约翰·洛克的教育思想(中英对照)-1: 幸福与教育

为了分享约翰·洛克的教育思想, 我将在这里陆续贴出中英对照的《教育随想》。今天贴上的是第一节。

A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this world. He that has these two, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be but little the better for any thing else. Men’s happiness or misery is most part of their own making. He, whose mind directs not wisely, will never take the right way; and he, whose body is crazy and feeble, will never be able to advance in it. I confess, there are some men’s constitutions of body and mind so vigorous, and well framed by nature, that they need not much assistance from others; but by the strength of their natural genius, they are from their cradles carried towards what is excellent; and by the privilege of their happy constitutions, are able to do wonders. But examples of this kind are but few; and I think I may say, that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten are what they are, good or evil, useful or not, by their education. It is that which makes the great difference in mankind. The little, or almost insensible impressions on our tender infancies, have very important and lasting consequences: and there it is, as in the fountains of some rivers, where a gentle application of the hand turns the flexible waters in channels, that make them take quite contrary courses; and by this direction given them at first in the source, they receive different tendencies, and arrive at last at very remote and distant places.

健康的精神寓于健康的身体, 这是此世幸福的简短而完全的定义。这二者兼备的人不会再有更多的奢望; 欠缺其中任意一个的人, 都不会在任何事业上有所成就。人的幸福或痛苦, 大部分是自己造成的。那些没有理智指引的人是不能走在正确的道路上; 那些身体软弱的人也不可能有所进步。我承认有的人天然身心都很强健, 不需要别人的帮 助, 只依靠他们本身的天才, 他们自幼便能渐渐成长为杰出人才; 只凭藉天生的体质, 他们就能取得惊人的成就。但是这样的例子是不常见的; 我可以说, 我们所遇到的所有人中, 他们的好或坏、有用或无用, 十分之九都是教育的结果。教育也是造成人们之间千差万别的原因。在我们可塑的幼年, 那些微小而不引人注意的影响, 对我们的一生都有重要而长久的后果: 就象是在河流的源 泉, 轻轻地把活水导入渠道, 可使它们流向非常不一样的途径; 这在源头开始的导向, 可使河流有不同的走向, 最后流到相距非常遥远的地方。

 

摘自Some Thoughts Concerning Education (English-Chinese Edition)(ISBN-10: 1537479857)