Why Americans are so Often Restless int. questions

2. A society devoted to equal opportunity weakens the individual because the individual has to compete and stand out from so many more people than he would otherwise. In his book De Tocqueville writes, "the same equality which allows each man to entertain vast hopes makes each man by himself weak. His power is limited on every side, though his belongings may wander where they will." What De Tocqueville is saying here is that the equality that America stresses makes it harder for a man to rise higher in power. Because so many people have the same chances a lower percent of the people going for the same thing will get it. There are so many people that have an equal opportunity to get power that it is harder for people to get this power because they have to compete with more people to distinguish themselves from everyone else.

5. De Tocqueville thinks that Americans are restless because they don't know what they want. He states, "an American will build a house in which to pass his old age and sell it before the roof is on; he will plant a garden and rent it just as the trees are coming into bearing; he will clear a field and leave others to reap the harvest; he will take up a profession and leave it; settle in one place and soon go off elsewhere with his changing desires." Americans either don't know what they want or what they want changes to frequently that it is impossible to get them to keep still. With the means to get what they want Americans have the liberty to want everything, and many Americans if they dont have everything will do what they can to get everything. Because Americans dont know what they want they are always chasing the next "thing" and seem restless.