Still I should explain to the reader why he will find me draw conclusions from my investigations which it might be thought at first sight they do not bear; why, for instance, after noting the extreme mental inferiority of crowds, picked assemblies included, I yet affirm it would be dangerous to meddle with their organisaton, notwishstanding this inferiority.
The season is, that the most attentive observation of the facts of history has invariably demonstrated to me that social organisms being very whit as complicated as those of all beings, it is in no wise in our power to force them to undergo on a sudden far-reaching transformations. Nature has recourse at times to radical measures, but never after our fashion, which explains how it is that nothing is more fatal to a people than the mania for great reforms, however excellent these reforms may appear theoretically. They would only be useful were it possilble to change instantaneously the genius of nations. This power, however, is only possessed by time. Men are ruled by ideas, sentiments, and customs -- matters which are of the essence of ourselves. Institutions and laws cannot change this character.
The study of social phenomena cannot be separated from that of the peoples among whom they have come into existence. From the philosophic point of view these phenomena may have an absolute value; in practice they have only a relative value.
It is necessary, in consequence, when studying a social phenomena, ro consider it successively under two very different aspects. It will then be seen that the teachings of pure reason are very often contrary to those of practical reason. There are scarcey any data, even physical, to which this distinction is not appicable. From the point of view, of absolute truth a cube or a circle are inveriable geometrical figures, rigorously defined by certain formulas. From the point of view of the impression they make on our eye these geometrical figure may assume very varied shapes. By prespective the cub may be transformed into a pyramid or a sequare, the circle into an ellipse or a straight ling. Morevore, the consideration of these fictitos shapes is far more important than that of the real shapes,for it is they and they alone that we see and that can be reproduced by photography or in pictures. In certain cases there is more truth in the unreal than in the real. To present objects with their ecact geometrical forms woould be to distort nature and render it unrecognisable. If we imagine a world whose inhabitants could only copy or photography objects, but were unable to touch them, it would be very diffcult for such persons to attain to an exact idea only to small number of learned men, would present but a very minor interest.