第4章 生而为赢

Ambition

约瑟夫·爱泼斯坦 / Joseph Epstein

It is not difficult to imagine a world short of ambition. It would probably be a kinder world： without demands， without abrasions， without disappointments. People would have time for reflection. Such work as they did would not be for themselves but for the collective. Competition would never enter in. Conflict would be eliminated， tension would become a thing of the past. The stress of creation would be at an end. Art would no longer be troubling， but purely celebratory in its functions. The family would become superfluous as a social unit， with all its former power for bringing about neurosis drained away. Longevity would be increased， for fewer people would die of heart attack or stroke caused by tumultuous endeavor. Anxiety would be extinct. Time would stretch on and on， with ambition long departed from the human heart.

Ah， how unrelievedly boring life would be！

There is a strong view that holds that success is a myth， and ambition therefore a sham. Does this mean that success does not really exist？ That achievement is at bottom empty？ That the efforts of men and women are of no significance alongside the force of movements and events？ Now not all success， obviously， is worth esteeming， nor all ambition worth cultivating. Which are and which are not is something one soon enough learns on one’s own. But even the most cynical secretly admit that success exists； that achievement counts for a great deal； and that the true myth is that the actions of men and women are useless. To believe otherwise is to take on a point of view that is likely to be deranging. It is， in its implications， to remove all motives for competence， interest in attainment， and regard for posterity.

We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch， the country of our birth or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing. We do not， most of us， choose to die； nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death. But within all this realm of choicelessness， we do choose how we shall live： courageously or in cowardice， honorably or dishonorably， with purpose or in drift. We decide what is important and what is trivial in life. We decide that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. But no matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions， these choices and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide and choose， so are our lives formed. In the end， forming our own destiny is what ambition is about.

假如世界上的每个人都没有抱负，会怎么样呢？不难想象，或许这个世界会更加和善，无欲无求，没有纷争摩擦，人们有充裕的时间反思；工作不是为了个人私欲，而是为了集体的利益；世间再无竞争，冲突也会消除，紧张的生活将成为历史，压力将不复存在；艺术不再让人厌烦，其功能将纯粹是为了举办庆典；作为社会单位的家庭及其所带来的精神伤痛也将荡然无存；人们也会愈加长寿，很少人会死于因过度劳累而引发的心脏病或中风；焦虑将远离人们的生活；时间将无止境地延长，因为人们不再胸怀抱负。

啊，那样的人生该多么的乏味空虚啊！

如今，人们都说，成功是一个神话，所以抱负更是虚幻无形。这难道是说成功非真实存在？而成就也只是一场空？与星体运转和宇宙事件相比，全人类的种种努力都是微不足道的吗？显然，不是所有的成功都值得称道，不是所有的雄心壮志都应得到滋养。一个人很快就能自然学会选择，哪些值得，哪些不值得。然而，就连最愤世嫉俗的人也承认成功的确存在；成就的意义举足轻重；真正的神话存在于那些碌碌无为者的无用之举。否认成功的存在，就等于接受了一种容易让人混淆的观点。这种观点实际上暗含着，要根除所有提高能力的动机，泯灭追求成功的兴趣，并消除对子孙的关注。

我们无法选择出身和父母，也无法选择出生的历史时期、国家或成长环境。我们中的大部分人都不能选择死亡，更不能选择死亡的时间或者条件。但是，在这些无法选择的领域，我们可以选择怎样活着：是勇敢无畏地活着，还是战战兢兢地生存；是活得光明磊落，还是卑鄙无耻；是目标坚定，还是得过且过。我们要权衡生活中的轻重缓急，选择让生命更具意义的事，决定要做或拒绝做的事。但是，不论世界如何漠视我们所作出的选择，那些的确都是我们自己作出的决定。总之，我们的抉择，构成了我们的生活，我们命运的构筑正取决于抱负的全部内容。

1. People would have_______for reflection. Such work as they did would not be_____themselves but for the collective. Competition would_______enter in. Conflict would be eliminated， tension become a_______of the past.

2. There is a strong_______that holds that success is a myth， and ambition therefore a sham. Does this_______that success does not really exist？ That achievement is at bottom empty？

3. But no_______how indifferent the universe_______be to our choices and decisions， these choices and decisions are ours to_______. We decide. We choose. And as we decide and_______， so are our lives formed. In the _______， forming our own destiny is what ambition is_______.

1. 焦虑将远离人们的生活；时间将无止境地延长，因为人们不再胸怀抱负。

2. 那样的人生该多么的乏味空虚啊！

3. 总之，我们的抉择，构成了我们的生活，我们命运的构筑正取决于抱负的全部内容。

1. It is not difficult to imagine a world short of ambition.

short of：缺乏

2. To believe otherwise is to take on a point of view that is likely to be deranging.

on a point of：关于……的问题