Environment, circumstances, and events represent the social suggestions of the moment. They may have a considerable infiuence, but this infiuence is always momentary if it be contrary to the suggestions of the race; that is, to those which are inherited by a nation from the entire series of its ancestors.
We shall have occasion in several of the chapters of this work to touch again upon racial infiuence, and to show that this influence is so great that it dominates the characteristics peculiar to the genius of crowds.It follows from this fact that the crowds of different countries offer very considerable differences of beliefs and conduct and are not to be infiuenced in the same manner.