The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

- Alexis de Tocqueville, French statesman and writer, was born this day in 1805. De Tocqueville is best known for his book, Democracy in America, which examined the state of America society and the ‘ongoing democratic revolution’ the US. Many of de Tocqueville’s predictions turned out to be accurate, and his writings are still important works in sociology and political science.