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The Ancient Regime
The Origins of Contemporary France； Volume 1
by Hippolyte A。 Taine
PREFACE。
BOOK FIRST。 The Structure of the Ancient Society。
CHAPTER I。 The Origin of Privileges。
CHAPTER II。 The Privileged Classes。
CHAPTER III。 Local Services Due by the Privileged Classes。
CHAPTER IV。 Public services due by the privileged classes。
BOOK SECOND。 Habits and Characters。
CHAPTER I。 Social Habits。
CHAPTER II。 Drawing room Life 。
CHAPTER III。 Disadvantages of this Drawing room Life。
BOOK THIRD。 The Spirit and the Doctrine。
CHAPTER I。 Scientific Acquisition。
CHAPTER II。 The Classic Spirit； the Second Element。
CHAPTER III。 Combination of the two elements。
CHAPTER IV。 Organizing the Future Society。
BOOK FOURTH。 The Propagation of the Doctrine。
CHAPTER I。 Success in France。
CHAPTER II。 The French Public。
CHAPTER III。 The Middle Class。
BOOK FIFTH。 The People
CHAPTER I。 Hardships。
CHAPTER II。 Taxation the principal cause of misery。
CHAPTER III。 Intellectual state of the people。
CHAPTER IV。 The Armed Forces。
CHAPTER V。 Summary。
Preface：
In this volume； as in those preceding it and in those to come；
there will be found only the history of Public Authorities。 Others
will write that of diplomacy； of war； of the finances； of the Church；
my subject is a limited one。 To my great regret； however； this new
part fills an entire volume； and the last part； on the revolutionary
government； will be as long。
I have again to regret the dissatisfaction I foresee this work will
cause to many of my countrymen。 My excuse is； that almost all of them；
more fortunate than myself； have political principles which serve them
in forming their judgments of the past。 I had none； if indeed； I had
any motive in undertaking this work； it was to seek for political
principles。 Thus far I have attained to scarcely more than one； and
this is so simple that will seem puerile； and that I hardly dare
express it。 Nevertheless I have adhered to it； and in what the reader
is about to peruse my judgments are all derived from that； its truth
is the measure of theirs。 It consists wholly in this observation： that
HUMAN SOCIETY； ESPECIALLY A MODERN SOCIETY； IS A VAST AND
COMPLICATED THING。
Hence the difficulty in knowing and comprehending it。 For the same
reason it is not easy to handle the subject well。 It follows that a
cultivated mind is much better able to do this than an uncultivated
mind； and a man specially qualified than one who is not。 From these
two last truths flow many other consequences； which； if the reader
deigns to reflect on them； he will have no trouble in defining。
Paris 1881。
THE ANCIENT REGIME
PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR：
ON POLITICAL IGNORANCE AND WISDOM。
In 1849； being twenty…one years of age； and an elector； I was very
much puzzled； for I had to nominate fifteen or twenty deputies； and；
moreover； according to French custom； I had not only to determine what
candidate I would vote for； but what theory I should adopt。 I had to
choose between a royalist or a republican； a democrat or a
conservative； a socialist or a bonapartist； as I was neither one nor
the other； nor even anything； I often envied those around me who were
so fortunate as to have arrived at definite conclusions。 After
listening to various doctrines； I acknowledged that there undoubtedly
was something wrong with my head。 The motives that influenced others
did not influence me； I could not comprehend how； in political
matters； a man could be governed by preferences。 My assertive
countrymen planned a constitution just like a house； according to the
latest； simplest； and most attractive plan； and there were several
under consideration … the mansion of a marquis； the house of a common
citizen； the tenement of a laborer； the barracks of a soldier； the
kibbutz of a socialist； and even the camp of savages。 Each claimed
that his was 〃the true habitation for Man； the only one in which a
sensible person could live。〃 In my opinion； the argument was weak；
personal taste could not be valid for everyone。 It seemed to me that a
house should not be built for the architect alone； or for itself； but
for the owner who was to live in it。 Referring to the owner for his
advice； that is submitting to the French people the plans of its
future habitation； would evidently be either for show or just to
deceive them； since the question； obviously； was put in such a manner
that it provided the answer in advance。 Besides； had the people been
allowed to reply in all liberty； their response was in any case not of
much value since France was scarcely more competent than I was； the
combined ignorance of ten millions is not the equivalent of one man's
wisdom。 A people may be consulted and； in an extreme case； may declare
what form of government it would like best； but not that which it most
needs。 Nothing but experience can determine this； it must have time to
ascertain whether the political structure is convenient； substantial；
able to withstand inclemency； and adapted to customs； habits；
occupations； characters； peculiarities and caprices。 For example； the
one we have tried has never satisfied us； we have during eighty years
demolished it thirteen times； each time setting it up anew； and always
in vain； for never have we found one that suited us。 If other nations
have been more fortunate； or if various political structures abroad
have proved stable and enduring； it is because these have been erected
in a special way。 Founded on some primitive； massive pile； supported
by an old central edifice； often restored but always preserved；
gradually enlarged； and； after numerous trials and additions； they
have been adapted to the wants of its occupants。 It is well to admit；
perhaps； that there is no other way of erecting a permanent building。
Never has one been put up instantaneously； after an entirely new
design； and according to the measurements of pure Reason。 A sudden
contrivance of a new； suitable； and enduring constitution is an
enterprise beyond the forces of the human mind。
In any event； I came to the conclusion that if we should ever
discover the one we need it would not be through some fashionable
theory。 The point is； if it exists； to discover it； and not to put it
to a vote。 To do that would not only be pretentious it would be
useless； history and nature will do it for us； it is for us to adapt
ourselves to them； as it is certain they will accommodate themselves
to us。 The social and political mold； into which a nation may enter
and remain； is not subject to its will； but determined by its
character and its past。 It is essential that； even in its least
traits； it should be shaped on the living material to which it is