Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville

Chapter XIV: The Trade Of Literature

206 words  |  Chapter 15

Democracy not only infuses a taste for letters among the trading classes, but introduces a trading spirit into literature. In aristocracies, readers are fastidious and few in number; in democracies, they are far more numerous and far less difficult to please. The consequence is, that among aristocratic nations, no one can hope to succeed without immense exertions, and that these exertions may bestow a great deal of fame, but can never earn much money; whilst among democratic nations, a writer may flatter himself that he will obtain at a cheap rate a meagre reputation and a large fortune. For this purpose he need not be admired; it is enough that he is liked. The ever-increasing crowd of readers, and their continual craving for something new, insure the sale of books which nobody much esteems. In democratic periods the public frequently treat authors as kings do their courtiers; they enrich, and they despise them. What more is needed by the venal souls which are born in courts, or which are worthy to live there? Democratic literature is always infested with a tribe of writers who look upon letters as a mere trade: and for some few great authors who adorn it you may reckon thousands of idea-mongers.

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter I: Philosophical Method Among the Americans 3. Chapter II: Of The Principal Source Of Belief Among Democratic Nations 4. Chapter III: Why The Americans Display More Readiness And More Taste For 5. Chapter IV: Why The Americans Have Never Been So Eager As The French For 6. Chapter V: Of The Manner In Which Religion In The United States Avails 7. Chapter VI: Of The Progress Of Roman Catholicism In The United States 8. Chapter VII: Of The Cause Of A Leaning To Pantheism Amongst Democratic 9. Chapter VIII: The Principle Of Equality Suggests To The Americans The 10. Chapter IX: The Example Of The Americans Does Not Prove That A 11. Chapter X: Why The Americans Are More Addicted To Practical Than To 12. Chapter XI: Of The Spirit In Which The Americans Cultivate The Arts 13. Chapter XII: Why The Americans Raise Some Monuments So Insignificant, 14. Chapter XIII: Literary Characteristics Of Democratic Ages 15. Chapter XIV: The Trade Of Literature 16. Chapter XV: The Study Of Greek And Latin Literature Peculiarly Useful In 17. Chapter XVI: The Effect Of Democracy On Language 18. Chapter XVII: Of Some Of The Sources Of Poetry Amongst Democratic 19. Chapter XVIII: Of The Inflated Style Of American Writers And Orators 20. Chapter XIX: Some Observations On The Drama Amongst Democratic Nations 21. Chapter XX: Characteristics Of Historians In Democratic Ages 22. Chapter XXI: Of Parliamentary Eloquence In The United States 23. Chapter I: Why Democratic Nations Show A More Ardent And Enduring Love 24. Chapter II: Of Individualism In Democratic Countries 25. Chapter III: Individualism Stronger At The Close Of A Democratic 26. Chapter IV: That The Americans Combat The Effects Of Individualism By 27. Chapter V: Of The Use Which The Americans Make Of Public Associations In 28. Chapter VI: Of The Relation Between Public Associations And Newspapers 29. Chapter VII: Connection Of Civil And Political Associations 30. Chapter VIII: The Americans Combat Individualism By The Principle Of 31. Chapter IX: That The Americans Apply The Principle Of Interest Rightly 32. Chapter X: Of The Taste For Physical Well-Being In America 33. Chapter XI: Peculiar Effects Of The Love Of Physical Gratifications In 34. Chapter XII: Causes Of Fanatical Enthusiasm In Some Americans 35. Chapter XIII: Causes Of The Restless Spirit Of Americans In The Midst Of 36. Chapter XIV: Taste For Physical Gratifications United In America To Love 37. Chapter XV: That Religious Belief Sometimes Turns The Thoughts Of The 38. Chapter XVI: That Excessive Care Of Worldly Welfare May Impair That 39. Chapter XVII: That In Times Marked By Equality Of Conditions And 40. Chapter XVIII: That Amongst The Americans All Honest Callings Are 41. Chapter XIX: That Almost All The Americans Follow Industrial Callings 42. Chapter XX: That Aristocracy May Be Engendered By Manufactures 43. Chapter I: That Manners Are Softened As Social Conditions Become More 44. Chapter II: That Democracy Renders The Habitual Intercourse Of The 45. Chapter III: Why The Americans Show So Little Sensitiveness In Their Own 46. Chapter IV: Consequences Of The Three Preceding Chapters 47. Chapter V: How Democracy Affects the Relation Of Masters And Servants 48. Chapter VI: That Democratic Institutions And Manners Tend To Raise Rents 49. Chapter VII: Influence Of Democracy On Wages 50. Chapter VIII: Influence Of Democracy On Kindred 51. Chapter IX: Education Of Young Women In The United States 52. Chapter X: The Young Woman In The Character Of A Wife 53. Chapter XI: That The Equality Of Conditions Contributes To The 54. Chapter XII: How The Americans Understand The Equality Of The Sexes 55. Chapter XIII: That The Principle Of Equality Naturally Divides The 56. Chapter XIV: Some Reflections On American Manners 57. Chapter XV: Of The Gravity Of The Americans, And Why It Does Not Prevent 58. Chapter XVI: Why The National Vanity Of The Americans Is More Restless 59. Chapter XVII: That The Aspect Of Society In The United States Is At Once 60. Chapter XVIII: Of Honor In The United States And In Democratic 61. Chapter XIX: Why So Many Ambitious Men And So Little Lofty Ambition Are 62. Chapter XX: The Trade Of Place-Hunting In Certain Democratic Countries 63. Chapter XXI: Why Great Revolutions Will Become More Rare 64. Chapter XXII: Why Democratic Nations Are Naturally Desirous Of Peace, 65. Chapter XXIII: Which Is The Most Warlike And Most Revolutionary Class In 66. Chapter XXIV: Causes Which Render Democratic Armies Weaker Than Other 67. Chapter XXV: Of Discipline In Democratic Armies 68. Chapter XXVI: Some Considerations On War In Democratic Communities 69. Chapter I: That Equality Naturally Gives Men A Taste For Free 70. Chapter II: That The Notions Of Democratic Nations On Government Are 71. Chapter III: That The Sentiments Of Democratic Nations Accord With Their

Reading Tips

Use arrow keys to navigate

Press 'N' for next chapter

Press 'P' for previous chapter