Of studies
[ 2006-04-04 15:30 ]
“讀史使人明智，讀詩使人靈秀，數學使人周密，科學使人深刻，倫理學使人莊重……”英國哲學家弗朗西斯·培根對于學習的觀點可謂精辟獨到。學習是一門藝術，怎樣才能學的精，學的好，培根的這篇《論學習》讓你明白：其實懂得學習也是一門大智慧。
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for
ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for
ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition
of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one
by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come
best, from those that are learned.
To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for
ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor
of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural
abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by study; and studies
themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded
in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise
men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without
them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute;
nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to
weigh and consider.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be
chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to
be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence
and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them
by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the
meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters,
flashy things. Reading maketh (makes) a full man; conference a ready man; and
writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a
great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he
read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not.
Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural
philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia
in mores.
Nay there is no stand or impendiment in the wit, but may be
wrought（work的過去分詞）out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have
appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the
lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the
like. So if a man''s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in
demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again.
If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the
schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores（吹毛求疵之人）. If he be not apt to beat over
matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study
the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special
receipt.
（中國日報網站編譯）
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