评论
打印
It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.
就在这时前后，我想出了一个达到完美品德的大胆而费力的计划。
I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.
我希望我一生中在任何时候能够不犯任何错误，我要克服所有缺点，不管它们由天生的爱好，或是习惯，或是交友不善所引起的。
As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other.
因为我知道，或是自以为知道何者为善，何者为恶，我想我或许可以做到只做好事不做坏事的地步。
But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined.
但是不久我发现了我想做的工作比我想象的要困难得多。
While my care was employ'd in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason.
正当我聚精会神地在克服某一缺点时，出乎我意料以外地另外一个缺点却冒出来了，习惯利用了一时的疏忽，理智有时候又不是癖好的敌手。
I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct.
后来我终于断定，光是抽象地相信完善的品德是于我们有利的，还不足以防止过失的发生，坏的习惯必须打破，好的习惯必须加以培养，然后我们才能希望我们的举止能够坚定不移始终如一地正确。
For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method.
为了达到这个目标，因此我想出了下面的一个方法。
In the various enumerations of the moral virtues I had met with in my reading, I found the catalogue more or less numerous, as different writers included more or fewer ideas under the same name.
在我的阅读中，我发现在列举道德品质时，各家的分类多少有点分歧，因为对不同的作者同一个词的涵义可以或多或少。
Temperance, for example, was by some confined to eating and drinking, while by others it was extended to mean the moderating every other pleasure, appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even to our avarice and ambition.
节制这个词，比方说，有人把它的意义限于饮食，但另外有人却使它的意义包括调节其他的快乐、欲望、癖好和肉体的或精神的情欲，甚至把它推广到贪婪和野心方面。
I propos'd to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annex'd to each, than a few names with more ideas;
为了明确起见，我主张宁可多设几个项目，每一项底下少包括一点涵义，不要项目少而涵义多。
and I included under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occurr'd to me as necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept, which fully express'd the extent I gave to its meaning.
我提出了十三种德行，这是当时我认为是必需的或是相宜的全部德行名目，在每一项底下我加了一些简单的箴言，充分地说明了我认为该词涵义应有的范围。
These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:
这些德行的名目和它们的涵义如下：
1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
一、节制。食不过饱；饮酒不醉。
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
二、沉默寡言。言必于人于己有益；避免无益的聊天。
3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
三、生活秩序。每一样东西应有一定的安放的地方；每件日常事务当有一定的时间。
4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
四、决心。当做必做；决心要做的事应坚持不懈。
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i. e., waste nothing.
五、俭朴。用钱必须于人或于己有益，换言之，切戒浪费。
6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
六、勤勉。不浪费时间；每时每刻做些有用的事，戒掉一切不必要的行动。
7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
七、诚恳。不欺骗人；思想要纯洁公正；说话也要如此。
8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
八、公正。不做不利于人的事，不要忘记履行对人有益而又是你应尽的义务。
9. Moderation. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
九、中庸适度。避免极端；人若给你应得处罚，你当容忍之。
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
十、清洁。身体、衣服和住所力求清洁。
11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
十一、镇静。勿因小事或普通的不可避免的事故而惊慌失措。
12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.
十二、贞节。除了为了健康或生育后代起见，不常举行房事，切戒房事过度，伤害身体或损害你自己或他人的安宁或名誉。
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
十三、谦虚。仿效耶稣和苏格拉底。
