthem，asitwere，tothevergeofit。\"ThusI
donotthinkthatanationisalwaysatlibertytoinvestitscitizenswithanabsoluterightofassociationforpoliticalpurposes;andIdoubtwhether，inanycountryorinanyage，itbewisetosetnolimitstofreedomofassociation。Acertainnation，itissaid，couldnotmaintaintranquillityinthecommunity，causethelawstoberespected，orestablishalastinggovernment，iftherightofassociationwerenotconfinedwithinnarrowlimits。Theseblessingsaredoubtlessinvaluable，andI
canimaginethat，toacquireortopreservethem，anationmayimposeuponitselfseveretemporaryrestrictions:butstillitiswellthatthenationshouldknowatwhatpricetheseblessingsarepurchased。Icanunderstandthatitmaybeadvisabletocutoffaman’sarminordertosavehislife;butitwouldberidiculoustoassertthathewillbeasdexterousashewasbeforehelostit。
BookTwo—ChaptersVII—XIII
ChapterVIII:TheAmericansCombatIndividualismByThePrincipleOfInterestRightlyUnderstoodWhentheworldwasmanagedbyafewrichandpowerfulindividuals，thesepersonslovedtoentertainaloftyideaofthedutiesofman。Theywerefondofprofessingthatitispraiseworthytoforgetone’sself，andthatgoodshouldbedonewithouthopeofreward，asitisbytheDeityhimself。Suchwerethestandardopinionsofthattimeinmorals。Idoubtwhethermenweremorevirtuousinaristocraticagesthaninothers;buttheywereincessantlytalkingofthebeautiesofvirtue，anditsutilitywasonlystudiedinsecret。Butsincetheimaginationtakeslessloftyflightsandeveryman’sthoughtsarecentredinhimself，moralistsarealarmedbythisideaofself—sacrifice，andtheynolongerventuretopresentittothehumanmind。Theythereforecontentthemselveswithinquiringwhetherthepersonaladvantageofeachmemberofthecommunitydoesnotconsistinworkingforthegoodofall;andwhentheyhavehituponsomepointonwhichprivateinterestandpublicinterestmeetandamalgamate，theyareeagertobringitintonotice。Observationsofthiskindaregraduallymultiplied:whatwasonlyasingleremarkbecomesageneralprinciple;anditisheldasatruththatmanserveshimselfinservinghisfellow—creatures，andthathisprivateinterestistodogood。
Ihavealreadyshown，inseveralpartsofthiswork，bywhatmeanstheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesalmostalwaysmanagetocombinetheirownadvantagewiththatoftheirfellow—citizens:mypresentpurposeistopointoutthegeneralrulewhichenablesthemtodoso。IntheUnitedStateshardlyanybodytalksofthebeautyofvirtue;buttheymaintainthatvirtueisuseful，andproveiteveryday。TheAmericanmoralistsdonotprofessthatmenoughttosacrificethemselvesfortheirfellow—creaturesbecauseitisnobletomakesuchsacrifices;buttheyboldlyaverthatsuchsacrificesareasnecessarytohimwhoimposesthemuponhimselfastohimforwhosesaketheyaremade。
Theyhavefoundoutthatintheircountryandtheiragemanisbroughthometohimselfbyanirresistibleforce;andlosingallhopeofstoppingthatforce，theyturnalltheirthoughtstothedirectionofit。Theythereforedonotdenythateverymanmayfollowhisowninterest;buttheyendeavortoprovethatitistheinterestofeverymantobevirtuous。Ishallnothereenterintothereasonstheyallege，whichwoulddivertmefrommysubject:sufficeittosaythattheyhaveconvincedtheirfellow—countrymen。
Montaignesaidlongago:\"WereInottofollowthestraightroadforitsstraightness，Ishouldfollowitforhavingfoundbyexperiencethatintheenditiscommonlythehappiestandmostusefultrack。\"Thedoctrineofinterestrightlyunderstoodisnot，then，new，butamongsttheAmericansofourtimeitfindsuniversalacceptance:ithasbecomepopularthere;youmaytraceitatthebottomofalltheiractions，youwillremarkitinalltheysay。Itisasoftentobemetwithonthelipsofthepoormanasoftherich。InEuropetheprincipleofinterestismuchgrosserthanitisinAmerica，butatthesametimeitislesscommon，andespeciallyitislessavowed;amongstus，menstillconstantlyfeigngreatabnegationwhichtheynolongerfeel。