《乌合之众·第二编·群体的意见与信念·群体信念与意见的变异限度》第8节
As an example, let us take a very short period of French history, merely that from 1790 to 1820, a period of thirty years' duration, that of a generation. In the course of it we see the crowd at first monarchical become very revolutionary, then very imperialist, and again very monarchical. In the matter of religion it gravitates in the same lapse of time from Catholicism to atheism, then towards deism, and then returns to the most pronounced forms of Catholicism. These changes take place not only amongst the masses, but also amongst those who direct them. We observe with astonishment the prominent men of the Convention, the sworn enemies of kings, men who would have neither gods nor masters, become the humble servants of Napoleon, and afterwards, under Louis XVIII., piously carry candles in religious processions. Numerous, too, are the changes in the opinions of the crowd in the course of the following seventy years. The "Perfidious Albion" of the opening of the century is the ally of France under Napoleon's heir; Russia, twice invaded by France, which looked on with satisfaction at French reverses, becomes its friend. In literature, art, and philosophy the successive evolutions of opinion are more rapid still. Romanticism, naturalism, mysticism, &c., spring up and die out in turn. The artist and the writer applauded yesterday are treated on the morrow with profound contempt.
注释摘要
勒庞用这三十年的法国历史，论证的是一个看似矛盾的现象：群体在表象层面可以剧烈转向，但这些转向本身恰恰证明他们缺乏真正恒久的信念。1790年到1820年，同一代人经历了从君主制到革命共和、到拿破仑帝国、再到波旁复辟的政治轮回，宗教上也从天主教到无神论、到自然神论、再回到最极端的天主教形式。勒庞的用意不在铺陈史实，而在指出一个心理机制——这些转变越是急促彻底，…