約翰·洛克的教育思想(中英對照)-29: 其他技能

TRADE | I have one thing more to add, which as soon as I mention, I shall run the danger of being suspected to have forgot what I am about, and what I have above written concerning education, all tending towards a gentleman's calling, with which a trade seems wholly to be inconsistent. And yet, I cannot forbear to say, I would have him learn a trade, a manual trade; nay, two or three, but one more particularly.

技藝 |  我還要提一件事，不過一旦說出之後，我就會被人懷疑忘乎所以，忘記我前麵關於教育的議論全是關於一個紳士的職分，與技藝一點都不相幹。然而我不能不說，我希望一個紳士也要學習一種技藝，一種手工的技藝；甚至不止一種，要學習兩三種，隻是特別注重一種。

The busy inclination of children being always to be directed to something that may be useful to them, the advantages proposed from what they are set about may be considered of two kinds: 1. Where the skill itself that is got by exercise is worth the having. Thus skill not only in languages and learned sciences, but in painting, turning, gardening, tempering and working in iron, and all other useful arts is worth the having. 2. Where the exercise itself, without any consideration, is necessary or useful for health. Knowledge in some things is so necessary to be got by children whilst they are young, that some part of their time is to be allotted to their improvement in them, though those employments contribute nothing at all to their health. Such are reading and writing and all other sedentary studies for the cultivating of the mind, which unavoidably take up a great part of a gentleman's time, quite from their cradles. Other manual arts, which are both got and exercised by labour, do many of them by that exercise not only increase our dexterity and skill, but contribute to our health too, especially such as employ us in the open air. In these, then, health and improvement may be joined together; and of these should some fit ones be chosen, to be made the recreations of one whose chief business is with books and study. In this choice the age and inclination of the person is to be considered, and constraint always to be avoided in bringing him to it. For command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion: and whatever any one is brought to by compulsion, he will leave as soon as he can, and be little profited and less recreated by, whilst he is at it.

小孩喜歡忙碌的傾向應該總是導向對他們有益的事情上，他們這樣做有兩個好處：1. 從練習得來的技能本身就值得擁有。這指的不僅是語言的和所學科學的技能，而且也包括繪畫、切削、園藝、淬火、打鐵等等值得擁有的技能。2. 練習本身，不考慮別的，對健康是必需的或有益的。有的知識是孩子年輕時候必須要知道的，雖然那些知識對他們健康並無好處的，他們還是要花一些時間在它們上麵以得到提高。譬如閱讀和寫作，以及其它久坐不動的學習，是為了培養心靈，一個紳士從小就不可避免地用很大一部分時間學習。而別的手工技藝，要通過勞動來獲得與練習，許多這樣的手工勞動不但能通過練習增進我們的靈敏及技巧，而且有益於我們的健康，特別是那些我們要在戶外做的事情更是如此。在這些事情上，健康與進步合而為一；而且一個以讀書學習為主要任務的人，可以從中選取一些作為娛樂。在選擇的時候，要考慮他的年齡與愛好，永遠不要勉強他去做。因為命令與強迫常常引起、而不是醫治憎惡的心理；任何人對於任何強人所難的事情，一有機會他就會離開，做的時候也不會得益，更不用說得到娛樂消遣了。

PAINTING | That which of all others would please me best, would be a painter, were there not an argument or two against it, not easy to be answered. First, ill painting is one of the worst things in the world; and to attain a tolerable degree of skill in it, requires too much of a man’s time. If he has a natural inclination to it, it will endanger the neglect of all other more useful studies, to give way to that; and if he have no inclination to it, all the time, pains, and money shall be employed in it, will be thrown away to no purpose. Another reason why I am not for painting in a gentleman, is, because it is a sedentary recreation, which more employs the mind than the body. A gentleman's more serious employment, I look on to be study; and when that demands relaxation and refreshment, it should be in some exercise of the body, which unbends the thought, and confirms the health and strength. For these two reasons I am not for painting.

