英语名篇诵读 论快乐

On Pleasure

论快乐

Epicurus(伊比鸠鲁)

Since pleasure is the first good and natural to us, for this very reason we do not choose every

pleasure, but sometimes we pass over many pleasures, when greater discomfort¹ accrues² to us as

the result of them, and similarly we think many pains better than pleasures, since a greater

pleasure comes to us when we have endured pains for a long time. Every pleasure then because of

its natural kinship to us is good, yet not every pleasure is to be chosen; even as every pain also

is an evil, yet not all are always of a nature to be avoided. Yet by a scale of comparison and

by the consideration of advantages and disadvantages we must form our judgment³ on all these

matters. For the good on certain occasions we treat as bad, and conversely the bad as good.

We must consider that of desires some are natural, others vain, and of the natural some are

necessary and others merely natural; and of the necessary some are necessary for happiness, others

for the repose⁴ of the body, and others for very life.

Unhappiness comes either through fear or through vain and unbridled desire; but if a man

curbs⁵ these, he can win for himself the blessedness of understanding. Of desires, all that do not

lead to a sense of pain, if they are not satisfied,are not necessary, but involve a craving⁶ which is

easily dispelled⁷, when the object is hard to procure⁸ or they seem likely to produce harm.

The disturbance⁹ of the soul cannot be ended nor true joy created either by the possession of

the greatest wealth or by honor and respect in the eyes of the mob or by anything else that is

associated with causes of unlimited¹⁰ desires. We must not violate nature, but obey her; and we

shall obey her if we fulfill¹¹ the necessary desires and also the natural, if they bring no harm to us,

but sternly reject the harmful. The man who follows nature and not vain opinions is

independent in all things. For in reference to what is enough for nature every possession is riches,

but in reference to unlimited desires even the greatest wealth is not riches but poverty.

Insofar as you are in difficulties, it is because you forget nature; for you create for yourself

unlimited fears and desires. It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a

golden couch and a rich table and be full of trouble.

快乐是至善的，是人的自然追求，正是由于这个原因，我们不选择每一种快乐，反

而，当乐极生悲给我们带来极大痛苦时，我们有时会躲避许多乐事。同样，我们认为许多

痛苦比快乐更好，因为在我们长期遭受痛苦之后，我们会感受到更大的快乐。因其同我们

的自然联系，每一种快乐都是善的，但并不是每一种快乐都是可取的；正像每一种痛苦都

是恶的，但并不是每一种痛苦都应加以躲避。然而利用鉴别的尺度，通过权衡利弊，我们

必须对这些事情做出自己的判断。在某些场合，我们把好的当作坏的，反之，也把坏的当

作好的。

我们必须考虑到，对于欲望，有些是自然的，另一些是徒劳的；对于自然的欲望，有

些是必需的，另一些只是自然的；对于必需的欲望，有些是获得幸福所必需的，另一些是

身体安康所必需的，还有一些是生活本身所必需的。

愁苦要么源于恐惧，要么源自无益的毫无节制的欲望；若能对此加以克制，人便能为

自己赢得彻悟人生的至福。就欲望而言，所有若不能得到满足也不会导致痛苦的欲望都是

不需要的，而当其所求之目标难以实现或似乎有可能带来危害时，此类欲望随即烟消云

散。

拥有巨额财富，或被芸芸众生敬若神明，或与无节制的欲望相关的任何事业，都不能

消除心灵的烦恼，也不能创造真正的快乐。我们不可悖逆天性，而应顺性而为。如果我们

要实现必需的、自然的欲望，并且这些欲望对我们无害，我们必须遵从天性，但要断然拒

绝有害的东西。顺性而不为妄言蛊惑者，可独立于天地之间。凡满足天性者，一点一滴便

足以使人富有；而若是填补欲壑，纵然是万贯家财，所带来的也不是富有，而是贫困。

你之所以身处困境，是因为你忘记了天性，是因为你为自己创造了无尽的恐惧和欲

望。与其弄一张金光闪闪的长沙发和豪华的桌子，忧心忡忡，倒不如躺在简易床铺上，无

忧无虑。

1 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

2 accrues   

v.增加( accrue的第三人称单数 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累

参考例句：

• If you put money in the bank, interest accrues. 如你将钱存于银行，则自然生息。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Interest accrues on a bank accout. 银行账户的利息在增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 repose   

v.(使)休息；n.安息

参考例句：

• Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
• Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

5 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

6 craving   

n.渴望,热望

参考例句：

• a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
• She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。

7 dispelled   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
• The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

9 disturbance   

n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调

参考例句：

• He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
• You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。

10 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

11 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。