《论美国的民主·卷一·第十一章·合众国的出版自由》第1节
Liberty Of The Press In The United States The influence of the liberty of the press does not affect political opinions alone, but it extends to all the opinions of men, and it modifies customs as well as laws. In another part of this work I shall attempt to determinate the degree of influence which the liberty of the press has exercised upon civil society in the United States, and to point out the direction which it has given to the ideas, as well as the tone which it has imparted to the character and the feelings, of the Anglo-Americans, but at present I purpose simply to examine the effects produced by the liberty of the press in the political world. I confess that I do not entertain that firm and complete attachment to the liberty of the press which things that are supremely good in their very nature are wont to excite in the mind; and I approve of it more from a recollection of the evils it prevents than from a consideration of the advantages it ensures.
注释摘要
托克维尔在这一章的开篇便做了一个重要的区分：出版自由的影响绝不局限于政治意见，它渗透到人的一切见解之中，其力量既修改法律，也修改风俗。他预告在本书的另一部分将考察出版自由如何塑造了美国市民社会中的观念、性格与情感基调，但此处他要做的，是一个更受限制的工作——只分析出版自由在政治世界所产生的效果。这个区分本身已经提示了他全书的方法论自觉：政治机制与社会民情是…