Self-interest is mentioned in unison by both Adam Smith and Alexis De Tocquevile. Although they both mention the phrase literally, its meaning has a very different connotation. Smith's statement on self-interest is combined with rationality and competition, one might say that he is initially much more selfish than Tocquevile. His, on the other hand, sees the ignorant majority as the main actor who ultimately enhances the self-interest of all individuals belonging to the state. Smith sees humans as a whole as developed beings and not troglodytes. We don't behave like animals who take what they want. Instead of the illegal nature, we make contracts where both parties receive something of value. Only in times of turmoil will man return to his animalistic state... but normal society acts like this: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard for their own interest.”1 We obtain self-interest through the means of treaty, barter, and purchase (i.e., a division of labor). On a grand scale, Smith sees one's loyalty as an inherent characteristic (broader “self-interest”): “We do not love our country merely as part of the great society of mankind: we love it for its own sake, and independently of any consideration of type". the belief that other citizens should be treated well. He mentions the institution of government as a fun game in producing a chess board where each piece has its own responsibilities. Smith regards each piece as immutable: “every single piece has a principle of motion of its own, quite different from that which the legislator might choose to impress upon it.”3 One… half the sheet…. ..and be. Man is capable of living life alone and is advanced in the ability to live in a world without rules. Self-interest regarding its premise is divided into two: the first is for the country and the second is for the multitude (other than oneself). On the other hand, Tocqueville labels Americans as truly thoughtless individuals. They are using "self-interest" in the wrong way... only through education can they see the correct path and establish a solid system (with more social mobility, more respect for others, etc.). Works Cited Smith, Adam and Robert L. Heilbroner. "The Wealth of Nations: Chapter II." The essential Adam Smith. New York: W. W. Norton, 1987. 169. Print.Tocqueville, Alexis de and Gerald E. Bevan. "Chapter 8." Democracy in America and two essays on America. London, England: Penguin Books, 2003. 609. Print.