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better than boorishness； and the many men and women may have become
the gentler and purer by looking even at them； and have said sadly to
themselves： 〃Such might have been the peasantry of half Europe； had it
not been for devastations of the Palatinate； wars of succession； and the
wicked wills of emperors and kings。〃
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
LECTURE IIITHE EXPLOSIVE
FORCES
In a former lecture in this Institution； I said that the human race owed
more to the eighteenth century than to any century since the Christian era。
It may seem a bold assertion to those who value duly the century which
followed the revival of Greek literature； and consider that the eighteenth
century was but the child； or rather grandchild； thereof。 But I must
persist in my opinion； even though it seem to be inconsistent with my
description of the very same era as one of decay and death。 For side by
side with the death； there was manifold fresh birth； side by side with the
decay there was active growth；side by side with them； fostered by them；
though generally in strong opposition to them； whether conscious or
unconscious。 We must beware； however； of trying to find between that
decay and that growth a bond of cause and effect where there is really
none。 The general decay may have determined the course of many men's
thoughts； but it no more set them thinking than （as I have heard said） the
decay of the Ancien Regime produced the new Regimea loose metaphor；
which； like all metaphors； will not hold water； and must not be taken for a
philosophic truth。 That would be to confess manwhat I shall never
confess him to bethe creature of circumstances； it would be to fall into
the same fallacy of spontaneous generation as did the ancients； when they
believed that bees were bred from the carcass of a dead ox。 In the first
place； the bees were no bees； but fliesunless when some true swarm of
honey bees may have taken up their abode within the empty ribs； as
Samson's bees did in that of the lion。 But bees or flies； each sprang from
an egg； independent of the carcass； having a vitality of its own： it was
fostered by the carcass it fed on during development； but bred from it it
was not； any more than Marat was bred from the decay of the Ancien
Regime。 There are flies which； by feeding on putridity； become
poisonous themselves； as did Marat： but even they owe their vitality and
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
organisation to something higher than that on which they feed； and each of
them； however； defaced and debased； was at first a 〃thought of God。〃 All
true manhood consists in the defiance of circumstances； and if any man be
the creature of circumstances； it is because he has become so； like the
drunkard； because he has ceased to be a man； and sunk downward toward
the brute。
Accordingly we shall find； throughout the 18th century； a stirring of
thought； an originality； a resistance to circumstances； an indignant
defiance of circumstances； which would have been impossible； had
circumstances been the true lords and shapers of mankind。 Had that
latter been the case； the downward progress of the Ancien Regime would
have been irremediable。 Each generation； conformed more and more to
the element in which it lived； would have sunk deeper in dull acquiescence
to evil； in ignorance of all cravings save those of the senses； and if at any
time intolerable wrong or want had driven it to revolt； it would have issued；
not in the proclamation of new and vast ideas； but in an anarchic struggle
for revenge and bread。
There are races； alas！ which seem； for the present at least； mastered by
circumstances。 Some； like the Chinese； have sunk back into that state；
some； like the negro in Africa； seem not yet to have emerged from it； but
in Europe； during the eighteenth century； were working not merely new
forces and vitalities （abstractions which mislead rather than explain）； but
living persons in plenty； men and women； with independent and original
hearts and brains； instinct； in spite of all circumstances； with power which
we shall most wisely ascribe directly to Him who is the Lord and Giver of
Life。
Such persons seemedI only say seemedmost numerous in England
and in Germany。 But there were enough of them in France to change the
destiny of that great nation for awhileperhaps for ever。
M。 de Tocqueville has a whole chapter； and a very remarkable one；
which appears at first sight to militate against my beliefa chapter
〃showing that France was the country in which men had become most
alike。〃
〃The men；〃 he says； 〃of that time； especially those belonging to the
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upper and middle ranks of society； who alone were at all conspicuous；
were all exactly alike。〃
And it must be allowed； that if this were true of the upper and middle
classes； it must have been still more true of the mass of the lowest
population； who； being most animal； are always most moulded or rather
crushedby their own circumstances； by public opinion； and by the wants
of five senses； common to all alike。
But when M。 de Tocqueville attributes this curious fact to the
circumstances of their political stateto that 〃government of one man
which in the end has the inevitable effect of rendering all men alike； and
all mutually indifferent to their common fate〃we must differ； even from
him： for facts prove the impotence of that； or of any other circumstance；
in altering the hearts and souls of men； in producing in them anything but
a mere superficial and temporary resemblance。
For all the while there was； among these very French； here and there a
variety of character and purpose； sufficient to burst through that very
despotism； and to develop the nation into manifold； new； and quite original
shapes。 Thus it was proved that the uniformity had been only in their
out