Alexis de Tocqueville

I am convinced that the luckiest of geographic circumstances and the best of laws cannot maintain a constitution in despite of mores, whereas the latter can turn even the most unfavorable circumstances and the worst laws to advantage. The importance of mores is a universal trust to which study and experience continually bring us back.

Alexis de Tocqueville

The first and liveliest of the passions inspired by equality of status is the love of equality itself.