培根散文隨筆集第39章： Of Custom & Education 論習慣與教育（中英對照）
39 of custom & education 論習慣與教育
men's thoughts are much according to their inclination: their discourse and speeches according to their learning, and infused opinions; but their deeds are after as they have been accustomed. and therefore, as machiavelli well noteth (though in an evil favoured instance) there is no trusting to the force of nature, nor to the bravery of words; except it be corroborate by custom. his instance is, that for the achieving of a desperate conspiracy, a man should not rest upon the fierceness of any man's nature, or his resolute undertakings; but take such an one, as hath had his hands formerly in blood. but machiavelli knew not of a friar clement, nor a ravillac, nor a jaureguy, nor a baltazar gerard: yet his rule holdeth still, that nature, nor the engagement of words, are not so forcible as custom. only superstition is now so well advanced, that men of the first blood are as firm as butchers by occupation: and votary resolution is made equipollent to custom, even in matter of blood. in other things, the predominancy of custom is everywhere visible; in so much, as a man would wonder, to hear men profess, protest, engage, give great words, and then do just as they have done before: as if they were dead images, and engines moved only by the wheels of custom.
人們底思想多是依從著他們底愿望的，他們底談論和言語多是依從著他們底學問和從外面得來的見解的；但是他們底行為卻是隨著他們平日的習慣的。所以馬基亞委利說得很好（雖然他所論的事是很丑的），天性底力量和言語底動人，若無習慣底增援，都是不可靠的。他所論的事情是，為了完成一件極險惡的陰謀，一個人不可信任所用的某人之天性底兇猛或約言底堅決，而應當任用以前曾經親自下過手，手上染過他人底血的人。但是馬基亞委利不知道有一個乞僧克萊門，也不知道有一個哈委亞克，也不知道有一個約爾基，也不知道有一個巴爾塔薩爾·杰拉爾；然而他底定律依然是不移的，就是，天性與言語上的允諾要約都不如習慣有力。只有一件，就是現在迷信很盛，以致初次為迷信殺人的人簡直是和業屠的人一樣地不動心；盟誓底決意也被作成與習慣一樣地強，甚至在流血的事件中亦是如此。在迷信以外的事情中習慣之凌駕一切是處處可見的；其勢力之強，使得人們于自白、抗辯、允諾、夸張之后，依然一仍舊貫地作下去，好象他們是無生命的偶像，和由習慣底輪子來轉動著的機械似的，這種情形真使人驚訝。
本文地址：http://www.hengchuai.cn/writing/essay/9462.html
