the crowd-第37节

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ual；　accompanied　by　a　weakening　of　character　and　a　lessening　of　the　capacity　for　action。　　What　constituted　a　people；　a　unity；　a　whole；　becomes　in　the　end　an　agglomeration　of　individualities　lacking　cohesion；　and　artificially　held　together　for　a　time　by　its　traditions　and　institutions。　　It　is　at　this　stage　that　men；　divided　by　their　interests　and　aspirations；　and　incapable　any　longer　of　self…government；　require　directing　in　their　pettiest　acts；　and　that　the　State　exerts　an　absorbing　influence。

With　the　definite　loss　of　its　old　ideal　the　genius　of　the　race　entirely　disappears；　it　is　a　mere　swarm　of　isolated　individuals　and　returns　to　its　original　statethat　of　a　crowd。　　Without　consistency　and　without　a　future；　it　has　all　the　transitory　characteristics　of　crowds。　　Its　civilisation　is　now　without　stability；　and　at　the　mercy　of　every　chance。　　The　populace　is　sovereign；　and　the　tide　of　barbarism　mounts。　　The　civilisation　may　still　seem　brilliant　because　it　possesses　an　outward　front；　the　work　of　a　long　past；　but　it　is　in　reality　an　edifice　crumbling　to　ruin；　which　nothing　supports；　and　destined　to　fall　in　at　the　first　storm。

To　pass　in　pursuit　of　an　ideal　from　the　barbarous　to　the　civilised　state；　and　then；　when　this　ideal　has　lost　its　virtue；　to　decline　and　die；　such　is　the　cycle　of　the　life　of　a　people。





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