Chapter 30 Gnome Words -1

dwarf words Akutagawa Ryunosuke Preface to "The Word of the Dwarf" "The Word of the Dwarf" may not be able to express my thoughts.It merely enables one to observe the changes of my thoughts from time to time.It was not so much a blade of grass as it was a vine—and the vine might be growing several knots. star There is nothing new under the sun, as the ancients said.But nothing new is not just under the sun. According to the theory of astronomers, it takes 36,000 years for the light emitted by the constellation Hercules to reach our earth.However, as far as the Hercules constellation is concerned, it cannot shine forever.Maybe at some point it will lose its beautiful brilliance like a pile of cold ashes.Not only that, but death always breeds life.The constellation Hercules, which has lost its brilliance, wanders in the sky, and once the right time is given, it will turn into a nebula again.As a result, new stars were born there one after another.

Compared with the vastness of the universe, the sun is just a spark of fire, not to mention our earth.But at the far end of the universe, what is happening near the Milky Way is actually no different from what is happening on this mud ball.Life and death are under the laws of motion and are in a constant cycle.When I think of these things, I can't help feeling a lot of sympathy for the countless stars scattered in the sky.No, I think the twinkling stars are expressing the same feelings as us.It is at this point that the psalmist first sings of this truth: Countless stars like fine sand wink at me.

However, the stars may not experience ups and downs like us - although they may be lonely. nose If Cleopatra's nose had been crooked, the history of the world might have been changed accordingly.This is the aphorism of the famous Pascal.However, most lovers ignore the truth.Well, our self-deception, when we fall in love, becomes the most complete self-deception. ① Cleopatra (69-30 BC), the queen of ancient Egypt, inherited the throne in 51 BC and was expelled.In 48 BC became the lover of the Roman statesman Julius Caesar (c. 100-44 BC) and was restored to the throne.After Qiaosa's death, she fell in love with Antony (82-30 BC), one of the three giants of the Roman Empire. After Anthony failed in the naval battle of Aktion, he followed Anthony and committed suicide.

② Pascal (1623-1662), a French religious thinker, physicist, and mathematician. Anthony was no exception, assuming Cleopatra's nose was crooked, he would probably try not to look at her.And when you have to look at the crooked nose, you will also use other strengths to make up for its shortcomings.Speaking of other strengths, as far as our lovers in the world are concerned, there must be no women who can possess many strengths.Antony, like us, must find more than enough compensation from Cleopatra's eyes and lips.Plus "Her Mind"!In fact, the women we love have been the owners of endless beautiful hearts throughout the ages.Not only that, but her clothes, or her property, or her social position--these will be her strengths.What's more, being loved by a celebrity in the past, even rumors of gossip, can also be counted as one of the strengths.And isn't Cleopatra the last queen of Egypt full of luxury and mystery?As long as the crown jewels shone brightly and teased lotuses amidst the cigarette smoke, no one would notice that the nose was more or less crooked, let alone Antony's eyes!

Our self-deception is not confined to one love affair.Apart from some of our differences, we are all, for the most part, distorting truths to our liking.In the case of a dentist's billboard, what catches our eye is not so much the presence of the billboard itself as the desire to have one—and, furthermore, isn't it because we have toothaches?Although our toothaches probably have little to do with world history.But this kind of self-deception is bound to happen to politicians who want to know the hearts of the people, soldiers who want to know the enemy, or businessmen who want to know the economic situation, etc.I do not deny the existence of an intellect that modifies this.At the same time, I also admit the existence of "accidents" that govern all kinds of human affairs.However, all enthusiasm tends to forget the existence of reason. "Accidentally" can be said to be God's will.In this way, it is also unknown that our self-deception should be the most enduring force shaping world history.

In short, the history of more than two thousand years is not determined by the nose of a tiny Cleopatra.Rather, it is influenced by the ignorance of the people who exist everywhere on the earth.Ridiculous indeed—actually swayed by the solemn ignorance of men. Slim fit Morality is a synonym for convenience, similar to "left-hand traffic." The gift of morality is the saving of time and labour.The damage morality inflicts is the paralysis of the whole conscience. Those who blindly oppose morality lack economic concepts.A person who blindly submits to morality is either a coward or an idler.

The morality that governs us is the morality of the feudal era that was pernicious in capitalist society.We have suffered little favor other than harm. The strong may be the ravages of morality.The weak may be receiving moral caresses.It is often the strong and the weak who suffer moral persecution. Morality often wears old clothes. Conscience does not grow with age like our whiskers.In order to have a conscience, people still need some training. More than nine-tenths of the citizens of a country have never had a conscience in their entire lives. Our tragedies are due to youth, or lack of training, and before we have grasped our conscience, we have been blamed by shameless people.

Our comedy, through youth, or lack of training, finds it difficult to grasp conscience after being censured by unscrupulous people. Conscience is serious fun. Conscience may create morality.But morality has not even created the word "good conscience". Conscience, like all tastes, is in the hands of morbid lovers.Nine out of ten such lovers are intelligent aristocrats or rich people. likes and dislikes We love old hedonism as much as old wine.It is neither good nor evil that determines our actions.It is our likes and dislikes, or happiness and unhappiness.I can only think so. So why do we take the initiative to dive into the water to rescue a child who is about to drown in the freezing cold weather?Because saving is a joy.So what is the basis for avoiding the unhappiness of going into the water and rescuing the children for happiness?is to choose greater happiness.However, physical happiness and unhappiness and spiritual happiness and unhappiness should not be measured according to the same yardstick.No, the two pleasures and unhappiness are not entirely incompatible.Rather, just like salt water and fresh water, they can be blended together.Gentlemen in the Keihan ① area who have not received spiritual upbringing now, after drinking turtle soup, eating eel with rice, isn't it considered the supreme happiness?And there are carnal pleasures in water and cold, as can be seen from swimming in the cold.Anyone who doubts this aspect of the situation may consider the situation of the masochist.The accursed masochism is the apparent inversion of this physical pleasure and unhappiness, to which is added a habitual tendency.Some Christian saints like asceticism on the cross, and some love to be martyred in fire. I believe they all probably suffer from masochism.

