the crowd-第19章
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uit of their reflection ends by triumphing。
3。 PRESTIGE
Great power is given to ideas propagated by affirmation； repetition； and contagion by the circumstance that they acquire in time that mysterious force known as prestige。
Whatever has been a ruling power in the world； whether it be ideas or men； has in the main enforced its authority by means of that irresistible force expressed by the word 〃prestige。〃 The term is one whose meaning is grasped by everybody； but the word is employed in ways too different for it to be easy to define it。 Prestige may involve such sentiments as admiration or fear。 Occasionally even these sentiments are its basis； but it can perfectly well exist without them。 The greatest measure of prestige is possessed by the dead； by beings； that is； of whom we do not stand in fearby Alexander； Caesar； Mahomet； and Buddha； for example。 On the other hand； there are fictive beings whom we do not admirethe monstrous divinities of the subterranean temples of India； for instancebut who strike us nevertheless as endowed with a great prestige。
Prestige in reality is a sort of domination exercised on our mind by an individual； a work； or an idea。 This domination entirely paralyses our critical faculty； and fills our soul with astonishment and respect。 The sentiment provoked is inexplicable； like all sentiments； but it would appear to be of the same kind as the fascination to which a magnetised person is subjected。 Prestige is the mainspring of all authority。 Neither gods； kings； nor women have ever reigned without it。
The various kinds of prestige may be grouped under two principal heads： acquired prestige and personal prestige。 Acquired prestige is that resulting from name； fortune； and reputation。 It may be independent of personal prestige。 Personal prestige； on the contrary； is something essentially peculiar to the individual； it may coexist with reputation； glory； and fortune； or be strengthened by them； but it is perfectly capable of existing in their absence。
Acquired or artificial prestige is much the most common。 The mere fact that an individual occupies a certain position； possesses a certain fortune； or bears certain titles； endows him with prestige； however slight his own personal worth。 A soldier in uniform； a judge in his robes； always enjoys prestige。 Pascal has very properly noted the necessity for judges of robes and wigs。 Without them they would be stripped of half their authority。 The most unbending socialist is always somewhat impressed by the sight of a prince or a marquis； and the assumption of such titles makes the robbing of tradesmen an easy matter。＇18＇
＇18＇ The influence of titles； decorations； and uniforms on crowds is to be traced in all countries； even in those in which the sentiment of personal independence is the most strongly developed。 I quote in this connection a curious passage from a recent book of travel； on the prestige enjoyed in England by great persons。
〃I had observed； under various circumstances； the peculiar sort of intoxication produced in the most reasonable Englishmen by the contact or sight of an English peer。
〃Provided his fortune enables him to keep up his rank； he is sure of their affection in advance； and brought into contact with him they are so enchanted as to put up with anything at his hands。 They may be seen to redden with pleasure at his approach； and if he speaks to them their suppressed joy increases their redness； and causes their eyes to gleam with unusual brilliance。 Respect for nobility is in their blood； so to speak； as with Spaniards the love of dancing； with Germans that of music； and with Frenchmen the liking for revolutions。 Their passion for horses and Shakespeare is less violent； the satisfaction and pride they derive from these sources a less integral part of their being。 There is a considerable sale for books dealing with the peerage； and go where one will they are to be found； like the Bible； in all hands。〃
The prestige of which I have just spoken is exercised by persons； side by side with it may be placed that exercised by opinions； literary and artistic works； &c。 Prestige of the latter kind is most often merely the result of accumulated repetitions。 History； literary and artistic history especially； being nothing more than the repetition of identical judgments； which nobody endeavours to verify； every one ends by repeating what he learnt at school； till there come to be names and things which nobody would venture to meddle with。 For a modern reader the perusal of Homer results incontestably in immense boredom； but who would venture to say so？ The Parthenon； in its present state； is a wretched ruin； utterly destitute of interest； but it is endowed with such prestige that it does not appear to us as it really is； but with all its accompaniment of historic memories。 The special characteristic of prestige is to prevent us seeing things as they are and to entirely paralyse our judgment。 Crowds always； and individuals as a rule； stand in need of ready…made opinions on all subjects。 The popularity of these opinions is independent of the measure of truth or error they contain； and is solely regulated by their prestige。
I now come to personal prestige。 Its nature is very different from that of artificial or acquired prestige； with which I have just been concerned。 It is a faculty independent of all titles； of all authority； and possessed by a small number of persons whom it enables to exercise a veritably magnetic fascination on those around them； although they are socially their equals； and lack all ordinary means of domination。 They force the acceptance of their ideas and sentiments on those about them； and they are obeyed as is the tamer of wild beasts by the animal that could easily devour him。
