I didn’t put that in quotes because I didn’t know what the exact quote was....but his meaning was exactly that....it was deduced from his entire writings...which this is only a part:
Democracy in America (Alexis de Tocqueville)
“The philosophers of the eighteenth century explained in a very simple manner the gradual decay of religious faith. Religious zeal, said they, must necessarily fail the more generally liberty is established and knowledge diffused. Unfortunately the facts by no means accord with their theory. There are certain populations in Europe whose unbelief is only equaled by their ignorance and debasement; while in America, one of the freest and most enlightened nations in the world, the people fulfill with fervor all the outward duties of religion.”
To me, I will repeat....Tocqueville is stating that America is great because America is good. He could have said that exact statement...it is what he observed.
Correct. It was clearly his meaning, but many mistakenly think it is his wording.