《乌合之众·第二编·群体的意见与信念·群体意见与信念的间接因素》第6节
Blotted out for a moment, the old traditions had resumed their sway. No example could better display the power of tradition on the mind of crowds. The most redoubtable idols do not dwell in temples, nor the most despotic tyrants in palaces; both the one and the other can be broken in an instant. But the invisible masters that reign in our innermost selves are safe from every effort at revolt, and only yield to the slow wearing away of centuries. In social as in biological problems time is one of the most energetic factors. It is the sole real creator and the sole great destroyer. It is time that has made mountains with grains of sand and raised the obscure cell of geological eras to human dignity. The action of centuries is sufficient to transform any given phenomenon. It has been justly observed that an ant with enough time at its disposal could level Mount Blanc. A being possessed of the magical force of varying time at his will would have the power attributed by believers to God. In this place, however, we have only to concern ourselves with the influence of time on the genesis of the opinions of crowds. Its action from this point of view is still immense. Dependent upon it are the great forces such as race, which cannot form themselves without it. It causes the birth, the growth, and the death of all beliefs. It is by the aid of time that they acquire their strength and also by its aid that they lose it.
注释摘要
勒庞在这里接着讲传统与时间如何共同塑造群体的意见。他刚举完法国大革命的例子：教堂被毁，神职人员被驱逐或送上断头台，表面上旧宗教观念似乎已被彻底铲除。可是短短几年之后，法国人就普遍要求恢复公共礼拜。这说明传统的权力只是暂时被抹去，很快又重新掌控了人群。 “最令人畏惧的偶像不在庙宇里，最专制的暴君也不在宫殿中；这两者都可以瞬间被打碎。但那些统治我们内心深处的无…