名篇背诵：Of Avarice (Ⅱ) 论贪婪(二)

Of Avarice (Ⅱ) 论贪婪(二)

大卫·休谟(David Hume)

The best excuse that can be made for avarice is, that it generally prevails in old men, or in men of cold tempers, where all the other affections are extinct ; and the mind being incapable of remaining without some passion or pursuit, at last finds out this monstrously absurd one, which suits the coldness and inactivity of its temper. At the same time, it seems very extraordinary, that so frosty, spiritless a passion should be able to carry us further than all the warmth of youth and pleasure. But if we look more narrowly into the matter, we shall find, that this very circumstance renders the explication of the case more easy. When the temper is warm and full of vigour, it naturally shoots out more ways than one, and produces inferior passions to counterbalance , in some degree, its predominant inclination. It is impossible for a person of that temper, however bent on any pursuit, to be deprived of all sense of shame, or all regard to sentiments of mankind . His friends must have some influence over him; and other considerations are apt to have their weight. All this serves to restrain him within some bounds. But it is no wonder that the avaricious man, being, from the coldness of his temper, without regard to reputation, to friendship, or to pleasure, should be carried so far by his prevailing inclination, and should display his passion in such surprising instances.

- prevail [prɪˈveɪl] v. 流行于，盛行于

- extinct [ɪkˈstɪŋkt] a. 灭绝的，熄灭的

- counterbalance [ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns] v. 使平衡

be deprived of 被剥夺，丧失了

sentiments of mankind 人类的思想感情

贪婪的人多是些老人，或者是些性格冰冷的人，这些人的一切其他情感都已熄灭，而大脑又不能没有一些情感与爱好，终于发现了一种叫贪婪的怪诞东西，适合他们冰冷呆滞的性情。同时，似乎异乎寻常的是，如此冷若冰霜、死气沉沉的情感，比青春的热情和欢乐，更能激发我们，使我们走得更远。但如果我们更深入细致地考察这件事，就会发现，正是这种事实使得解释这种情况更加容易。热血沸腾的性格、充满活力的性格，自然会多方面地展示出来，从而产生若干次要的情感，在某种程度上抵消占统治地位的情感倾向。对于有上述性情的人来说，不可能染上一种爱好，使他失去羞耻心，或使他不顾人类的各种情感。何况他的朋友们也会对他有影响，其他方面的考虑也会有分量、起作用。这一切会约束他在一定的界限范围内。贪婪者冰冷的性格，不顾名声，不懂友谊，不求爱好，无疑会走上极端，把贪欲表现得令人吃惊。

大卫·休谟(1711—1776)，英国哲学家、历史学家，最伟大的英国经验主义学者。他的杰作《人性论》(A Treatise of Human Nature )成书于其23—25岁。他的《政治论文选》(Political Essays )使他赢得了经济学家的声誉，超过了同时代的亚当·斯密。