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Full Idea
Slavery dishonours labour; it introduces idleness into society, and with idleness, ignorance and pride, luxury and distress.
Gist of Idea
Slavery undermines the morals and energy of a society
Source
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.01)
Book Ref
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.15
A Reaction
A pretty feeble reason (in the 1830s) for disliking slavery. He seems only concerned with the adverse effects on the slave-owning society, and shows no interest in the slaves themselves.