① Keihan is the abbreviation of Kyoto and Osaka. Our actions are determined, as the ancient Greeks said, only by likes and dislikes.We should draw our greatest nourishment from the fountain of life. "Don't put on a sad face like the Pharisees." Didn't Jesus say the same?After all, the wise man can make the rose flower bloom on the road of thorns. ②The Pharisees were members of a faction of ancient Judaism who advocated observance of the Law of Moses and punished those who violated it.Jesus denounced them as inconsequential hypocrites. gnome's prayer I am a dwarf who is content to be happy as long as he wears colorful clothes, performs somersaults, and enjoys peace.Pray that my wish will be granted.

Please don't make me poor without a grain of rice.Please don't make me so rich that I'm tired of eating bear's paws. I pray that the women picking mulberry will not hate me. I pray that all the beauties in the harem will not favor me. I pray that I will not be so ignorant that we can't distinguish between weed and weed.Please don't make me smart enough to read the stars. Please don't let me become a brave hero.I often now dream of reaching unreachable peaks and crossing unsurmountable oceans—dreams that make the impossible possible.Whenever this kind of dream occurs, I don't feel terrible.I'm struggling with a dream fight like fighting a dragon.Please don't make me a hero——don't let me have the desire to be a hero, protect this powerless me!

I am a dwarf who is content and happy as long as I get drunk with the new year's wine, recite the song of golden hazel, and live this beautiful life. mysticism Mysticism did not decline because of civilization. It should be said that civilization has made mysticism make great progress. The ancients believed that our human ancestor was Adam, and in this sense it can be said to believe in "Genesis".Today, even middle school students believe in monkeys. In this sense, it can be said that they believe in Darwin's writings.That is to say, there is no difference between modern people and ancient people when it comes to believing in books.And the ancients at least read Genesis.Except for a few experts today, although they have not read Darwin's works, they calmly believe in this theory.It is no more glorious to believe that monkeys are ancestors than to believe that the dust breathed by the Lord, Adam, is the ancestor.However, people today feel at ease with this belief. ① See "Old Testament Genesis" Chapter 2, Section 7: "The Lord God formed man out of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living being with a spirit named Adam." This is not evolution.Even the earth is round, and there are very few people who really know it.Most people are subtly influenced to believe that they are round.If you ask why it is round, then in fact no one, from the prime minister to the small staff, can answer it. One more example can be given.No one today believes in the existence of ghosts like the ancients did, but people often hear people say they have seen ghosts.So why not believe it?For those who see ghosts are bound by superstition.So why the fascination with superstition?Because I saw a ghost.Today's theory is nothing more than the so-called circular theory. What's more, the core problem is based on belief.Our reason does not rely on our ears.Well, only something beyond reason is aided by the ear.What is it? —I didn't even find a proper name until I talked about something.If you are forced to name it, roses, fish, candles, etc., all use symbols.Take our hat as an example.Just as we wear bonnets and top hats instead of feathered hats, we believe that our ancestors were monkeys, that ghosts do not exist, that the earth is round.For those who think this is a lie, think about the popularity of Dr. Einstein and the theory of relativity in Japan.This is a collection of mysticism.It is an incomprehensibly solemn ceremony.Why are they so fanatical, even the president of the Rehabilitation Club ② probably doesn’t know. ②Mihiko Yamamoto (1885-1952), a Japanese publisher and essayist, founded the Reform Society and published the magazine Reform. That is to say, the great mystic was neither Swedenborg ③ nor Bermer ④.The people of our civilization, in fact.At the same time, our beliefs are not used to decorate Mitsukoshi's window.What governs our beliefs is often an elusive fad.Or likes and dislikes that are close to divine will.In fact, it gives us some satisfaction to think that the ancestors of Xi Shi and Lord Longyang were also monkeys. ③ Swedenborg (1688-1772), Swedish scientist and mystic thinker. ④Bermey (1757-1824), German mystical thinker. Free Will and Fatalism In any case, if we believe in fate, since the sin no longer exists, the meaning of