Full Idea
One manly and lawful passion for equality elevates the humble to the rank of the great. But there exists also a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level.
Gist of Idea
It is admirable to elevate the humble to the level of the great, but the opposite is depraved
Source
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.02)
A Reaction
There is a distinction in modern political rhetoric between 'levelling down' and 'levelling up'. Since levelling down is just destructive, and levelling up is unaffordable, it seems obvious that true equality needs to be a compromise.
Book Reference
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.29