《旧制度与大革命·卷二·第十章·政治自由毁弃与阶级隔绝乃旧制度致死之由》第11节
It is no slight enterprise to bring more closely together fellow-citizens who have thus been living for centuries as strangers or as enemies to each other, and to teach them how to carry on their affairs in common. To divide them was a far easier task than it then becomes to reunite them. Such has been the memorable example given by France to the world. When the different classes which divided the ancient social system of France came once more into contact sixty years ago, after having been isolated so long, and by so many barriers, they encountered each other on those points on which they felt most poignantly, and they met in mutual hatred. Even in this our day their jealousies and their animosities have survived them.
注释摘要
托克维尔在这一节末尾写下这段话时，已经将全书最沉重的诊断推到了前台。此前的长篇论证一直在说明一件事：旧制度下的法国并非没有改革，而是一再选择了最省事却也最致命的做法——每当财政困窘，王室宁可卖官鬻爵、增设特权、巧立税目，也绝不愿意召集三级会议向国民要钱，因为要钱就意味着要面对国民追问自由。正是这种“避自由以求财”的惯性，迫使国家机器年复一年地用特权收买一部…