約翰·洛克的教育思想(中英對照)-1: 幸福與教育

為了分享約翰·洛克的教育思想, 我將在這裏陸續貼出中英對照的《教育隨想》。今天貼上的是第一節。

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.

健康的精神寓於健康的身體, 這是此世幸福的簡短而完全的定義。這二者兼備的人不會再有更多的奢望; 欠缺其中任意一個的人, 都不會在任何事業上有所成就。人的幸福或痛苦, 大部分是自己造成的。那些沒有理智指引的人是不能走在正確的道路上; 那些身體軟弱的人也不可能有所進步。我承認有的人天然身心都很強健, 不需要別人的幫 助, 隻依靠他們本身的天才, 他們自幼便能漸漸成長為傑出人才; 隻憑藉天生的體質, 他們就能取得驚人的成就。但是這樣的例子是不常見的; 我可以說, 我們所遇到的所有人中, 他們的好或壞、有用或無用, 十分之九都是教育的結果。教育也是造成人們之間千差萬別的原因。在我們可塑的幼年, 那些微小而不引人注意的影響, 對我們的一生都有重要而長久的後果: 就象是在河流的源 泉, 輕輕地把活水導入渠道, 可使它們流向非常不一樣的途徑; 這在源頭開始的導向, 可使河流有不同的走向, 最後流到相距非常遙遠的地方。

 

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