繪畫 |  在其它一切有技藝的人中，我最喜歡的應該是畫家，假若不是有一兩個不易解答的意見反對繪畫。第一，醜陋的繪畫是世上最糟糕的事情之一；並且為取得可以容忍的繪畫技巧，會耗費一個人過多的時間。假如他天生愛好繪畫，會有為此忽視其它一切更加有用的學問的危險；假如他沒有這種愛好，所有花費在它上麵的時間、努力與金錢就完全白費了。我不讚成一位紳士繪畫的另一個理由是，繪畫是一種靜坐的娛樂，它運用心神多過運用身體。一個紳士更正經的工作，我認為是學習；當那要求放鬆和恢複的時候，應該是運動身體，使思想放鬆，以確保健康與精力。因為這兩個理由，所以我不讚成繪畫。

GARDENING, JOINER | In the next place, for a country gentleman I should propose one, or rather both these, viz. Gardening or husbandry in general, and working in wood, as a carpenter, joiner, or turner, these being fit and healthy recreations for a man of study or business. For since the mind endures not to be constantly employed in the same thing or way, and sedentary or studious men should have some exercise, that at the same time might divert their minds and employ their bodies, I know none that could do it better for a country gentleman than these two; the one of them affording him exercise when the weather or season keeps him from the other. Besides that, by being skilled in the one of them, he will be able to govern and teach his gardener; by the other, contrive and make a great many things both of delight and use: though these I propose not as the chief end of his labour, but as temptations to it; diversion from his other more serious thoughts and employments by useful and healthy manual exercise being what I chiefly aim at in it.

園藝，細木工 |  其次，為一個鄉村紳士著想，我建議學習一種、或者最好兩種技藝，一種是園藝或一般農藝，另一種是木工活，如同木匠、細木匠或切削工匠之類的，這些對一個學習或做事的人都是合適與健康的消遣。因為心思不能一直放在同一件事情或同一個方法上，同時久坐或勤學的人也需要一些鍛煉，以便同時讓心思轉念、讓身體得到運動，我認為沒有比這兩者更適合一個鄉村紳士的；當天氣或季節的原因而不能做園藝，木工活可以讓他得到鍛煉。此外，有園藝技能，他就有能力管理與指導他的園丁；學會木工，他可以設計與製作很多有趣又有用的東西，雖然我並不將其作為他勞動的主要目的，隻是當作吸引他去勞動的誘餌；我的主要目標是，通過有益的、健康的體力鍛煉，讓他能從別的更嚴肅的思想和工作上移開而得到消遣。

The great men among the ancients understood very well how to reconcile manual labour with affairs of state, and thought it no lessening to their dignity, to make the one the recreation to the other. That indeed which seems most generally to have employed and diverted their spare hours, was agriculture. Gideon amongst the Jews was taken from threshing, as well as Cincinnatus amongst the Romans, from the plough, to command the armies of their countries against their enemies; and it is plain their dexterous handling of the flail, or the plough, and being good workmen with these tools, did not hinder their skill in arms, nor make them less able in the arts of war or government. They were great captains and statesmen, as well as husbandmen. Cato major, who had with great reputation born all the great offices of the commonwealth, has left us an evidence under his own hand, how much he was versed in conntry affairs; and, as I remember, Cyrus thought gardening so little beneath the dignity and grandeur of a throne, that he showed Xenophon a large field of fruit-trees, all of his own planting. The records of antiquity, both amongst jews and gentiles, are full of instances of this kind, if it were necessary to recommend useful recreations by examples.