punishment will also be lost, so our attitude towards sinners must be lenient.On the contrary, if we believe in free will, due to the concept of responsibility, we will get rid of the paralysis of conscience, and our attitude towards ourselves will inevitably become serious.So which is better to follow? I would like to answer calmly: half believe in free will and half believe in fatalism; or half doubt free will and half doubt fatalism.why?For do we not marry our wives according to the fatalism we carry?At the same time, aren't we not buying the coat and belt that our wife needs according to the free will we have given ourselves? Not just free will and fatalism, but gods and demons, beauty and ugliness, bravery and cowardice, reason and faith—everything else on the opposite side of the scale should adopt this attitude.The ancients called this attitude the mean.The mean is good sense in English. According to my opinion, if you do not rely on good sense, you will not get any happiness.Even if you can get it, it's just the kind of happiness that you bite the bullet and enjoy while guarding the charcoal fire under the scorching red sun and waving a round fan in the severe cold. children Soldiers are almost children.Love the heroic gesture, love the so-called glory, there is no need to talk about it here now.Respecting mechanical training and valuing animal-like courage is a phenomenon that can only be seen in elementary schools.Slaughtering recklessly is no different from that of a child.Especially similar to children, as soon as they are encouraged by trumpets and military songs, they will fight against the enemy without asking why. Therefore, what soldiers boast about must be similar to children's toys.Crimson leather armor and pickaxe-shaped helmets are not for grown-up tastes.The same goes for the medals - it's actually quite incomprehensible to me.Why don't soldiers get drunk in wine, but march forward with medals? arms Justice and weapons are similar.As long as the weapon is paid, it can be bought by the enemy or our side.As long as there is reason for justice, it can be bought by the enemy or by our side.Since ancient times, the names of "enemies of justice" have been thrown around like cannonballs.However, due to rhetorical deceit, there is no clear example of who is the enemy of justice. Japanese workers were ordered to leave Panama simply because they were born Japanese.This is against justice.According to newspaper reports, the United States should of course be called the "enemy of justice."But Chinese workers were ordered to leave Senju simply because they were born Chinese.This is also against justice.According to Japanese newspaper reports - no, Japan has often been "the side of justice" for two thousand years.Justice seems to have never had a conflict with Japan's interests. ①Refers to the 1913 resolution passed by the California State Legislature in the United States, and the immigration law that excludes Chinese is also applicable to Japan. ②Senju is an industrial and commercial area in Tokyo. The weapons themselves aren't worth being scary.What is terrible is the tricks of warriors.Justice itself is not worth being terrible.Terrible is the eloquence of a demagogue.Empress Wu disregarded the world and ruthlessly trampled on justice.However, when Li Jingye's rebellion broke out, she couldn't help but turn pale when she read Luo Binwang's proclamation. "A cup of soil is not dry, but a six-foot solitude remains" These two poems are wise sayings that only a genius political agitator can utter. Whenever I read history, I can't help but think of Yushukan①.In the old dark corridors, all kinds of justice are displayed.Those who look like Qinglong swords are probably the justice taught by Confucianism.The knight-like spear is probably the justice taught by Christianity.There is also a thick stick here, presumably socialist justice.There are long swords with tassels hanging there, presumably statist justice.While looking at these weapons, I imagined how many battles would be fought, and I couldn't help but feel frightened.Fortunately or not, however, as far as I can remember, I've never thought of taking up any of these weapons. ① Yushukan is a weapons museum in the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan. Respect the king This is the story of seventeenth-century France.One day, Due de Boufgogne ② asked Abbe choisy ③ such a thing: Charles VI is insane, in order to politely tell him this, what should I say?Abbe replied at once: "If I were to say so bluntly: "Charles VI, you are out of your mind!" ’” Abbe Showwartz regarded this answer as one of the adventures of his life, which he has been proud of ever since. There was such an anecdote in seventeenth-century