“The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.”

— Alexis De Tocqueville, book Democracy in America

Book One, Chapter XVI.
Democracy in America, Volume II (1840), Book One

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Alexis De Tocqueville135

French political thinker and historian 1805–1859

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Context: An idea must not be condemned for being a little shy and incoherent; all new ideas are shy when introduced first among our old ones. We should have patience and see whether the incoherency is likely to wear off or to wear on, in which latter case the sooner we get rid of them the better.