古代的偉人們很懂得怎樣利用體力勞動來作為對國家大事操勞的調節，他們認為用體力勞動作為處理國家大事之後的消遣，絲毫無損於其尊嚴。他們閑暇時最常用的消遣方式其實是務農。猶太人中的基甸 (Gideon)是在打穀時被人請出來的，羅馬人中的辛辛納圖斯(Cincinnatus)則是在犁田時被人喊出來，去指揮本國軍隊抵禦外敵；很顯然，他們能靈活地使用連枷或犁耙，他們是能善用這些工具的良匠，這並不妨礙他們指揮軍隊的技巧，也沒有使他們在作戰與統治的才能減弱。他們既是偉大的將領和政治家，又是農夫。老加圖 (Cato Major)在羅馬共和政府擔任過所有的高官，名聲極大，他親手給我們留下了證據，顯示他對於鄉村的事務是何等精通；而且我記得賽拉斯(Cyrus)認為園藝並無損於皇帝的尊嚴，他曾將自己親自種植的一大片果林指給塞諾封(Xenophon)看。假如有必要列舉倡導有益娛樂的例子，在古代史料中，猶太人與異邦人那裏有極多這樣的事例。

RECREATION | Nor let it be thought that I mistake, when I call these or the like exercises of manual arts, diversions or recreations: for recreation is not being idle (as every one may observe) but easing the wearied part by change of business: and he that thinks diversion may not lie in hard and painful labour, forgets the early rising, hard riding, heat, cold and hunger of huntsmen, which is yet known to be the constant recreation of men of the greatest condition. Delving, planting, inoculating, or any the like profitable employments, would be no less a diversion than any of the idle sports in fashion, if men could but be brought to delight in them, which custom and skill in a trade will quickly bring any one to do. And I doubt not but there are to be found those, who being frequently called to cards or any other play by those they could not refuse, have been more tired with these recreations than with any the most serious employment of life, though the play has been such as they have naturally had no aversion to, and with which they could willingly sometimes divert themselves.

消遣 | 當我將這些事情或類似的手藝練習稱作消遣或娛樂時，不要以為我犯了錯誤；因為娛樂不是懶散不動(每個人都知道這一點)，而是通過變換工作，使疲憊的部分得以放鬆；那認為消遣不該是困難與辛苦的勞動的人，肯定忘記了獵人的早起、艱難騎行、炎熱、寒冷與饑餓等等，而打獵卻被人們視為最偉大的人物所常有的娛樂。挖掘、種植、接種，或者任何類似的有益的工作，也能成為很好的娛樂，不遜於任何流行的無聊遊戲，假如人們能習慣一門手藝、並且掌握其中的技能，他們能從中找到樂趣的話。而且我相信，有些人常常被人邀去打牌或別的什麽遊戲，他們不便拒絕，他們會厭惡那些娛樂更甚於生活中最正經的工作，雖然他們天生並不反感那種遊戲，他們自己不時也會以其消遣。

Play, wherein persons of condition, especially ladies, waste so much of their time, is a plain instance to me that men cannot be perfectly idle; they must be doing something; for how else could they sit so many hours toiling at that which generally gives more vexation than delight to people whilst they are actually engaged in it? It is certain, gaming leaves no satisfaction behind it to those who reflect when it is over, and it no way profits either body or mind: as to their estates, if it strike so deep as to concern them, it is a trade then, and not a recreation, wherein few that have any thing else to live on thrive: and at best, a thriving gamester has but a poor trade on it, who fills his pockets at the price of his reputation.

有地位的人，特別是女士們，常常在遊戲上耗費他們很多的時間，我認為這就是一個人不能完全懶散不動的明顯例子；他們必須要幹點事情；要不然他們怎能接連坐上許多個小時，辛苦地去做那些實際做起來通常煩惱多過快樂的事情呢？很明顯，賭博不會在賭徒事後回想時給他們滿足的感覺，對他們身心也毫無益處；至於他們的財產，如果他們過於關注，賭博就成為了生意，而不是娛樂了，不以賭博為生的人很少會以此而發達；即使發達了，一個賭徒也是做了一個糟糕的交易，他以名譽為代價換得了口袋的充盈。