France, which can be said to be full of the spirit of respecting the king.But Japan in the twentieth century was rich in the spirit of respecting the king, no less than France at that time.Admittedly--very gladly. ② That is, Grand Duke Burgoni. ③ Abbe Showalz (1644-1724), a French writer. creation Artists are presumably always consciously creating their own work.However, judging from the work itself, half of the beauty and ugliness of the work exists in a mysterious world beyond the artist's consciousness.half?Or half better. We are always inexplicably not afraid to ask questions, but afraid to answer.Our thoughts are always inevitably expressed in our own works.Doesn't the cautiousness of the ancients like one knife and one worship ① express the fear of this unconscious state? ①The ancient people in Japan carved Buddha statues, offering one bow and one bow, or three bows with one knife, and the latter is used to describe caution. Creation is often an adventure.In the final analysis, after doing our best, there is no other way but to resign ourselves to fate. It is difficult to learn a language when you are young, but you have not yet completed your Taoism. When I am old, I know that it is not a matter of strength, three parts of personnel and seven parts of heaven. Zhao Zabei's "On Poetry" Qijue may express this view.Art is full of incomprehensible, deep and terrible things.If we are greedy for money, or for fame, and tortured by a pathological desire to create, we may not have the courage to fight against this boring art. ② Zhao Yi (1729-1814), a Chinese historian and writer in the Qing Dynasty.Oubei is his number. appreciation Art appreciation is a collaboration between the artist himself and the connoisseur.It can be said that a connoisseur is just taking a work as a topic and trying to engage in his own creation.Therefore, works that maintain their reputation in any era must have all the characteristics that can be appreciated.However, there are various meanings of possible appreciation, as Anatole France said, because of the ambiguity everywhere, it is not easy to explain it.I would rather say that the peaks of Lushan Mountain are multi-faceted and can be appreciated from all aspects. classical The classical writers are happy because they are dead. again We—or you—are happy because they are dead. disillusioned artist There is a group of artists who live in a world of disillusionment.They don't believe in love, and they don't believe in such a thing as a conscience.Just like the ascetics of old who made their home in the desert of nothing.In this sense it is admittedly poor and unknown.However, the beautiful mirage only occurs in the sky above the desert.Disillusioned with everything in life, they are probably not disillusioned in art.No, as far as art is concerned, golden dreams that ordinary people know nothing about will suddenly appear in the sky.In fact they get an unexpected moment of happiness. to confess Complete self-confession, no matter who can do it.At the same time, I don't confess to myself about any performance, and I can't do it. Rousseau is a man who likes to confess.However, we do not find himself naked in the novel.Merimee is a person who hates self-confession, but doesn't he also talk about himself in "Colomba" in a vague way?In short, the dividing line between confessional literature and other literature is not very clear. Life——To Mr. Ishiguro Singichi ①Ishiguro Sadaichi is a Japanese whom Akutagawa Ryunosuke met in Shanghai when he traveled to China. Anyone would think it was unreasonable to order people who have never learned to swim to swim.If a person has not learned how to run a race, it is unreasonable to order him to run a race.However, from the time we are born, we have accepted this stupid order. When we were in the womb, we were probably learning how to live in the world, right?Maybe it was leaving the mother's womb prematurely and stepping into a life like a big arena.Of course, without those who have learned to swim, it is completely impossible to swim freely.Similarly, those who have never learned how to run a race generally lag behind others.Therefore, it is impossible for us to walk out of the arena of life without trauma. It is true that people in the world may say: "The footprints of the past are the lessons for the king." However, even if you have seen hundreds of swimmers or thousands of runners, you will neither learn to swim nor quickly learn to swim. Learn to race.Not only that, but all the swimmers drank, and the runners without exception got covered in mud in the arena.You see, don't even most of the world's famous players hide their frowns behind their smug smiles? Life is like the Olympics hosted by madmen.We must