Page:Democracy in America (Reeve).djvu/741

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does everything in a hurry, he is always satisfied with “pretty well,” and never pauses more than an instant to consider what he has been doing. His curiosity is at once insatiable and cheaply satisfied; for he cares more to know a great deal quickly, than to know anything well: he has no time and but little taste to search things to the bottom.

Thus then democratic peoples are grave, because their social and political condition constantly leads them to engage in serious occupations ; and they act inconsiderately, because they give but little time and attention to each of these occupations.

The habit of inattention must be considered as the greatest bane of the democratic character.