《论美国的民主·卷一·第十一章·合众国的出版自由》第11节
Another still more valid reason may yet be adduced: when no abstract opinions are looked upon as certain, men cling to the mere propensities and external interests of their position, which are naturally more tangible and more permanent than any opinions in the world. It is not a question of easy solution whether aristocracy or democracy is most fit to govern a country. But it is certain that democracy annoys one part of the community, and that aristocracy oppresses another part. When the question is reduced to the simple expression of the struggle between poverty and wealth, the tendency of each side of the dispute becomes perfectly evident without further controversy.
注释摘要
托克维尔在这一段的论证发生了微妙而重要的转折。此前他讨论的是出版自由在智识层面带来的效果——人如何从盲信走向怀疑，又如何从怀疑走向一种新的固执，即仅仅因为某个意见是自己选择的便抱住不放。但到了这里，他抛出了一个他认为更有力的解释：一旦所有抽象理论都失去了确定性，人就不再依靠观念来作政治判断，转而依靠自己的本能和外在利益。这里的“外在利益”（external…