The great leaders of crowds； such as Buddha； Jesus； Mahomet； Joan of Arc； and Napoleon； have possessed this form of prestige in a high degree； and to this endowment is more particularly due the position they attained。 Gods； heroes； and dogmas win their way in the world of their own inward strength。 They are not to be discussed： they disappear； indeed； as soon as discussed。
The great personages I have just cited were in possession of their power of fascination long before they became illustrious； and would never have become so without it。 It is evident； for instance； that Napoleon at the zenith of his glory enjoyed an immense prestige by the mere fact of his power； but he was already endowed in part with this prestige when he was without power and completely unknown。 When； an obscure general； he was sent； thanks to influential protection； to command the army of Italy； he found himself among rough generals who were of a mind to give a hostile reception to the young intruder dispatched them by the Directory。 From the very beginning； from the first interview； without the aid of speeches； gestures； or threats； at the first sight of the man who was to become great they were vanquished。 Taine furnishes a curious account of this interview taken from contemporary memoirs。
〃The generals of division； amongst others Augereau； a sort of swashbuckler； uncouth and heroic； proud of his height and his bravery； arrive at the staff quarters very badly disposed towards the little upstart dispatched them from Paris。 On the strength of the description of him that has been given them； Augereau is inclined to be insolent and insubordinate； a favourite of Barras； a general who owes his rank to the events of Vendemiaire who has won his grade by street…fighting； who is looked upon as bearish； because he is always thinking in solitude； of poor aspect； and with the reputation of a mathematician and dreamer。 They are introduced； and Bonaparte keeps them waiting。 At last he appears； girt with his sword； he puts on his hat； explains the measures he has taken； gives his orders； and dismisses them。 Augereau has remained silent； it is only when he is outside that he regains his self…possession and is able to deliver himself of his customary oaths。 He admits with Massena that this little devil of a general has inspired him with awe； he cannot understand the ascendency by which from the very first he has felt himself overwhelmed。〃
Become a great man； his prestige increased in proportion as his glory grew； and came to be at least equal to that of a divinity in the eyes of those devoted to him。 General Vandamme； a rough； typical soldier of the Revolution； even more brutal and energetic than Augereau； said of him to Marshal d'Arnano in 1815； as on one occasion they mounted together the stairs of the Tuileries： 〃That devil of a man exercises a fascination on me that I cannot explain even to myself； and in such a degree that； though I fear neither God nor devil； when I am in his presence I am ready to tremble like a child； and he could make me go through the eye of a needle to throw myself into the fire。〃
Napoleon exercised a like fascination on all who came into contact with him。＇19＇
＇19＇ Thoroughly conscious of his prestige； Napoleon was aware that he added to it by treating rather worse than stable lads the great personages around him； and among whom figured some of those celebrated men of the Convention of whom Europe had stood in dread。 The gossip of the period abounds in illustrations of this fact。 One day； in the midst of a Council of State； Napoleon grossly insults Beugnot； treating him as one might an unmannerly valet。 The effect produced； he goes up to him and says； 〃Well； stupid； have you found your head again？〃 Whereupon Beugnot； tall as a drum…major； bows very low； and the little man raising his hand； takes the tall one by the ear； 〃an intoxicating sign of favour；〃 writes Beugnot； 〃the familiar gesture of the master who waxes gracious。〃 Such examples give a clear idea of the degree of base platitude that prestige can provoke。 They enable us to understand the immense contempt of the great despot for the men surrounding himmen whom he merely looked upon as 〃food for powder。〃
Davoust used to say； talking of Maret's devotion and of his own： 〃Had the Emperor said to us； ‘It is important in the interest of my policy that Paris should be destroyed without a single person leaving it or escaping；' Maret I am sure would have kept the secret； but he could not have abstained from compromising himself by seeing that his family got clear of the city。 On the other hand； I； for fear of letting the truth leak out； would have let my wife and children stay。〃
It is necessary to bear in mind the astounding power exerted by fascination of this order to understand that marvellous return from the Isle of Elba； that lightning…like conquest of France by an isolated man confronted by all the organised forces of a great country that might have been supposed weary of his tyranny。 He had merely to cast a look at the generals sent to lay hands on him； and who had sworn to accomplish their mission。 All of them submitted without discussion。
〃Napoleon；〃 writes the English General Wolseley； 〃lands in France almost alone； a fugitive from the small island of Elba which was his kingdom； and succeeded in a few weeks； without bloodshed； in upsetting all organised authority in France under its legitimate king； is it p
