Why are Americans often so restless?

Lily Tikijian
October 22, 2009
Great Books Period 5
Mr. Priest

Why are Americans often so restless?
Questions: 2, 5

2. Why does a society devoted to equal opportunity weaken each individual?
A society devoted to equal opportunity often weakens each individual. Tocqueville states, “... the more equal men are, the more insatiable will be their longing for equality. When there is always inequality in a society, the greatest inequalities attack no attention. When everything in a certain society is equal, the slightest variation is noticed. No matter how many people strive for equality, all the conditions in life can never be perfectly equal. When man is in a society that is devoted to equality and equal opportunity, is often makes each individual weaker because they notice each slight variation. When a society is considered not equal, then the individuals tend to me stronger because they know not to expect as much of life and they know that life is not fair. A perfect example of this would be America and Old France. America is all about equal opportunity and that we can accomplish anything. This makes us weak because we notice when things aren’t “fair.” Compared to Old France when they knew their positions in life and they knew it was never going to be fair. They are stronger because they don’t expect to much. They deal with what they have and they accept it.

5. Does Tocqueville think Americans are restless because they don’t know what want or because what they want is not attainable?
Tocqueville thinks that Americans are restless because what we want is not always attainable. Even though in America anything is possible, but we don’t have enough time to attain what we want. We have equal opportunities to work and earn what we want. But we don’t really have enough time in our life to always attain what we want and set our goals on. Tocqueville states that, “Apart from the good he has, he thinks of a thousand others which death will prevent him from tasting if he does not hurry.” Man does have enough time to attain what we want. We always want more and we always work for more. Americans are more like this then any other society. Since we have equal rights and opportunities to work and earn money, we always expect more then we can achieve. This is why Americans are restless because we always want more and more. We are never happy with what we have. We always want what is not attainable.