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"The result we all see. The cube is at rest in a perfect state of equilibrium. Centrifugal force plus the gravity-resistant force within the material itself exactly equals the force of gravity. In a moment I shall prove my contention by lifting upward against the cube, thus giving it an impetus that will destroy its perfect balance and send it flying back intothe void from whence it came. Before I do so, does anyone question the accuracy of my hypothesis?"
“这一结果我们大家都看到了。这一立方体处于一种绝对的平衡状态。离心力加上该物体内部的抗地球引力恰好与地球引力相等。我马上就来证明我的观点，只要把这一立方体往上一提，给它一个推动力来破坏它的绝对平衡，它就会飞回太空，从哪里来回到哪里去。在我这么做之前，有人对我的假说的精确性提出异议吗?”
The various scientists present remained silent, but John Thomas said,"I don’t think it will fly away."
在场的各类专家都一言不发。但约翰·托马斯说:“我认为它不会飞走。”
"Well,well," the president of the university said. "And why not, my little man?"
“是吗，”大学校长说。“你说说它为什么不会飞走呢，我亲爱的小男子汉?”
"Because my father hit it with a spade and it didn’t budge. "
“因为我爸用铁锹砸过它，而它却一动也不动。”
The president reversed his field with a mental agility that no doubt had contributed to hisreputation as an administrator. "Exactly", he said. "What this boy has said exactly proves the point I was trying to make. When confronted with the unknown, it is idle to speculate,however rationally, without having first erected a sound foundation of fact. I shall now retire in favor of my colleagues of the physics and chemistry departments. When they have examined this object from every scientific aspect, we shall consult together and, in the light of known mathematical formulae, arrive at the correct description."
校长听后马上机灵地改变了他的立场。毫无疑问，这种随机应变的本领曾帮助他成为一位声名卓著的管理者。“正是，”他说。“这男孩所说的正好证明了我要说明的一个观点。当我们面对未知的事物时，不先建立扎实的事实基础而妄加推测是徒劳的，不管这种推测是多么合乎理性。现在我告退，让我的物理系和化学系的同行上场。当他们从所有的科学角度对这一物体进行考察之后，我们再一起讨论，并根据已知的数学公式对这一物体进行正确的描述。”
