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But it so happened that my intention of writing and publishing this comment was never fulfilled.
但是碰巧我撰写和发表这些说明的打算从未实现。
I did, indeed, from time to time, put down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings, etc., to be made use of in it, some of which I have still by me; but the necessary close attention to private business in the earlier part of my life, and public business since, have occasioned my postponing it;
的确，我常常记下一些短短有关的感想、论断等的笔记，以备日后应用，有一部分我还保存到现在哩!但是由于我早年对私人事业和日后对国家大事必须加以密切的注意，使我不得不把它耽搁了。
for, it being connected in my mind with a great and extensive project, that required the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen succession of employs prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remain'd unfinish'd.
因为既然我认为它跟一个巨大的广泛的计划有关，而这个计划又需要一个人的全部精力去执行，一连串非预料所及的职务使我无法实现这一计划，因此这些说明也就迄今尚未脱稿。
In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine, that vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered;
在这部作品中，我本想解释和应用这样一个原则，就是：假如光考虑到人性的话，那么不道德行为之所以有害，并不是因为它们是被禁止的，而它们之所以被禁止正是由于它们有害。
that it was, therefore, everyone's interest to be virtuous who wish'd to be happy even in this world; and I should, from this circumstance (there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states, and princes, who have need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs, and such being so rare), have endeavoured to convince young persons that no qualities were so likely to make a poor man's fortune as those of probity and integrity.
因此，做一个有德行的人，即使他希望在今生得到快乐的话，也是于他有益的，从这种情况看来（因为世界上经常有一些富商、贵族和亲王需要诚实的仆人去管理他们的事务，而这种诚实人又很罕见），我本想努力使年轻人相信，世界上没有其他品质能像诚实廉洁一样地可能使一个穷小子发财。
My list of virtues contain'd at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my pride show'd itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent, of which he convinc'd me by mentioning several instances;
我的品德项目起初只包括十二条，但是一个教友会的朋友很亲切地告诉我说，人们一般都认为我很自大，我的自大又常在谈话中显露出来，我在讨论任何问题时总不满足于证明我是正确的，而且还傲慢自大，有点盛气凌人，关于这一点他举了几个实例使我信服。
I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest, and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning to the word.
我决心尽可能地在克服其他缺点的同时，努力克服这种坏习惯或愚行，所以我在单子上加了谦虚一项，并使这词具有广泛的涵义。
I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it.
我不敢夸口在养成谦虚习惯方面，在实际上我有多大的成就，但在外表上我却有了不少进展。
I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others, and all positive assertion of my own.
我经常禁止我自己说出一切直接与别人的意见相左的和一切过分自信的话。
I even forbid myself, agreeably to the old laws of our Junto, the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fix'd opinion, such as certainly, undoubtedly, etc., and I adopted, instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine a thing to be so or so; or it so appears to me at present.
我甚至按照我们“密社”的老规矩，不许我自己使用英语中一切表明肯定见解的单词或辞句，例如“一定地”、“无疑地”等等，相反的，我采用了“我想象”、“我料想”，或是“我猜想一件事情是如此如此”，或是“现在在我看来好像是...”。
When another asserted something that I thought an error, I deny'd myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition;
当别人表示一个我认为是错误的意见时，我并不粗暴地驳斥他的主张，立刻指出他提案中某些荒谬悖理的地方，我放弃了这样驳斥时所给我的快慰。
and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear'd or seem'd to me some difference, etc.
在回答时我开始指出在某些情况下他的看法是正确的，但在当前的情况下在我看来或是好像有些不同，云云。
I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engag'd in went on more pleasantly.
不久我发现了这种改变方式方法的好处，我跟别人的谈话比以前融洽了。
The modest way in which I propos'd my opinions procur'd them a readier reception and less contradiction;
由于我谦逊地提出了我自己的见解，这些意见反而更容易为人所接受，更少引起人们的反驳。
I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevail'd with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the right.
当我发现我错了的时候，我也不至于过分地懊丧；当我是对的时候，我也更能说服别人放弃他们的错误，接受我的意见。
And this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me.
这种做法，起初我觉得很别扭，后来终于变得那么容易，对我那么自然，我想可能在过去五十年中没有人曾经听我说过一句武断的话。
And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member;
在我早年，当我提议建立新的制度或是修改旧的制度时，我的意见之所以被人重视，我后来成为议员，我之所以在议会中有那么大的影响，我想这主要当归功于这种种谦逊的习惯(撇开我的诚实廉洁品德不讲的话)；
for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.
因为我不善辞令，从来不是一个能说善辩的人，讲话疙里疙瘩，常有语病，但是尽管如此，我的主张一般仍然得到人们的支持。
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.
其实，在我们天生的各种感情中，恐怕没有一样比骄傲更难以驯服的了。
Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself;
尽管你把它改头换面，跟它拼命，把它打入十八层地狱，把它镇压下去，尽管你尽量地把它压制克服，你还是消灭不了它，它还会不时地钻出头来显露原形。
you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
可能就在这本自传里你会常常遇见它；因为即使我能想象我已经完全克服了骄傲这一缺点，可能我又会因我的谦虚而感到自豪了。
