Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature

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Essay：Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature Author：Francis Bacon I take goodness in this sense, the affecting of the weal of men, which is that the Grecians call philanthropia; and the word humanity, (as it is used) is a little too light to express it. Goodness I call the habit, and goodness of nature, the inclination. This of all virtues, and dignities of the mind, is the greatest; being the character of the Deity: and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing; no better than a kind of vermin. Goodness answers to the theological virtue, charity, and admits no excess, but error. The desire of power in excess, caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess, caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess; neither can angel, nor man, come in danger by it. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island, cut off from other lands, but a continent, that joins to them. If he be compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like the noble tree, that is wounded itself, when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons, and remits offences, it shows that his mind is planted above injuries; so that he cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shows that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash. 论善良 作者：培根 翻译：黄俊雄 我认为善良的定义就是有利于人类。这也就是古希腊人所谓“仁”（Philanthropia），或者“人道精神”（humanity），但意义还要深。善良，还不仅是一种慈善的行为。前者反映本质，后者则只是现象。善良，这是人类的一切精神和道德品格中最伟大的一种。因为上帝本身就是“善良”。如果人不具有这种品格，他就不过只是卑贱的鼠辈，既可憎又可怜。 这种行善的品格也许会看错对象，但永远不会过分。过分的权势欲曾使得撒旦堕落成魔鬼,过分的求知欲也曾使人类的祖先失去乐园, 但唯有善良的品格，无论对于神或人，都永远不会成为过分的东西。 如果一个人对外邦人也能温和有礼，那么他就可以被称作一个“世界的公民”，他的心与五洲四海是相通的。如果他对其他人的痛苦不幸有同情之心，那他的心必定十分美好，犹如那能流出汁液为人治伤痛的珍贵树木，宁可自己受伤害也要助人。如果他能原谅宽容别人的冒犯，就证明他的心灵乃是超越于一切伤害之上的。如果他并不轻视别人对他的微小帮助，那就证明他更重视的乃是人心而不是钱财。 /> 林贝卡 2008 夏 于美国