TheAmericans，onthecontrary，arefondofexplainingalmostalltheactionsoftheirlivesbytheprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstood;theyshowwithcomplacencyhowanenlightenedregardforthemselvesconstantlypromptsthemtoassisteachother，andinclinesthemwillinglytosacrificeaportionoftheirtimeandpropertytothewelfareoftheState。InthisrespectIthinktheyfrequentlyfailtodothemselvesjustice;forintheUnitedStates，aswellaselsewhere，peoplearesometimesseentogivewaytothosedisinterestedandspontaneousimpulseswhicharenaturaltoman;buttheAmericansseldomallowthattheyyieldtoemotionsofthiskind;theyaremoreanxioustodohonortotheirphilosophythantothemselves。
Imightherepause，withoutattemptingtopassajudgmentonwhatIhavedescribed。Theextremedifficultyofthesubjectwouldbemyexcuse，butIshallnotavailmyselfofit;andIhadratherthatmyreaders，clearlyperceivingmyobject，shouldrefusetofollowmethanthatIshouldleavetheminsuspense。
Theprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodisnotaloftyone，butitisclearandsure。Itdoesnotaimatmightyobjects，butitattainswithoutexcessiveexertionallthoseatwhichitaims。
Asitlieswithinthereachofallcapacities，everyonecanwithoutdifficultyapprehendandretainit。Byitsadmirableconformitytohumanweaknesses，iteasilyobtainsgreatdominion;
noristhatdominionprecarious，sincetheprinciplechecksonepersonalinterestbyanother，anduses，todirectthepassions，theverysameinstrumentwhichexcitesthem。Theprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodproducesnogreatactsofself—sacrifice，butitsuggestsdailysmallactsofself—denial。
Byitselfitcannotsufficetomakeamanvirtuous，butitdisciplinesanumberofcitizensinhabitsofregularity，temperance，moderation，foresight，self—command;and，ifitdoesnotleadmenstraighttovirtuebythewill，itgraduallydrawstheminthatdirectionbytheirhabits。Iftheprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodweretoswaythewholemoralworld，extraordinaryvirtueswoulddoubtlessbemorerare;butIthinkthatgrossdepravitywouldthenalsobelesscommon。Theprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodperhapspreventssomemenfromrisingfarabovethelevelofmankind;butagreatnumberofothermen，whowerefallingfarbelowit，arecaughtandrestrainedbyit。Observesomefewindividuals，theyareloweredbyit;surveymankind，itisraised。Iamnotafraidtosaythattheprincipleofinterest，rightlyunderstood，appearstomethebestsuitedofallphilosophicaltheoriestothewantsofthemenofourtime，andthatIregarditastheirchiefremainingsecurityagainstthemselves。Towardsit，therefore，themindsofthemoralistsofourageshouldturn;evenshouldtheyjudgeittobeincomplete，itmustneverthelessbeadoptedasnecessary。
IdonotthinkuponthewholethatthereismoreegotismamongstusthaninAmerica;theonlydifferenceis，thatthereitisenlightened—hereitisnot。EveryAmericanwillsacrificeaportionofhisprivateintereststopreservetherest;wewouldfainpreservethewhole，andoftentimesthewholeislost。
EverybodyIseeaboutmeseemsbentonteachinghiscontemporaries，bypreceptandexample，thatwhatisusefulisneverwrong。Willnobodyundertaketomakethemunderstandhowwhatisrightmaybeuseful？Nopoweruponearthcanpreventtheincreasingequalityofconditionsfromincliningthehumanmindtoseekoutwhatisuseful，orfromleadingeverymemberofthecommunitytobewrappedupinhimself。Itmustthereforebeexpectedthatpersonalinterestwillbecomemorethanevertheprincipal，ifnotthesole，springofmen’sactions;butitremainstobeseenhoweachmanwillunderstandhispersonalinterest。Ifthemembersofacommunity，astheybecomemoreequal，becomemoreignorantandcoarse，itisdifficulttoforeseetowhatpitchofstupidexcessestheiregotismmayleadthem;andnoonecanforetellintowhatdisgraceandwretchednesstheywouldplungethemselves，lesttheyshouldhavetosacrificesomethingoftheirownwell—beingtotheprosperityoftheirfellow—creatures。Idonotthinkthatthesystemofinterest，asitisprofessedinAmerica，is，inallitsparts，self—evident;
