第56章 论自立

    Essay I Self-Reliance

    论自立

    Emerson/爱默生

    There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance；that imitation is suicide；that he must take himself for better，for worse，as his portion；that though the wide universe is full of good，no kerne of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed onthat plot of ground which is given to him to till.The power which resides in him is new in nature，and none but he knows what that is which he can do，nor does he know until he has tried.Not for nothing one face，one character，one fact，makes much impression on him，and another none.This sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony.The eye was placed where one ray should fall，that it might testify of that particular ray.We but half express ourselves，and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents.It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues，so it be faithfully imparted，but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best；but what he has said or done otherwise，shall give him no peace.It is a deliverance which does not deliver.In the attempt his genius deserts him；no muse befriends；no invention，no hope.

    每个人在求知的过程中都会有一段时期，坚信这样的道理：嫉妒即是无知的表现，仿效他人就等同于自毁前程；思想由心而生，无论会将其引至更好或更坏的境地，都将成为其人生不可或缺的一部分；虽然广阔的宇宙不乏美事，但不经过辛勤的劳作，就想等着玉米大获丰收是根本不可能的事情。隐藏在一个人身上的潜能是怎样的，完全取决于自身的天赋，那是一种全新的力量，除非他本人将自身的长处展现出来，否则，不会有人知道他究竟能有怎样的成就，而且不经过一番尝试，就连他自己也无法弄清自己究竟有什么本领。也许一张面孔、一个人、一件事情会在他的脑海中留下深刻的印象，但别人却丝毫不曾留意。记忆的雕塑一定蕴涵着一种预定的和谐。只有把目光投向光线可能出现的地方，才有可能察觉到光线的到来。我们常常不能充分地表达自己的思想，而且对自己内心深处的真理羞于开口。事实上，也许我们的思想恰好完全合情合理，甚至堪称至理名言。因此，我们应该毫无顾忌地直抒胸臆。不过，上帝绝不会让一个懦夫来表达他的意志。当一个人做事时能够竭尽所能，力求做到最好时，就能够得到真正的宽慰与欢乐，否则，他将永远得不到内心的平静，也无法得到灵魂的解脱。最终，他的天赋会弃他而去，灵感也不再眷顾于他，创造力与希望也同样会一去不复返。
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