wrestle with life and learn how to wrestle.Those who can't help being angry at this kind of boring competition, then go outside the railing as soon as possible.Suicide is indeed a convenient method, but those who want to stay in the arena of life must fight without fear of trauma. again Life is like a box of matches, it is foolish not to use it, and it is dangerous to use it indiscriminately. again Life is like a book with many missing pages.It's hard to call it a book, but it is a book. Words from a member of the self-defense team All right, so go to the post of self-defense.Tonight, the stars are shining refreshingly on the treetops, and the breeze is blowing slowly.Come, lie down on this wicker chair, light a manila, and be on the alert all night with ease.If your throat is thirsty, pour some whiskey from the jug.Luckily there was some chocolate candy left in my pocket. listen!The tall treetops seem to be noisy with birds in their nests.The birds are probably not aware of the difficulties of this great earthquake.But our food, clothing and housing are all problematic, and we have suffered all kinds of hardships.No, it's not just food, clothing and housing, but because I can't even drink a glass of lemonade, I have endured a lot of unfreedom.What a cruel and heartless animal this so-called two-legged beast is.Because we have lost civilization, we can only defend life without guarantee like a candle before the wind.look!The birds are already sleeping peacefully.Birds who don't know duvets and pillows! ① Refers to the great earthquake that occurred in the Kanto region of Japan in 1923. Birds have fallen asleep quietly, and their dreams may be sweeter than ours. Birds only live in the present, but we humans still have to live in the past and the future.In this sense the pain of regret and worry must be tasted.Especially this earthquake, what a bleak shadow it has cast on our future!Tokyo is burned, and we are tortured by famine today.Also suffer for tomorrow's famine.Fortunately, the bird is unaware of this pain.No, not only birds, but we are the only ones who understand the pain of the third life. Koizumi Yakumo once said that he would rather be a butterfly than a human being.Speaking of butterflies—then look at the ant!If happiness simply means the absence of pain, then ants may be happier than we are.But we humans know happiness that ants don't.Ants may not commit suicide due to dystocia and lovelorn.However, will there be joyous hope as we do?I still remember that in the old capital of Luoyang, where the moon is slightly exposed, the countless ants who don’t understand even a line of Li Taibai’s poems are really pitiful! But Schopenhauer—oh, to hell with philosophy!We really are not that different from the ants that entered the field.If this is indeed the case, then all human emotions should be valued more highly.Nature just watches our pain with indifference.We should sympathize with each other.Besides, it is easier to like to kill—especially to hang your opponent than to win in an argument. We should sympathize with each other.Isn't this the lesson that Schopenhauer's world-weary outlook teaches us? It seems to have passed twelve o'clock in the middle of the night, and the stars are still shining brightly above the head.Come on, you drink a glass of whiskey while I lie on the deck chair and chew a piece of chocolate. Paradise on earth Paradise on earth is often sung in poetry.But I deeply regret not remembering that I wanted to live in this earthly paradise of poets.After all, the Christian paradise on earth is a lonely panorama.The paradise on earth of the Huang-Lao school is nothing more than a desolate Chinese restaurant.What's more, the utopia of modern times-which made William James ② tremble, this matter may still remain in people's memory. ① The Huang-Lao School is the Warring States Period of China.The Taoist school in the early Han Dynasty.It is named after the legendary Yellow Emperor who matched Lao Tzu and respected him as the founder of Taoism. ②William James (1842-1910), an American philosopher and psychologist, advocated pragmatism. The paradise on earth in my dream is neither a natural greenhouse nor a distribution center that doubles as a school’s food and clothing.As long as it lives here, the parents are bound to die when the child grows up.Second, brothers and sisters, though they may be born bad, are never born fools, and so never give each other trouble.Also, once a woman is married, she becomes a docile personification in order to conceive the spirit of the beast.Also, whether it is a boy or a girl, according to the will and feelings of the parents, they will become deaf, dumb, useless and blind several times a day.Also, A's friend cannot be