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A quote from Tocqueville


Moving from the lofty epistemologyical/metaphysical realm of yesterday's quote to the  questions of national character.

A thought from a wise French observer of our country.

 I accost an American sailor and inquire why the ships of his country are built so as to last but for a short time; he answers without hesitation that the art of navigation is every day making such rapid progress that the finest vessel would become almost useless if it lasted beyond a few years. In these words, which fell accidentally, and on a particular subject, from an uninstructed man, I recognize the general and systematic idea upon which a great people direct all their concerns. [Democracy in America Vol. II, Part One, Chap. 8.]

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  1. HenryAugust 26, 2026 at 11:30 AM

    Did de Tocqueville consider planned obsolescence? By building the ships to last but for a short time, the builders sell more ships. If the ships are for the U.S. government, then the contractors make campaign contributions in exchange for the government's authorizing them to build ships to last but for a short time.

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    1. ChristopherAugust 26, 2026 at 1:59 PM

      This was the era when steam was replacing wind and sail. The proper steam-friendly design was not obvious, so there was an ongoibg reality of unplanned obscolescence while the situation worked itself out. So, no, I don't think the planned sort was rfeally on his mind here.

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