Recreation belongs not to people who are strangers to business, and are not wasted and wearied with the employment of their calling. The skill should be, so to order their time of recreation, that it may relax and refresh the part that has been exercised and is tired, and yet do something which besides the present delight and ease, may produce what will afterwards be profitable. It has been nothing but the vanity and pride of greatness and riches, that has brought unprofitable and dangerous pastimes (as they are called) into fashion, and persuaded people into a belief, that the learning or putting their hands to any thing that was useful, could not be a diversion fit for a gentleman. This has been that which has given cards, dice and drinking so much credit in the world: and a great many throw away their spare hours in them, through the prevalency of custom, and want of some better employment to fill up the vacancy of leisure, more than from any real delight is to be found in them. They cannot bear the dead weight of unemployed time lying upon their hands, nor the uneasiness it is to do nothing at all: and having never learned any laudable manual art wherewith to divert themselves, they have recourse to those foolish or ill ways in use, to help off their time, which a rational man, till corrupted by custom, could find very little pleasure in.

那些不幹事業、沒有從事天職因而不感到疲乏的人，是不配享受娛樂的。技巧是，在安排娛樂時間時，應該使鍛煉而疲乏的部分得到放鬆與恢複，同時還應做一些不僅可獲得當下的快樂與舒適，還可使將來獲益的事情。隻是由於要顯示自己偉大與富有的虛榮心及自負心理，才導致無益的、危險的 (正如他們稱呼的)消遣成為時尚，並使人們誤以為學習或是做任何有益的事情不是適合於一個紳士的消遣。這就是世上流行玩牌、賭博和酗酒的原因；許多人將閑暇的時間耗費在這些事情上，隻是順從習俗，以及缺乏一些好的消遣來填補空閑的緣故，而不是覺得裏麵有什麽真正的快樂。他們不能承受閑暇時的沉重，也不能忍受無事可幹的不安；他們從來沒有學過任何值得讚賞的的手藝來使自己得到消遣，於是隻好求助於那些愚蠢的或不良的方式，去消磨時間，而一個有理性的人，在他未被習俗敗壞之前，不會從中發現一點樂趣。

TRADE | I say not this, that I would never have a young gentleman accommodate himself to the innocent diversions in fashion amongst those of his age and condition. I am so far from having him austere and morose to that degree, that I would persuade him to more than ordinary complaisance for all the gaieties and diversions of those he converses with, and be averse or testy in nothing they should desire of him, that might become a gentleman and an honest man. Though as to cards and dice, I think the safest and best way is never to learn any play upon them, and so to be incapacitated for those dangerous temptations and incroaching wasters of useful time. But allowance being made for idle and jovial conversation and all fashionable becoming recreations; I say, a young man will have time enough from his serious and main business, to learn almost any trade. It is want of application, and not of leisure, that men are not skilful in more arts than one; and an hour in a day, constantly employed in such a way of diversion, will carry a man in a short time a great deal farther than he can imagine: which, if it were of no other use but to drive the common, vicious, useless, and dangerous pastimes out of fashion, and to shew there was no need of them, would deserve to be encouraged. If men from their youth were weaned from that sauntering humour wherein some out of custom let a good part of their lives run uselessly away, without either business or recreation, they would find time enough to acquire dexterity and skill in hundreds of things, which, though remote from their proper callings, would not at all interfere with them. And therefore, I think, for this, as well as other reasons before-mentioned, a lazy, listless humour that idly dreams away the days, is of all others the least to be indulged or permitted in young people. It is the proper state of one sick and out of order in his health, and is tolerable in nobody else of what age or condition soever.