butitcontainsagreatnumberoftruthssoevidentthatmen，iftheyarebuteducated，cannotfailtoseethem。Educate，then，atanyrate;fortheageofimplicitself—sacrificeandinstinctivevirtuesisalreadyflittingfarawayfromus，andthetimeisfastapproachingwhenfreedom，publicpeace，andsocialorderitselfwillnotbeabletoexistwithouteducation。
ChapterIX:ThatTheAmericansApplyThePrincipleOfInterestRightlyUnderstoodToReligiousMattersIftheprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodhadnothingbutthepresentworldinview，itwouldbeveryinsufficient;fortherearemanysacrificeswhichcanonlyfindtheirrecompenseinanother;andwhateveringenuitymaybeputforthtodemonstratetheutilityofvirtue，itwillneverbeaneasytasktomakethatmanlivearightwhohasnothoughtsofdying。Itisthereforenecessarytoascertainwhethertheprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodiseasilycompatiblewithreligiousbelief。Thephilosopherswhoinculcatethissystemofmoralstellmen，thattobehappyinthislifetheymustwatchtheirownpassionsandsteadilycontroltheirexcess;thatlastinghappinesscanonlybesecuredbyrenouncingathousandtransientgratifications;andthatamanmustperpetuallytriumphoverhimself，inordertosecurehisownadvantage。Thefoundersofalmostallreligionshaveheldthesamelanguage。Thetracktheypointouttomanisthesame，onlythatthegoalismoreremote;insteadofplacinginthisworldtherewardofthesacrificestheyimpose，theytransportittoanother。NeverthelessIcannotbelievethatallthosewhopractisevirtuefromreligiousmotivesareonlyactuatedbythehopeofarecompense。IhaveknownzealousChristianswhoconstantlyforgotthemselves，toworkwithgreaterardorforthehappinessoftheirfellow—men;andIhaveheardthemdeclarethatalltheydidwasonlytoearntheblessingsofafuturestate。Icannotbutthinkthattheydeceivethemselves;
Irespectthemtoomuchtobelievethem。
Christianityindeedteachesthatamanmustpreferhisneighbortohimself，inordertogaineternallife;butChristianityalsoteachesthatmenoughttobenefittheirfellow—
creaturesfortheloveofGod。Asublimeexpression！Man，searchingbyhisintellectintothedivineconception，andseeingthatorderisthepurposeofGod，freelycombinestoprosecutethegreatdesign;andwhilsthesacrificeshispersonalintereststothisconsummateorderofallcreatedthings，expectsnootherrecompensethanthepleasureofcontemplatingit。Idonotbelievethatinterestisthesolemotiveofreligiousmen:butI
believethatinterestistheprincipalmeanswhichreligionsthemselvesemploytogovernmen，andIdonotquestionthatthiswaytheystrikeintothemultitudeandbecomepopular。Itisnoteasyclearlytoperceivewhytheprincipleofinterestrightlyunderstoodshouldkeepalooffromreligiousopinions;anditseemstomemoreeasytoshowwhyitshoulddrawmentothem。
Letitbesupposedthat，inordertoobtainhappinessinthisworld，amancombatshisinstinctonalloccasionsanddeliberatelycalculateseveryactionofhislife;that，insteadofyieldingblindlytotheimpetuosityoffirstdesires，hehaslearnedtheartofresistingthem，andthathehasaccustomedhimselftosacrificewithoutaneffortthepleasureofamomenttothelastinginterestofhiswholelife。Ifsuchamanbelievesinthereligionwhichheprofesses，itwillcosthimbutlittletosubmittotherestrictionsitmayimpose。Reasonherselfcounselshimtoobey，andhabithaspreparedhimtoendurethem。
Ifheshouldhaveconceivedanydoubtsastotheobjectofhishopes，stillhewillnoteasilyallowhimselftobestoppedbythem;andhewilldecidethatitiswisetorisksomeoftheadvantagesofthisworld，inordertopreservehisrightstothegreatinheritancepromisedhiminanother。\"TobemistakeninbelievingthattheChristianreligionistrue，\"saysPascal，\"isnogreatlosstoanyone;buthowdreadfultobemistakeninbelievingittobefalse！\"
TheAmericansdonotaffectabrutalindifferencetoafuturestate;theyaffectnopuerileprideindespisingperilswhichtheyhopetoescapefrom。Theythereforeprofesstheirreligionwithoutshameandwithoutweakness;buttheregenerallyis，evenintheirzeal，somethingsoindescribablytranquil，methodical，anddeliberate，thatitwouldseemasifthehead，farmorethantheheart，broughtthemtothefootofthealtar。