poorer than B's friend, and B's friend cannot be richer than A's friend at the same time, and each other feels the greatest happiness by boasting about their opponents.And - and so on! This is not just my paradise on earth, it is the paradise of good men and women that crowd the world.It's just that poets and scholars in ancient times have never dreamed of such a golden meditation.It's not surprising that I didn't dream about it.But to be able to dream of such a scene is to be filled with real happiness. P.S. My nephew dreams of buying a Rembrandt portrait.But he didn't dream of getting ten yuan pocket money, because ten yuan pocket money was full of real happiness, and he couldn't afford it. Violence Life is often complicated.To simplify the complex life, there is no other way but violence.Therefore, civilized people with only stone-age brains prefer killing to arguing. But power is ultimately the violence of privilege.Violence may often be necessary in order for us to rule men, or it may not be necessary. "human nature" My misfortune is that I don't have the courage to worship "humanity".No, I often feel contemptuous of "humanity", that's true.But it is also true that I often feel fond of "human nature".Is it love? ——Compared with liking, it may also be pity!But in short, if you can't be moved by "human nature", then life will eventually become an unbearable mental hospital.It was the inevitable outcome that Swift finally went mad. Before going mad, Swift looked at the withered tree and muttered, "I am like that tree. Die from the beginning." Whenever I think of this anecdote, I always shudder. .I'm secretly happy that I didn't have to be born into a generation of brilliant minds like Swift. Ke Ye The attainment of perfect happiness is a privilege accorded only to idiots.No matter how optimistic you are, you don't always have a smile on your face.No, if optimism is really allowed to exist, it can only be said to be hopeless about happiness. Bamboo tubes serve rice at home, Ke Ye serves rice while traveling. ① ① The author of this short song, Prince Youjian (? -658), was executed for treason.This is what he made while he was being escorted, see the second volume of "Manyoji". This is not just a tribute to the feelings of traveling.We often use "want to have" instead of "can have" to reconcile them.Scholars will give this kind of Ko tree leaves various good names.However, if you hold it in your hand and look at it carefully, then Ke Shuye is still Ke Shuye. Lamenting that the Keshu leaf as a Keshu leaf is more respectable than the Keshu leaf used for serving rice.But it may be boring to compare Ke Shuye as Ke Shuye with Yixiao Liaozhi, at least repeating the same sigh in life tirelessly is funny and immoral at the same time.In fact the great misanthropists are not always scowls.Even Leopardi, who was terminally ill, sometimes smiled lonelyly at the half-dead roses. ①Gacomo Leopardi (1798-1837), Italian poet and philosopher of misanthropy. Postscript: Immorality is a synonym for excessive. buddha After Siddhartha quietly left the royal city, he practiced asceticism for six years.The reason for the six years of asceticism was the sin of living in the extremely luxurious royal city.One of the reasons for this is that the son of the carpenter of Nazareth ③ only fasted for forty days. ② Siddhartha is the real name of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, when he was a prince before he became a monk. ③ refers to Jesus Christ. again Siddhartha asked Dongni ④ to hold the horse's bridle and escaped secretly from the royal city.His speculative character often led him into melancholy.After he secretly escaped from the royal city, it may not be easy to tell whether it is actually the future Shakyamuni or his wife Yasodhara who heaved a sigh of relief. ④ Dongni is Sanskrit, the name of the person who led the horse and chariot for Shi Zun when he escaped from the king's city as a monk. again After six years of asceticism, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under the bodhi tree.The legend of his enlightenment proves how he mastered the material spirit.He bathed in water first, then ate celiac, and finally talked with the legendary cow girl of Nandabhara. ⑤ Enlightenment is the Buddha's words, to realize all dharmas and to achieve the meaning of true enlightenment of the Tathagata. political genius People think that the so-called political genius in ancient times is to change the will of the people into his own will, but this may also be the opposite.Rather, a political genius turns his own will into the will of the people.To say the least, it is believed to be the will of the people.So the political genius seems to have the actor's genius at the same