技藝 |  我並不是說一個年輕的紳士不該得到同齡的或同等條件的人中流行的無害的娛樂。我決不希望他如此的清苦與憂鬱，我願意勸說他對與其交往的人的高興和娛樂更隨和一些，他們讓他做的事情，隻要符合一個紳士及一個誠實的人的身分，他都不要嫌惡或惱怒。至於打牌與賭博，我覺得最安全、最好的辦法是永遠不去學習玩它們，就不會受到那些危險的誘惑，不會浪費有用的時間。至於閑聊、談笑以及所有流行的合適娛樂，都是應該允許的；我說，一個年輕人在正經的、主要的工作之餘，他還要有充裕的時間去學習任何手藝的。人們之所以沒有學會一門以上的技藝，原因是缺乏努力，而不是沒有空閑；一天花一個小時，不斷地去進行這種消遣活動，可以讓一個人在很短的時間取得超乎他想象的進步；即使它並沒有別的益處，隻要能將通常邪惡、無用及危險的消遣排除在時尚之外，並且顯示它們並非必需的，這就值得提倡。如果人們從年輕時起就能戒掉那種混日子的習氣，不象某些讓那樣，因為習俗而將其生命的相當部分無益地浪費，既不幹工作，又沒有娛樂，那麽他們就有足夠的時間在上百種事情上獲得熟練技巧，那些技藝即使與他們的職業相距甚遠，但是決不會妨礙他們的職業。因為這層理由以及前述的各種理由，我認為懶散、無精打采、無所事事地夢遊混日子，是最不能容許在年輕人身上存在的。這是一個生病、不健康的人的典型症狀，無論什麽年齡或身份的人都不該出現這種狀況。

To the arts above mentioned may be added perfuming, varnishing, graving, and several sorts of working in iron, brass, and silver: and if, as it happens to most young gentlemen, that a considerable part of his time be spent in a great town, he may learn to cut, polish, and set precious stones, or employ himself in grinding and polishing optical glasses. Amongst the great variety there is of ingenious manual arts, it will be impossible that no one should be found to please and delight him, unless he be either idle or debauched, which is not to be supposed in a right way of education. And since he cannot always be employed in study, reading, and conversation, there will be many an hour, besides what his exercises will take up, which, if not spent this way, will be spent worse. For, I conclude, a young man will seldom desire to sit perfectly still and idle; or if he does, it is a fault that ought to be mended.

除了以上的各種技能外，還可以加上薰香、油漆、雕刻以及幾種與鐵、銅、銀器製作有關的工作；而且如果他像多數年輕紳士一樣，相當一部分時間是在大城鎮裏度過的，他還可以學習切割、拋光、鑲嵌寶石，或者促使自己學習打磨光學玻璃。在這眾多精巧的手藝之中，他決不可能找不出一種他喜愛的，除非他懶惰或是沉淪了，這在正確的教育方式下是不會發生的。因為他不能一天到晚學習、讀書與談話，所以除了運動所需的時間之外，他一定還有許多空閑，如果不這樣度過，他會用更壞的方法去消磨。因此我可以下個結論，一個年輕人很少願意坐著完全不動、不幹活；假如他這樣做了，那也是一種必須予以糾正的缺點。

But if his mistaken parents, frightened with the disgraceful names of mechanic and trade, shall have an aversion to any thing of this kind in their children; yet there is one thing relating to trade, which, when they consider, they will think absolutely necessary for their sons to learn.

但是如果他的父母搞錯了，被工匠及手藝兩個不名譽的字眼嚇住了，對於他們的孩子所作的任何這類事情產生了憎惡感；那麽，此外還有一件與手藝有關的事情，他們思考之後，就會覺得他們的兒子是絕對需要學習的。

MERCHANTS ACCOUNTS | Merchants accounts, though a science not likely to help a gentleman to get an estate, yet possibly there is not any thing of more use and efficacy to make him preserve the estate he has. It is seldom observed, that he who keeps an account of his income and expences, and thereby has constantly under view the course of his domestic affairs, lets them run to ruin; and I doubt not but many a man gets behind-hand, before he is aware, or runs further on, when he is once in, for want of this care, or the skill to do it. I would therefore advise all gentlemen to learn perfectly merchants accounts, and not to think it is a skill that belongs not to them, because it has received its name from, and has been chiefly practised by, men of traffic.