TheAmericansnotonlyfollowtheirreligionfrominterest，buttheyoftenplaceinthisworldtheinterestwhichmakesthemfollowit。IntheMiddleAgestheclergyspokeofnothingbutafuturestate;theyhardlycaredtoprovethatasincereChristianmaybeahappymanherebelow。ButtheAmericanpreachersareconstantlyreferringtotheearth;anditisonlywithgreatdifficultythattheycandiverttheirattentionfromit。Totouchtheircongregations，theyalwaysshowthemhowfavorablereligiousopinionsaretofreedomandpublictranquillity;anditisoftendifficulttoascertainfromtheirdiscourseswhethertheprincipalobjectofreligionistoprocureeternalfelicityintheotherworld，orprosperityinthis。
ChapterX:OfTheTasteForPhysicalWell—BeingInAmericaInAmericathepassionforphysicalwell—beingisnotalwaysexclusive，butitisgeneral;andifalldonotfeelitinthesamemanner，yetitisfeltbyall。Carefullytosatisfyall，eventheleastwantsofthebody，andtoprovidethelittleconveniencesoflife，isuppermostineverymind。SomethingofananalogouscharacterismoreandmoreapparentinEurope。Amongstthecauseswhichproducethesesimilarconsequencesinbothhemispheres，severalaresoconnectedwithmysubjectastodeservenotice。
Whenrichesarehereditarilyfixedinfamilies，thereareagreatnumberofmenwhoenjoythecomfortsoflifewithoutfeelinganexclusivetasteforthosecomforts。Theheartofmanisnotsomuchcaughtbytheundisturbedpossessionofanythingvaluableasbythedesire，asyetimperfectlysatisfied，ofpossessingit，andbytheincessantdreadoflosingit。Inaristocraticcommunities，thewealthy，neverhavingexperiencedaconditiondifferentfromtheirown，entertainnofearofchangingit;theexistenceofsuchconditionshardlyoccurstothem。Thecomfortsoflifearenottothemtheendoflife，butsimplyawayofliving;theyregardthemasexistenceitself—enjoyed，butscarcelythoughtof。Asthenaturalandinstinctivetastewhichallmenfeelforbeingwelloffisthussatisfiedwithouttroubleandwithoutapprehension，theirfacultiesareturnedelsewhere，andclingtomorearduousandmoreloftyundertakings，whichexciteandengrosstheirminds。Henceitisthat，inthemidstofphysicalgratifications，themembersofanaristocracyoftendisplayahaughtycontemptoftheseveryenjoyments，andexhibitsingularpowersofenduranceundertheprivationofthem。
Alltherevolutionswhichhaveevershakenordestroyedaristocracies，haveshownhoweasilymenaccustomedtosuperfluousluxuriescandowithoutthenecessariesoflife;
whereasmenwhohavetoiledtoacquireacompetencycanhardlyliveaftertheyhavelostit。
IfIturnmyobservationfromtheuppertothelowerclasses，Ifindanalogouseffectsproducedbyoppositecauses。
Amongstanationwherearistocracypredominatesinsociety，andkeepsitstationary，thepeopleintheendgetasmuchaccustomedtopovertyastherichtotheiropulence。Thelatterbestownoanxietyontheirphysicalcomforts，becausetheyenjoythemwithoutaneffort;theformerdonotthinkofthingswhichtheydespairofobtaining，andwhichtheyhardlyknowenoughoftodesirethem。Incommunitiesofthiskind，theimaginationofthepoorisdriventoseekanotherworld;themiseriesofreallifeincloseitaround，butitescapesfromtheircontrol，andfliestoseekitspleasuresfarbeyond。When，onthecontrary，thedistinctionsofranksareconfoundedtogetherandprivilegesaredestroyed—whenhereditarypropertyissubdivided，andeducationandfreedomwidelydiffused，thedesireofacquiringthecomfortsoftheworldhauntstheimaginationofthepoor，andthedreadoflosingthemthatoftherich。Manyscantyfortunesspringup;
thosewhopossessthemhaveasufficientshareofphysicalgratificationstoconceiveatasteforthesepleasures—notenoughtosatisfyit。Theyneverprocurethemwithoutexertion，andtheyneverindulgeinthemwithoutapprehension。Theyarethereforealwaysstrainingtopursueortoretaingratificationssodelightful，soimperfect，sofugitive。
