世界上最富哲理的美文 第26章 快樂不必認真 (1)
    TheImportanceofDoingThingsBadly

    Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.

    1.enhance[in'hɑ:ns]v.提高,增加,加強

    2.fallacy['f?l?si:]n.謬誤;謬見;謬論

    3.proverbial[pr?'v?:bi?l]adj.諺語的,聞名的,諺語式的

    4.legitimate[li'd?itimit]adj.合法的,婚生的,正當的

    5.contemptible[k?n'tempt?b?l]adj.可鄙的

    6.prevalence['prev?l?nt]n.流行,盛行;流行程度;普遍,廣泛

    7.vainglorious[ve?n?gl?:ri:?s]adj.虛榮的

    8.inferior[in'fi?ri?]adj.下等的;差的;下級的

    9.disposition[,disp?'zi??n]n.性情,處理,處置

    10.hesitation[,hez?'te???n]n.躊躇,猶豫;口吃;含糊

    I.A.WilliamswasborninEnglandandeducatedatCambridge.AfterWorldWarIheservedasacorrespondentfortheLondonTimes.Williamswroteseveralbooksoneighteenth-centurypoetryanddrama,publishedwidelyinjournalsandmagazines,andpublishedcollectionsofhisownpoetry.ThefollowingarticlefirstappearedinLondon』sTheOutlookin1923.

    Perhapsthegreatestthreattoproductivityinbothworkandplayisthefearofdoingthingsbadlyorwrong.Thisarticleofferssomecomfort.Williamspointsoutthattherearemanythingsworthdoingbadly,andthatourlivesareenrichedandourpersonalitiesenhancedbytheseactivities.Twocentralexamples,sportsandmusic,arevaluabletomostpeopleinproportiontohowenthusiasticallytheydothem,ratherthanhowwell.

    CharlesLambwroteaseriesofessaysuponpopularfallacies.Idonot,atthemoment,carrythemveryclearlyinmymemory;but,unlessthattreacherousservantmisleadsmemoreeventhansheusuallydoes,hedidnotwriteofonepieceofproverbialso-calledwisdomthathasalwaysseemedtometobepeculiarlypernicious.Andthissaw,thisscrapofspeciousadvice,thisuntruthmasqueradingaslogic,isonethatIremembertohavehadhurledatmyheadatfrequentintervalsfrommyearliestyouthrightuptomypresentadvancedage.HowmanytimeshaveInotbeentoldthat「Ifathingisworthdoingatall,itisworthdoingwell」?

    Neverwasthereamoreuntruthfulwordspokeninearnest.Fortheworldisfullofthingsthatareworthdoing,butcertainlynotworthdoingwell.WasitnotsogreatasageasHerbertSpencerwhosaidtotheyoungmanwhohadjustbeatenhimatbilliards,「Moderateskill,sir,isthesignofagoodeyeandasteadyhand,butskillsuchasyoursarguesayouthmisspent?」Isanygameworthplayingsupremelywell,atthepriceofconstantpracticeandapplication?

    AgainsttheprofessionalplayerIsaynothing;heisapublicentertainer,likeanyother,andbyhisskillinhisparticularsportheatleastfulfillsthefirstsocialdutyofman—thatofsupportinghimselfandhisfamilybyhisownlegitimateexertions.Butwhatistobesaidofthecrackamateur?Tomeheseemsoneofthemostcontemptibleofmankind.Heearnsnomoney,butdevoteshimself,forthemereselfishpleasureofthething,tosomegame,whichheplaysdayindayout;hebreaksdownthesalutarydistinctionbetweentheamateurandtheprofessional;eventuallyhisskilldesertshim,andheleavesbehindhimnothingthatisofservicetohisfellowmen—notabricklaid,notanacreploughed,notalinewritten,notevenafamilysupportedandeducatedbyhislabor.

    Itistruethathehasprovidedentertainmentforacertainnumberofpersons,buthehasneverhadtheplucktosubmithimselftothetestbywhichwedemandthateveryentertainershouldjustifyhischoiceofacalling—thedemonstrationofthefactthatthepubliciswillingtopayhimforhisentertainment.And,whenhisdayisover,whatisleft,noteventotheworld,buttohimself?Nothingbutanamethatisatonceforgotten,orisrememberedbystoutgentlemeninclubs.

    Theplayingofgames,certainly,isathingwhichisnotworthdoingwell.Butthatdoesnotprovethatitisnotworthdoingatall,astheproverbwould,byimplication,persuadeus.Thereisnothingmoreagreeableandsalutarythanplayingagamewhichonelikes,andthecircumstanceofdoingitbadlyinterfereswiththepleasureofnorealdevoteeofanypastime.Themanwhomindswhetherornothewinsisnotruesportsman—whichobservationistrite,buttheruleitimpliesisseldomobserved,andcomparativelyfewpeoplereallyplaygamesforthesheerenjoymentoftheplaying.Isthisnotprovedbytheprevalenceandpopularityofhandicaps?Whyshouldweexpecttobegivenpointsunlessitbethatwewishtowinbymeansotherthanourownskill?
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