Tocqueville noted that “Americans are fond of explaining…[how] regard for themselves constantly prompts them to assist each other, and inclines them willingly to sacrifice a portion of their time and property to the general welfare.” The French, by contrast, faced a future in which “it is difficult to foresee to what pitch of stupid excesses their egotism may lead them,” and “into what disgrace and wretchedness they would plunge themselves, lest they should have to sacrifice something of their own well-being to the prosperity of their fellow-creatures.”
托克维尔指出“美国人热衷于解释……为自己考虑是如何一贯地让他们互相帮助，并促使他们牺牲部分时间和财物去创造福利的。”相反，法国人面临这样一个未来：“很难预测盖过自负的愚蠢会把他们引向何方”以及“他们会让自己陷入怎样的耻辱和不幸，唯恐自己不得不牺牲一些自身福利和成功来为同类造福。”