IfIweretoinquirewhatpassionismostnaturaltomenwhoarestimulatedandcircumscribedbytheobscurityoftheirbirthorthemediocrityoftheirfortune，Icoulddiscovernonemorepeculiarlyappropriatetotheirconditionthanthisloveofphysicalprosperity。Thepassionforphysicalcomfortsisessentiallyapassionofthemiddleclasses:withthoseclassesitgrowsandspreads，withthemitpreponderates。Fromthemitmountsintothehigherordersofsociety，anddescendsintothemassofthepeople。InevermetinAmericawithanycitizensopoorasnottocastaglanceofhopeandenvyontheenjoymentsoftherich，orwhoseimaginationdidnotpossessitselfbyanticipationofthosegoodthingswhichfatestillobstinatelywithheldfromhim。Ontheotherhand，IneverperceivedamongstthewealthierinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesthatproudcontemptofphysicalgratificationswhichissometimestobemetwitheveninthemostopulentanddissolutearistocracies。Mostofthesewealthypersonswereoncepoor;theyhavefeltthestingofwant;theywerelongapreytoadversefortunes;andnowthatthevictoryiswon，thepassionswhichaccompaniedthecontesthavesurvivedit:theirmindsare，asitwere，intoxicatedbythesmallenjoymentswhichtheyhavepursuedforfortyyears。NotbutthatintheUnitedStates，aselsewhere，thereareacertainnumberofwealthypersonswho，havingcomeintotheirpropertybyinheritance，possess，withoutexertion，anopulencetheyhavenotearned。Buteventhesemenarenotlessdevotedlyattachedtothepleasuresofmateriallife。Theloveofwell—beingisnowbecomethepredominanttasteofthenation;thegreatcurrentofman’spassionsrunsinthatchannel，andsweepseverythingalonginitscourse。
ChapterXI:PeculiarEffectsOfTheLoveOfPhysicalGratificationsInDemocraticAgesItmaybesupposed，fromwhathasjustbeensaid，thattheloveofphysicalgratificationsmustconstantlyurgetheAmericanstoirregularitiesinmorals，disturbthepeaceoffamilies，andthreatenthesecurityofsocietyatlarge。Suchisnotthecase:thepassionforphysicalgratificationsproducesindemocracieseffectsverydifferentfromthosewhichitoccasionsinaristocraticnations。Itsometimeshappensthat，weariedwithpublicaffairsandsatedwithopulence，amidsttheruinofreligiousbeliefandthedeclineoftheState，theheartofanaristocracymaybydegreesbeseducedtothepursuitofsensualenjoymentsonly。Atothertimesthepowerofthemonarchortheweaknessofthepeople，withoutstrippingthenobilityoftheirfortune，compelsthemtostandalooffromtheadministrationofaffairs，andwhilsttheroadtomightyenterpriseisclosed，abandonsthemtotheinquietudeoftheirowndesires;theythenfallbackheavilyuponthemselves，andseekinthepleasuresofthebodyoblivionoftheirformergreatness。Whenthemembersofanaristocraticbodyarethusexclusivelydevotedtothepursuitofphysicalgratifications，theycommonlyconcentrateinthatdirectionalltheenergywhichtheyderivefromtheirlongexperienceofpower。Suchmenarenotsatisfiedwiththepursuitofcomfort;theyrequiresumptuousdepravityandsplendidcorruption。Theworshiptheypaythesensesisagorgeousone;
andtheyseemtoviewitheachotherintheartofdegradingtheirownnatures。Thestronger，themorefamous，andthemorefreeanaristocracyhasbeen，themoredepravedwillitthenbecome;andhoweverbrilliantmayhavebeenthelustreofitsvirtues，Idarepredictthattheywillalwaysbesurpassedbythesplendorofitsvices。
Thetasteforphysicalgratificationsleadsademocraticpeopleintonosuchexcesses。Theloveofwell—beingistheredisplayedasatenacious，exclusive，universalpassion;butitsrangeisconfined。Tobuildenormouspalaces，toconquerortomimicnature，toransacktheworldinordertogratifythepassionsofaman，isnotthoughtof:buttoaddafewroodsoflandtoyourfield，toplantanorchard，toenlargeadwelling，tobealwaysmakinglifemorecomfortableandconvenient，toavoidtrouble，andtosatisfythesmallestwantswithouteffortandalmostwithoutcost。Thesearesmallobjects，butthesoulclingstothem;itdwellsuponthemcloselyanddaybyday，tilltheyatlastshutouttherestoftheworld，andsometimesintervenebetweenitselfandheaven。