Abstract: Theetymological meaning of democracy is civilian rule.Alexis de Tocqueville evolved it as “political democracy”，aiming to extend citizenship and “social democracy” as the universal value.In advocating democratic values，Alexis de Tocqueville put forward the democracy’s maladies：individualism can lead to “political fragmentation”，the degradation of the civic responsibility and obligation，moderate despotism and tyranny of the majority，and so on.Tocqueville provides a democratic patterns of United States——principle of correct understanding of interests，spiritual purification of religion，jurists and the jury system——to prevent the possible abuses of democracy.Prudent interpretation of the Alexis de Tocqueville on democracy conception helps to enrich our knowledge and understanding of modern democracy.

Key words: Alexis de Tocqueville, democracy, social democracy, individualism, community