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circulation and digestion。 Take women that are hungry and men that
have been drinking； place a thousand of these together； and let them
excite each other with their cries； their anxieties； and the
contagious reaction of their ever…deepening emotions； it will not be
long before you find them a crowd of dangerous maniacs。 This becomes
evident； and abundantly so； after 1789。 … Now； consult psychology。
The simplest mental operation； a sensuous perception； is an act of
memory； the appliance of a name； an ordinary act of judgment is the
play of complicated mechanism； the joint and final result of several
millions of wheels which； like those of a clock；＇13＇ turn and propel
blindly； each for itself； each through its own force； and each kept in
place and in functional activity by a system of balance and
compensation。＇14＇ If the hands mark the hour with any degree of
accuracy it is due to a wonderful if not miraculous conjunction； while
hallucination； delirium and monomania； ever at the door； are always
ready to enter it。 Properly speaking Man is mad； as the body is sick；
by nature； the health of our mind； like the health of our organs； is
simply a repeated achievement and a happy accident。 If such happens to
be the case with the coarse woof and canvas； with the large and
approximately strong threads of our intellect； what are the chances
for the ulterior and superadded embroidery； the subtle and complicated
netting forming reason properly so called； and which is composed of
general ideas？ Formed by a slow and delicate process of weaving；
through a long system of signs； amidst the agitation of pride； of
enthusiasm and of dogmatic obstinacy； what risk； even in the most
perfect brain； for these ideas only inadequately to correspond with
outward reality！ All that we require in this connection is to witness
the operation of the idyll in vogue with the philosophers and
politicians。 … These being the superior minds； what can be said of
the masses of the people； of the uncultivated or semi…cultivated
brains？ According as reason is crippled in man so is it rare in
humanity。 General ideas and accurate reasoning are found only in a
select few。 The comprehension of abstract terms and the habit of
making accurate deductions requires previous and special preparation；
a prolonged mental exercise and steady practice； and besides this；
where political matters are concerned； a degree of composure which；
affording every facility for reflection； enables a man to detach
himself for a moment from himself for the consideration of his
interests as a disinterested observer。 If one of these conditions is
wanting； reason； especially in relation to politics； is absent。 … In
a peasant or a villager； in any man brought up from infancy to manual
labor； not only is the network of superior conceptions defective； but
again the internal machinery by which they are woven is not perfected。
Accustomed to the open air； to the exercise of his limbs； his
attention flags if he stands inactive for a quarter of an hour；
generalized expressions find their way into his mind only as sound；
the mental combination they ought to excite cannot be produced。 He
becomes drowsy unless a powerful vibrating voice contagiously arouses
in him the instincts of flesh and blood； the personal cravings； the
secret enmities which； restrained by outward discipline； are always
ready to be set free。 … In the half…cultivated mind； even with the
man who thinks himself cultivated and who reads the newspapers；
principles are generally disproportionate guests； they are above his
comprehension； he does not measure their bearings； he does not
appreciate their limitations； he is insensible to their restrictions
and he falsifies their application。 They are like those preparations
of the laboratory which； harmless in the chemist's hands； become
destructive in the street under the feet of passing people。 … Too soon
will this be apparent when； in the name of popular sovereignty； each
commune； each mob； shall regard itself as the nation and act
accordingly； when Reason； in the hands of its new interpreters； shall
inaugurate riots in the streets and peasant insurrections in the
fields。＇15＇
This is owing to the philosophers of the age having been mistaken
in two ways。 Not only is reason not natural to Man nor universal in
humanity； but again； in the conduct of Man and of humanity； its
influence is small。 Except with a few cool and clear intellects； a
Fontenelle； a Hume； a Gibbon； with whom it may prevail because it
encounters no rivals； it is very far from playing a leading part； it
belongs to other forces born within us； and which； by virtue of being
the first comers； remain in possession of the field。 The place
obtained by reason is always restricted； the office it fulfills is
generally secondary。 Openly or secretly； it is only a convenient
subaltern； a domestic advocate constantly suborned； employed by the
proprietors to plead in their behalf； if they yield precedence in
public it is only through decorum。 Vainly do they proclaim it the
recognized sovereign； they grant it only a passing authority； and；
under its nominal control； they remain the inward masters。 These
masters of Man consists of physical temperament； bodily needs； animal
instinct； hereditary prejudice； imagination； generally the dominant
passion； and more particularly personal or family interest； also that
of caste or party。 We are making a big mistake were we assume men to
be naturally good； generous； pleasant； or at any rate gentle； pliable；
and ready to sacrifice themselves to social interests or to those of
others。 There are several； and among them the strongest； who； left to
themselves； would only wreak havoc。 … In the first place； if there is
no certainty of Man being a remote blood cousin of the monkey； it is
at least certain that； in his structure； he is an animal closely
related to the monkey； provided with canine teeth； carnivorous；
formerly cannibal and； therefore； a hunter and bellicose。 Hence there
is in him a steady substratum of brutality and ferocity； and of
violent and destructive instincts； to which must be added； if he is
French； gaiety； laughter； and a strange propensity to gambol and act
insanely in the havoc he makes； we shall see him at work。 … In the
second place； at the outset； his condition casts him naked and
destitute on an ungrateful soil； on which subsistence is difficult；
where； at the risk of death； he is obliged to save and to economize。
Hence a constant preoccupation and the rooted idea of acquiring；
accumulating； and possessing； rapacity and avarice； more particularly
in the class which； tied to the globe； fasts for sixty generations in
order to support other classes； and whose crooked fingers are always
outstretched to clutch the soil whose fruits they cause to grow；…we
shall see this class at work。 … Finally； his more delicate mental
organization makes of him from the earliest d