time.Napoleon said: "There is only one step between the solemn and the comic." This sentence is not so much the words of the emperor, it is more appropriate to say that it is the words of an actor. again The people believe in righteousness.However, political geniuses are often not willing to sacrifice even a penny for righteousness.It is only in order to rule the people that he has to use the mask of righteousness.But once used, the mask of righteousness will never be thrown away.If thrown away forcibly, no matter what kind of political genius it is, it will surely die suddenly.That is to say, for the sake of the crown, the emperor naturally accepted its domination.The tragedy of political genius must therefore also have comedy.For example, there is also the comedy of "The Grass of Vain" ① which also wears the tripod dance of the monks of the ancient Ninna Temple. ① "Furancao" (1324-1331) is an essay written by Yoshida Kaneyoshi (1283-1350), a Waka poet and essayist at the end of the Kamakura period in Japan.Among them, the fifth and third paragraphs describe a boy in Renhe Temple who wanted to be a monk. He danced with a tripod on his head. love is stronger than death "Love is stronger than death", this is a sentence in Maupassant's novel.However, it is not only love that is stronger than death in the whole world.For example, eating a biscuit from a typhoid patient, knowing that he will die, is evidence that appetite is stronger than death.In addition to appetite—for example, patriotism, religious feelings, humanitarian spirit, desire for profit, reputation, and criminal instinct—of course there are many things that are stronger than death.In short, all passions are stronger than death (of course the passion for death is an exception, and love is especially stronger than death in these things, and it cannot be rashly judged. At first glance, it is the love that is stronger than death. When it's easy, what actually dominates us is what the French call Bovary's psychic illusion. We are sentimentalism since Madame Bovary fantasized about us as lovers in legends. ① Bovary is a word created by the French philosopher Gaultier, which refers to the spiritual distress caused by the contradiction between imagination and reality.The term originated from Madame Bovary, the heroine in Flaubert's novel of the same name. hell Life is more hell than hell.The sufferings of hell do not violate certain laws.For example, the suffering of hungry ghosts is that they want to eat the food in front of them, but there is a fire burning on the food.But the pain that life brings, unfortunately, is not that simple.If you want to eat the meal in front of you, you may be on fire, or you may accidentally eat it easily.Not only that, after eating it easily, you may suffer from enteritis, and you may be digested unexpectedly easily and happily.It is not easy for anyone to adapt to this lawless world.If I fall into hell, I will be able to grab the meal of the hungry ghost in a flash.What's more, as long as you can live in the sea of ​​needles and blood for three or two years, you will get used to it, and you won't feel the pain of trekking. scandal The public loves a scandal.The Hakuren Incident①, the Arishima Incident②, the Mushakoji Incident③—what infinite satisfaction the public will derive from these incidents.Why, then, does the public love scandals—especially scandals involving prominent figures in society?Gourmont ④ replied: "Because in this way, the scandal that I concealed seems to be justified." ①日本女诗人柳原白莲（1885-1967）离开了在九州作煤炭资本家的丈夫，和从事工人运动的宫崎龙介结婚。 ②日本小说家有岛武郎（1878-1923）和有夫之妇的女记者波多野秋子在轻井泽双双情死。 ③日本作家武者小路实笃（1885-1976）于1922年和夫人离婚另娶。 ④莱米·古尔蒙（1859-1915），法国象征派作家、理论家。 古尔蒙的回答很正确。然而，也并不完全如此。连丑闻也不会发生的俗人们，在所有名人的丑闻中，发现了他们为怯懦辩解的最好的武器。同时发现了树立他们实际上不存在的优越性的最好的垫脚石。“我不是白莲女士那样的美人，但是比白莲女士贞洁。”“我不是有岛那样的才子，但是比有岛更了解世情。”“我不是武者小路实笃那样……”——公众这么说过之后，大概就像猪那样幸福地睡熟了。 again 天才的另一面是具有引起引人注目的丑闻的才能。 public opinion 舆论常常是一种私刑。私刑又常常是一种娱乐。好比使用新闻记事来取代手枪。 again 舆论值得存在的理由，仅是带来了对舆论加以蹂躏的兴趣。 hostility 敌意并不选择寒冷的地方。感觉适度时最快慰并且在保持健康上不论对什么人都是绝对必需的。 utopia 产生不出完美的乌托邦的原因大致如下：如果不能改变人性，就不可能产生完美的乌托邦。如果改变了人性的话，就会使人觉得人们向往的完美的乌托邦，突然不完美了。 危险思想 准备把常识付诸实践的思想就是危险思想。 evil 具有艺术气质的青年发现“人性之恶”，通常比任何人都要晚。 二宫等德 我记得小学课本里对二宫尊德①的少年时代曾大书特书。贫穷家庭出身的尊德，白天帮着干地里的活，夜里打草鞋，既和大人一样干活，又顽强地不断地自学。这故事和一切树立雄心大志的故事一样——也就是说，和一切通俗小说一样，是很容易使人感动的。实际上不到十五岁的我，在对尊德的奋发的气度大为感动的同时，甚而觉得不幸的一件事，是没有生在尊德那样贫穷的家庭里…… ①二宫尊德（1787-1856），日本江户时代末期的重农主义者。 然而，这个立志故事，在带给尊德荣誉的同时，当然也使尊德的双亲蒙受不名誉。他们没有在教育上给尊德一点点方便。不，毋宁说倒给他造成了重重障碍。作为双亲的责任，这分明是耻辱。但是，我们的双亲和老师天真到忘记了这个事实。尊德的双亲喝酒或者赌博都可以。问题只是尊德，是经历千辛万苦不废自学的尊德。我们在少年时期就必须养成尊德那样勇敢的意志。 我对他们的利己主义有些感到惊叹。的确，对他们来说，像尊德那样身兼男仆的少年，是最可心的儿子了。不仅如此，将来博得了荣誉，大大显赫了父母的名声，那就更是好上加好的最可心的儿子了。但是不到十五岁的我，在对尊德的气度大受感动的同时，甚而觉得不幸的一件事，是没有生在尊德那样贫穷的家庭里。正如戴着镣铐的奴隶希望有更大的镣铐一样。 slave 所谓废止奴隶，只是废止作为奴隶的自我意识。