《旧制度与大革命·卷二·第十六章·路易十六治世乃旧王朝最繁荣之时又何以加速革命》第9节
Hence it arose that the fundholders, the traders, the manufacturers, and other persons engaged in business or in monetary affairs, who generally form the class most hostile to political innovation, the most friendly to existing governments, whatever they may be, and the most submissive to the laws even when they despise and detest them, were on this occasion the class most eager and resolute for reform. They loudly demanded a complete revolution in the whole system of finance, without reflecting that to touch this part of the Government was to cause every other part to fall. How could such a catastrophe be averted? On the one hand, a nation in which the desire of making fortunes extended every day--on the other, a Government which incessantly excited this passion, which agitated, inflamed, and beggared the nation, driving by either path on its own destruction.
注释摘要
托克维尔在这一段里点出的是一个足以让任何熟悉十九世纪政治常识的人感到错愕的悖论：握有资本、经营产业、最渴望秩序与契约稳定的工商阶层，竟然不是旧制度的最后堡垒，反而成了要求彻底改革的最激进力量。按常理，包税人、银行家、制造商这类人群最怕政治动荡，他们依附于既有政府，哪怕心底厌恶那些法律，也甘愿服从，因为革命会打破他们赖以计算利润的全部确定性。托克维尔却说，他…