Learning to Get Out of the Way
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1. infinite ['infin？t] adj. 無限的，無窮的
2. profound [pr？u'faund] adj. 深厚的；意義深遠的
3. egotism ['i：ɡ？tiz？m] n. 自負
4. devise [di'vaiz] v. 設計；想出
5. intrinsically [in'trinsik？li] adv. 本質地
6. hygiene ['haid？i：n] n. 衛生；衛生學
In every one of the higher religions there is a strain of infinite optimism on the one hand， and on the other， of a profound pessimism. In the depths of our being， they all teach， there is an inner high—but an inner Light which our egotism keeps， for most of the time， in a state of more or less complete eclipse. If， however， it so desires， the ego can get out of the way， so to speak， can dis-eclipse the Light and become identified with its divine source. Hence the unlimited optimism of the traditional religions. Their pessimism springs from the observed fact that， though all are called， few are chosen—for the sufficient reason that few choose to be chosen.
To me， this older conception of man’s nature and destiny seems more realistic， more nearly in accord with the given facts， than any form of modern utopianism.
In the Lord’s Prayer we are taught to ask for the blessing which consists in not being led into temptation. The reason is only too obvious. When temptations are very great or unduly prolonged， most persons succumb to them. To devise a perfect social order is probably beyond our powers； but I believe that it is perfectly possible for us to reduce the number of dangerous temptations to a level far below that which is tolerated at the present time.
A society so arranged that there shall be a minimum of dangerous temptations—this is the end towards which， as a citizen， I have to strive. In my efforts to that end， I can make use of a great variety of means. Do good ends justify the use of intrinsically bad means？ On the level of theory， the point can be argued indefinitely. In practice， meanwhile， I find that the means employed invariably determine the nature of the end achieved. Indeed， as Mahatma Gandhi was never tired of insisting， the means are the end in its preliminary stages. Men have put forth enormous efforts to make their world a better place to live in； but except in regard to gadgets， plumbing and hygiene， their success has been pathetically small. “Hell，” as the proverb has it， “is paved with good intentions.” And so long as we go on trying to realize our ideals by bad or merely inappropriate means， our good intentions will come to the same bad ends. In this consists the tragedy and the irony of history.
Can I， as an individual， do anything to make future history a little less tragic and less ironic than history past and present？ I believe I can. As a citizen， I can use all my intelligence and all my good will to develop political means that shall be of the same kind and quality as the ideal ends which I am trying to achieve. And as a person， as a psychophysical organism， I can learn how to get out of the way， so that the divine source of my life and consciousness can come out of eclipse and shine through me.
每種高級宗教的信仰都包含兩種對立的存在：一種是無窮的樂觀精神，另一種是深刻的悲觀主義。它們告訴我們，人類的自負多多少少遮蓋了存在於自身的一道光芒，這道光芒就存在於每個人的心靈深處。然而，隻要我們願意做，我們就可以讓自負遠離自己，或者說，重新讓這道光芒閃現出來，並與創造它的神融合為一體，於是傳統宗教的樂觀主義就產生了。盡管每個人都受到了召喚，然而因為很少有人願意被選中，所以也就隻有很少的一部分人受到青睞，於是悲觀主義就產生了。
我認為，比任何形式的現代烏托邦主義更現實、更符合既成事實的就是更加古老的人性和命運的觀念。
顯而易見的是，假如**很大或持續的時間過長，大多數人就會屈從。因此，主禱文告訴我們，要祈求上帝的保佑，不要讓自己被**牽著鼻子走。或許，營造一個完美的社會秩序超出了我們的能力範圍。然而，我相信，把危險的**降到我們當前的能力範圍之內，是完全有可能實現的。
作為一個社會公民，我們應該樹立這樣的目標：構建一個能把危險**降到最低程度的社會。我們可以使用各種方式去實現這個目標。然而，是否因為目標是正當的，我們就可以使用本質上並不正當的手段呢？對於這個問題，我們在理論上可以廣泛地發表自己的看法。然而，我發現，我們使用的手段無一例外地決定了所實現目標的本質。正如馬哈特瑪·甘地孜孜不倦地強調：“手段是目標的初始階段。”為了把自己生活的世界建設得更美好，人們付出了巨大的努力，然而，除了小工具、管道和衛生之外，取得的成就真是少之又少。正如一句諺語所說的那樣：“通往地獄的道路是用善意鋪成的。”然而，隻要我們意識到我們使用的手段是卑劣的，或僅僅是不當的，卻還要試圖繼續下去，那麽善意同樣會導致惡果，並成為具有諷刺意味的悲劇。
我個人能否做些事情，讓未來的曆史少一些當前和已成曆史的所有悲劇和諷刺味道呢？我相信，我能夠做到。作為一個公民，我能夠運用自己所有的智慧和美好的願望，形成與所要實現的理想目標具有相同性質的政治手段。作為一個擁有靈魂與肉體的人，我能夠從自負中掙脫出來，讓給予生命和意識的神的光芒重現，照亮我的全身。
真正的自由往往受到一定的約束和限製，要麽是法律上的，要麽是道義上的。學會擺脫自負，既是解決人生問題的重要工具，也是消除人生痛苦的重要手段。隻有這樣，我們才會以堅強、果敢的態度，讓生命之光照耀心靈。
真正的自由往往受到一定的約束和限製，要麽是法律上的，要麽是道義上的。學會擺脫自負，既是解決人生問題的重要工具，也是消除人生痛苦的重要手段。隻有這樣，我們才會以堅強、果敢的態度，讓生命之光照耀心靈。
Seize Your Time
According to the speech， match each of the following verbs with its
meaning.
(1) profound a. of the greatest intensity
(2) egotism b. a condition promoting sanitary practices
(3) devise c. an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
(4) intrinsically d. come up with
(5) hygiene e. with respect to its inherent nature
Practicing for Better Learning
Please fill in the blanks with the proper words according to the given
sentences.
1. Healthy self-respect should not be confused with_.
健全的自尊與以自我為中心截然不同。
2. Mathematical models are especially convenient to_.
數學模型特別容易設計。
3. Her parents’divorce had a _ effect on her life.
她父母的離異對她的生活有很深的影響。
Now a Try
How to get out of the way？