In every one of the higher religions there is a strain of infinite optimism on the one hand,and on the other,of a profound pessimism.In the depths of our being,they all teach,there is an inner high--but an inner Light which our egotism keeps,for most of the time,in a state of more of less eclipse.
在每种高等宗教的信奉中既包括无限的乐观精力，又有一种深邃的达观论。它们都告诫我们，在咱们性命深处有一道内在的光辉——而这道毫光大多时候多多少少被我们自信的暗影所遮蔽。
If,however,it so desires,the ego can get out of the way,so to speak,can dis--eclipse the Light and become identified wiht its divine source.Hence the unlimited optimmism of the traditional religions.There pessinism springs from the observed fact that,though all are called,few are chosen--for the sufficient reason that few choose to be chosen.
然而，如果乐意，自负可以分开，或者说可以让这道光芒从新闪烁，并与发明它的神相融会，于是发生了传统宗教无尽的乐观主义，而其悲观论源于人们察看到的事实，即只管人人皆受到号召，却只有极少数人受到垂青——全因简直无人愿受到垂青。
To me,this older conception of man's nature and destiny seems more realistic,more nearly in accord with the given facts,than any form of modern utopianism.
在我看来，这种对于人道及运气的更老的观点仿佛比任何情势的古代乌托邦主义更事实，更合乎既成事实。
In the Lord's Prayer we are taught to ask for the blessing which consists in not being led into temptation.The reason is only too obvious.Whe temptations are very great or unduly prolonged,most persons succumb on them.To devise a perfect social order is probably beyond our powers,but I believe that it is perfectly possible for us to reduce the number of dangerous temptations to a level far below that which is tolerated at the present time.
主祷文教诲我们要哀求上帝保佑，不被诱惑引入歧途，起因十分明白，假如引诱太大或连续太久，大多数人就会屈从。兴许我们无力设计一种完善的社会秩序，但我相信我们完整能够将危险的诱惑减少到远远低于目前可忍耐的水平。
A society so arranged that there shall be a minimum of dangerous temptations--this is the end towards which,as a citizen,I have to strive.In my efforts to that end,I can make use of a great variety of means.Do good ends justify the use of intrinsically bad means?
构建一个能将危险的诱惑最小化的社会是我作为一个公民奋斗的目标。在为之奋斗的进程中，我可以采用各种方法，然而目标准确就可以采用本质上不合法的手段开脱吗?
On the level of theory,the point can be argued indefinitely.In practice,meanwhile,I find that the means employed invariably determine the nature of the end achieved.Indeed,as Mahatma Gandhi was never tired of insisting,the means are the end in its preliminary stages.
在实践层面上，这一点可以普遍探讨;在实际中，我同时发明，采取的手段决议目标的性质，无一例外。确切正如马哈特玛·甘地不厌其烦地保持的那样，手段是目的的初始阶段。
Men have put forth enoumous efforts to make their world a better place to live in;but except in regard to gadgets,plumbing and hygiene,their sussess has been pathetically small."hell,"as the proverb has it,"is paved with good intentions."And so long as we go on trying to realize our ideals by bad or merely inappropriate means,our good intentions will come to the same bad ends.In this consists the tragedy and the irony of history.
人们千方百计将这个世界建成更美妙的家园，但除了小器械，管道装置和卫生之外，他们的成绩少得可怜。“地狱”正如一句谚语所说“是由善意铺就的”。只有我们持续试图以卑鄙或仅仅不当的手腕实现幻想，我们的善意将同样酿出恶果，形成历史的悲剧跟讥讽。
Can I,as an individual,do anything to make future history a little less tragic and less ironic than history past and present?
作为个人，我能尽全力使将来不像从前和当初那么富有悲剧和讽刺象征吗?
I believe I can.As a citizen,I can use all my intelligence and all my good will to develop political means that shall be of the same kind and quality as the ideal ends which I am trying to achieve.And as a person,as a psychophysical roganism,I can learn how to get out of the way,so that the divine source of my life and consciousness can come out of eclipse and shine through me.
我信任，我能。作为国民，我能以我全体的智慧和全部的善意，应用与我为之斗争的理想同种同质的政治手段。作为一个人，一种具备身心的有机体，我能学会如何解脱自负，这样赋予我生命和意识的神的光芒就能驱散阴影，照亮我全身。
作者简介：
奥尔德斯·赫胥黎：是巨大的迷信家托马斯·赫胥黎的孙子，生于英格兰的萨里郡，现住在洛杉矶，是一名多产作家。
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