商業會計 |  雖然商業會計是一種不能幫助一個紳士去獲得財富的科學，但就保持其原有的財富而論，沒有任何事情比它更有用、更有效。很少見到對收支記賬，並因此隨時了解家務狀況的人，會讓家務走上衰敗；我相信，許多人是因為沒有留意，或是缺乏這種技能，常常欠了賬自己才知道，或者舊債未還，又欠新債。所以我奉勸所有紳士都要完全地學會商業會計，不要因其名稱來自商業，使用者也多是商人，便認為不是他們應該學習的技能。

When my young master has once got the skill of keeping accounts, (which is a business of reason more than arithmetic) perhaps it will not be amiss, that his father from thenceforth require him to do it in all his concernments. Not that I would have him set down every pint of wine, or play, that costs him money; the general name of expences will serve for such things well enough: nor would I have his father look so narrowly into these accounts, as to take occasion from thence to criticise on his expences. He must remember, that he himself was once a young man, and not forget the thoughts he had then, nor the right his son has to have the same, and to have allowance made for them. If therefore I would have the young gentleman obliged to keep an account, it is not at all to have that way a check upon his expences, (for what the father allows him, he ought to let him be fully master of,) but only, that he might be brought early into the custom of doing it, and that it might be made familiar and habitual to him betimes, which will be so useful and necessary to be constantly practised through the whole course of his life. A noble Venetian, whose son wallowed in the plenty of his father's riches, finding his son's expences grow very high and extravagant, ordered his cashier to let him have, for the future, no more money than what he should count when he received it. This one would think no great restraint to a young gentleman's expences, who could freely have as much money as he would tell. But yet this, to one who was used to nothing but the pursuit of his pleasures, proved a very great trouble, which at last ended in this sober and advantageous reflection: "If it be so much pains to me, barely to count the money I would spend; what labour and pains did it cost my ancestors, not only to count, but get it?" This rational thought, suggested by this little pains imposed upon him, wrought so effectually upon his mind, that it made him take up, and from that time forwards prove a good husband. This at least every body must allow, that nothing is likelier to keep a man within compass, than the having constantly before his eyes the state of his affairs, in a regular course of account.

一旦我的少主人學會記賬的技藝(這與其說是算術的工作，不如說是理智的工作)，也許他的父親不妨叫他把他所有的重要事項都記下來。我並不是要他將花錢買的每一品脫酒或花錢的遊戲全都記下，隻要有花費的一般名稱就夠了；我也不想要他的父親去嚴格地檢查這些賬目，從中尋找指摘他花費不當的機會。做父親的應該記得，他自己也曾是個年輕人，不要忘記自己年輕時的思想，他也不要忘記其子有權利產生同樣的思想，他應該容忍那些思想。所以，如果我主張一個年輕紳士要記賬，目的並不是借此去檢查其用途(因為對於父親允許之事，他可以完全自己作主)，我隻是要讓他早日養成做此事的習慣，能及時把賬記得熟煉自如，這種工作是非常有用與必要的，他在他的一生中都要經常練習。有一個威尼斯顯貴，他的兒子沉湎於父親的巨大財富；威尼斯人發現兒子花費極大、極揮霍，於是便吩咐賬房，以後他的兒子來取錢時必須點數，給他的錢數不可多過他所點的數目。大家也許覺得這辦法對於一個年輕紳士的用度並沒有很大約束，因為他可以說多少錢就自由地取多少錢。但是即使這樣，對於一個隻知尋歡作樂的人，也是一個極大的麻煩，最終導致這樣嚴肅的、有益的反思："如果我數一數我要花的錢都覺得這麽心煩，而我的祖先不但要數錢，還要設法去賺錢，他們該是何等地辛苦費力呢?" 這樣理智的思考是在他遭受了這一點小小的辛苦後引起的，對他的心理影響很大，使他知道努力，從此以後成為一個節儉的人。至少每個人會承認，要使一個人花費有節製，最好是有一個日常開銷的賬目，以使他隨時了解自己的財務狀況。

 

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