《乌合之众·第二编·群体的意见与信念·群体意见的直接因素》第1节
We have just investigated the remote and preparatory factors which give the mind of crowds a special receptivity, and make possible therein the growth of certain sentiments and certain ideas. It now remains for us to study the factors capable of acting in a direct manner. We shall see in a forthcoming chapter how these factors should be put in force in order that they may produce their full effect. In the first part of this work we studied the sentiments, ideas, and methods of reasoning of collective bodies, and from the knowledge thus acquired it would evidently be possible to deduce in a general way the means of making an impression on their mind. We already know what strikes the imagination of crowds, and are acquainted with the power and contagiousness of suggestions, of those especially that are presented under the form of images. However, as suggestions may proceed from very different sources, the factors capable of acting on the minds of crowds may differ considerably. It is necessary, then, to study them separately. This is not a useless study. Crowds are somewhat like the sphinx of ancient fable: it is necessary to arrive at a solution of the problems offered by their psychology or to resign ourselves to being devoured by them.
注释摘要
这段文字是《乌合之众》第二编论述群体意见直接因素的开篇，勒庞在此处完成了一个从远因到近因的论证切换。他刚刚在前文探讨了塑造群体心理的种族、传统、教育等深层铺垫，现在转而声明，接下来要研究那些能即刻撬动群体情绪的直接因素。勒庞的推理路径是简明的：既然在前一编里已经解剖了群体的情感、观念和原始推理方式，那么从这套知识中，就能反向推演出影响群体心灵的一般手段。他…