《乌合之众·第三编·不同群体的分类与描述·选举群体》第9节
Such is the psychology of electoral crowds. It is identical with that of other crowds: neither better nor worse. In consequence I draw no conclusion against universal suffrage from what precedes. Had I to settle its fate, I should preserve it as it is for practical reasons, which are to be deduced in point of fact from our investigation of the psychology of crowds. On this account I shall proceed to set them forth. No doubt the weak side of universal suffrage is too obvious to be overlooked. It cannot be gainsaid that civilisation has been the work of a small minority of superior intelligences constituting the culminating point of a pyramid, whose stages, widening in proportion to the decrease of mental power, represent the masses of a nation. The greatness of a civilisation cannot assuredly depend upon the votes given by inferior elements boasting solely numerical strength. Doubtless, too, the votes recorded by crowds are often very dangerous. They have already cost us several invasions, and in view of the triumph of socialism, for which they are preparing the way, it is probable that the vagaries of popular sovereignty will cost us still more dearly.
注释摘要
勒庞在这一段完成了“选举群体”一节的收束，同时抛出一个看似矛盾的立场：他刚刚用大量笔墨揭露了选举群体如何缺乏理性、轻信、易受声望和反复断言支配，此刻却坦言自己并不因此反对普选制，如果要由他来决定其存废，他会基于实际理由将它原样保留。这个转折本身就值得细察。他紧接着承认普选制的弱点显而易见，文明从来都是极少数高等智识者构成的“金字塔尖”的产物，金字塔越往下智…