没有了奴隶，我们的社会安全大概一天也难于保障。另外，连柏拉图的共和国也都考虑到奴隶的存在，这绝不是偶然的。 again 把暴君叫做暴君，当然是很危险的。但是，把今天暴君以外的奴隶叫作奴隶，也同样是很危险的。 tragedy 悲剧是对自己的羞耻行为敢作敢当。因此对千百万人的共同的悲剧，起着排泄的作用。 强弱 强者不怕敌人，却怕朋友。出手一击打倒了敌人倒无关痛痒，可是对在不知不觉中伤害了的朋友，却感到情同骨肉般的恐怖。 弱者不惧怕朋友，却怕敌人，因此到处都发现虚构的敌人。 S． M①的智慧 ①即室生犀星（1889-1962），日本诗人小说家。 这是我的朋友S．M和我的谈话：辩证法的功绩——最终不论对什么都作出胡涂的结论。 少女——始终是一个清滢的浅滩。 学龄前教育——嗯，这也好嘛！在幼儿园的时候就让孩子知道有智慧是多么悲哀的事，又用不着担责任。 追忆——好像地平线上遥远的风景画。老早就完成了。 女人——根据玛丽·斯托普斯①夫人的见解，女人的贞操只有两周需求一次丈夫的情欲时，大概才会产生。 ①玛丽·斯托普斯（1880-1958），英国限制生育的活动家。 年少时代——年少时代的忧郁是对整个宇宙的骄傲。 艰难令汝如玉——如果艰难使你成为玉石的话，那么在日常生活里深谋远虑的男人，是不应该成为玉的。 我等应如何生活呢——应稍稍留下一些未知的世界。 social contact 一切社交都理所当然地需要虚伪。如果丝毫不加虚伪，对我们的朋友知己倾吐我们的衷情，那么哪怕是古代的管鲍之交②，也不能不产生破绽。姑且抛开管鲍之交，我们都或多或少对我们的亲密的朋友有些憎恶或轻蔑。但是，憎恶在利害面前也会收起锋锐，并且轻蔑也日益使人恬然地倾吐虚伪。因此，为了和我们的知己朋友结成最亲密之交，相互都必须具有最完善的利害和轻蔑。这不论对什么人都是最困难的条件。否则我们老早就会成为富有礼让的绅士，世界也许老早就出现了黄金时代的和平。 ②指中国春秋战国时期，齐国管仲和鲍叔的知己之交。 trivia 为了使人生幸福，需要喜爱日常琐事。云的光辉，竹子摇曳，群雀啼叫，行人的脸——应该在一切日常琐事中，感到无尽的甜美。 是为了使人生幸福吗？——但是喜爱琐事也必然为琐事所苦。跳进庭园前古池里的蛙，可能打破了百年忧愁。但是，跳出古池里的蛙也可能带来了百年忧愁。哦，芭蕉的一生是享乐的一生，同时不论在谁的眼目中也是受苦的一生。我们为了微妙的快乐，一也必须遭受微妙的痛苦。 为了使人生幸福，也必须为日常琐事所苦。云的光辉，竹子摇曳，群雀啼叫，行人的脸——应该在一切日常琐事中感受到坠入地狱的痛苦。 god 在神的一切属性中，我最同情的是神不能自杀。 again 我们发现了咒骂神的无数理由。然而，不幸的是日本人对全能的神没有相信到值得咒骂的程度。 民众 民众是稳健的保守主义者。制度、思想、艺术、宗教——举凡一切，为了使民众喜爱，必须披上前代的古色。所谓民众艺术家不为民众所喜爱，这并不是他们的罪过。 again 发现民众的愚蠢，并不值得夸耀。但是，发现我们自己也是民众，倒的确值得夸耀。 again 古人以愚民为治国之道，结果似乎使民众更愚蠢了——或者往往不知为什么却使民众聪明起来。 契诃夫的话 契诃夫在笔记里论到了男女的差别：“女人随着年龄的增长，越来越从事女人的工作；男人随着年龄的增长，越来越离开女人。” 但是，契诃夫这句话的意思，是说男女双方随着年龄的增长，自然而然停止了和异性的关系。这是三岁孩子也都明白的道理。不仅如此，与其说是男女的差别，倒不如说表示了男女没有差别。 clothing 至少女人的服装是女人本身的一部分。启吉之所以没有落到诱惑里去，当然是因为依仗了道义心的缘故吧。但是把他诱惑了的女人，是借穿了启吉妻子的衣服。如果不借衣服穿的话，启吉也可能不会那么轻松地逃脱出诱惑之外。 注：见菊池宽的《启吉的诱惑》。 处女崇拜 我们为了寻找处女作妻子，而在选择什么样的妻子上不知遭到多少滑稽可笑的失败，现在逐渐到了对处女崇拜可以闭目不视的时刻了。 again 处女崇拜是在知道是处女的事实之后才发生的，也就是说，比起率直的感情，则更重视琐碎的知识。因此，可以把处女崇拜者称之为恋爱上的玄学者。一切处女崇拜者的露出某种严峻的姿态，也许不是偶然的。 again 诚然，对似乎是处女的人的崇拜和处女崇拜是不同的。把这两者看作同义语的人，可能是过分轻率地看待了女人的演员的才能。 礼节 据说有一个女学生问我的朋友这样一件事：“接吻的时候是闭着眼睛呢，还是睁着眼睛？” 所有女学校的教学中没有关于恋爱礼节的教育，对这一点我和这个女学生一样深感遗憾。 贝原益轩① ①贝原益轩（1630-1714），日本江户时代初期的思想家，对本草学、医学也有研究。 我在小学时代曾经学过贝原益轩的逸事。益轩曾经和一个书生同坐在一只摆渡上。书生为了显示才华，滔滔不绝地谈论古今的学术。但是，益轩一言不发，只是静静地倾听着。不久，船靠岸了。按照惯例，船客临别时要通报自己的姓名。书生这时才知道是益轩，便在这一代大儒面前，忸怩地对自己方才的傲慢表示道歉。——这就是我学过的逸事。 当时我在这个逸事里发现了谦让的美德。至少为了发现，我确实作了努力。然而现在不幸的是我丝毫教训也没有发现。这个逸事使今天的我仍多少产生兴趣，仅仅是因为我有如下的看法：一、始终沉默不语的益轩的侮蔑是多么辛辣之极呀！ 二、看到书生的羞耻而以为快的同船的乘客的喝彩，是多么庸俗之极呀！ 三、益轩所不懂得的新时代的精神，在年轻的书生的高谈阔论中，讲得多么泼辣和令人鼓舞呀！ 一种辩护 某新时代的评论家在“猬集”的语意上，使用了“门可罗雀”的成语。“门可罗雀”的成语是中国人创造的。日本人使用它时，没有理由必须继承中国人的用法。假如通用的话，比方说形容“她的微笑好像门可罗雀”，也是可以的。 假如通用的话——万事都出在这个不可思议的“通用”上。譬如“自我小说”不也是这样吗？Ich-Roman①的意思，是用第一人称的小说。那个“我”并不一定指作家本人。但是，日本的“私小说”中的我，往往就是作家本人。不，只要人家认为这是作家本人的经历之谈，甚至把第三人称的小说也叫作“私小说”。这当然是无视德国人的——或者无视整个欧洲人用法的新的例子。然而全能的“通用”却赋予这个新例子以生命。“门可罗雀”的成语也许早晚也会同样产生意外的新例子。 ①德语：第一人称小说。 这么说某评论家并不特别缺乏学识，只是稍微过急地在主流之外寻找新例子。这个评论家所受到的嘲笑——总之，一切先觉者经常都得甘居薄命。 limit 就连天才也各自受到难以超越的限制的约束。发现这个限制，不能不使人感到某些寂寥。但是，一转念却又使人感到亲切。就好像明白了竹子是竹子，常春藤是常春藤。 Mars 问火星上有没有居民，就是问我们的五官是否感到有无居民的问题。然而生命并不只是以我们五官的感觉作为必备的条件的。假如火星的居民能超越我们的五官而得以存在的话，他们一群人也许会在今天夜晚随着使法国梧桐叶子枯黄的秋风一起到银座来了。 Blaogui①的梦 ①即布朗基（1805-1881），法国革命家；空想共产主义者。 宇宙之大是无限的。然而，创造宇宙的只有六十几种元素。这些元素的结合尽管非常之多，但是终究脱离不了有限。就是说这些元素在创造无限大的宇宙时，尽管尝试着一切的结合，而这一切的结合却也只能是无限的反复。因此，我们栖息的地球——作为这些结合之一的地球，当然不限于是太阳系的一个行星，而存在于无限之中。在这个地球上的拿破仑在马伦哥战役中取得了全胜。但是，在茫茫太虚里悬浮着的其他地球上的拿破仑，可能在同一的马伦哥战役中遭到了惨败…… 这就是六十七岁的布朗基所梦想的宇宙观。这理论是不容辩驳的。当布朗基在牢狱中写下这一梦想时，对一切革命都绝望了。这件事至今不知怎么的仍然在我们内心深处渗透下寂寞。梦已从大地上消失，我们为了寻求安慰，必须移向几万亿英里外的天上——移向悬在宇宙之夜的第二个地球上的光辉灿烂的梦境。 mediocrity 庸才的作品即便是大作，也必然像没有窗子的房屋。它对展望人生一点好处也没有。 witty 机智是缺少三段论法的思想，它的所谓“思想”是缺少思想的三段论法。 again 嫌恶机智的念头产生于人类的疲劳。 politician 政治家比起我们这些门外汉，在政治上可夸耀的知识，只是些琐碎的知识，毕竟和关于某党首脑戴什么帽子的知识差不多。 again 所谓“马路政治家”是没有上述知识的政治家。如果论到见识，不一定比政治家差。并且在富有超越利害的热情上，常常比政治家还要高尚。 事实 然而，琐碎事实的知识常常是民众所喜爱的。他们最希望知道的不是爱情为何物，而是想知道基督是不是私生子。 武士游方学艺 我一向认为武士游方学艺，从来都是向四方的剑客拜艺，磨炼自己的武艺。然而，今天看来，实际上是为了要发现天下没有和自己相比的强者。——《宫本武藏传》读后感。 Hugo 像遮蔽住全法国的一片面包。然而不管怎么想，黄油抹得并不充分。 陀思妥耶夫斯基 陀思妥耶夫斯基的小说充满了一切滑稽的画面。不过这些滑稽画面的大部分，无疑是使恶魔也会感到忧郁的。 Flaubert 福楼拜教给我的是也有美的寂寞。 莫泊桑 莫泊桑像冰。有时也像冰糖。 Edgar Allan Poe 爱伦·坡在创作斯芬克司①之前，研究过解剖学。使爱伦·坡的后代震惊的秘密是这个潜心的研究。 ①斯芬克司即古埃及的一种石雕狮身人面像，也指希腊神话中的带翼狮身女怪。 森鸥外 鸥外先生毕竟是一个军服上佩剑的希腊人。 某资本家的理论 “艺术家卖艺术，我卖蟹罐头，没有特别的不同，可是艺术家在谈到艺术的时候，自以为是天下的瑰宝。假如效仿那样的艺术家，我对六角钱一听的蟹罐头当然也应该骄傲了。不肖行年六十一，还不想有一次艺术家那样无聊的狂妄自大。” 批评学——致佐佐木茂索①君 ①佐佐木茂索（1898-1966），日本小说家，《文艺春秋》杂志的编辑，后任社长。 在一个美好天气的午前。变成博士的Mephistophefes②站在某大学的讲台上讲授批评学，而这个批评学并不是Kant③的Kritik④或其他。只是讲怎样从事小说和戏剧批评的学问。 ②即靡非斯特，参看本书第三六二页注④。 ③即康德（1724-1804），德国哲学家，着有《判断力批判》、、《实践理性批判》等。 ④德语：批判。 “各位，上周我讲的相信大家都明白了，今天我要进一步讲'半肯定论'。什么叫作'半肯定论'呢，正如字面上所表现的那样，是对某一作品肯定一半艺术价值的批评方法。但是这'一半'应该是'更坏的一半'。在这个批评方法中，肯定'更好的一半'是很危险的。” “譬如让我们在日本樱花上运用这个方法来看看吧。樱花'最好的一半'是花色和花形的美，然而就运用这种批评方法来说，与其肯定'最好的一半'倒不如肯定'最坏的一半'——那就是必须肯定樱花的香味了。总之，我们必须作出这样的结论：确实有香味，但毕竟是如此而已，假如万一取代'最坏的一半'而肯定'最好的一半'，会出现什么破绽呢？'花色和花形确实美。但毕竟是如此而已'——这丝毫也没有贬低樱花。” “批评学当然是在于怎样贬低某小说或某戏剧的问题。而今天在这里没有必要去讲。” “那么这个'更好的一半'或'更坏的一半'究竟是根据什么标准来区别的呢？为了解决这个问题，必须回到我们经常讲到的价值论上来。价值并不像古代所信仰的那样存在于作品里，而是存在于鉴赏作品的我们的心中。就是说'更好的一半'或'更坏的一半'必须是以我们的心为标准的——或者说必须以一个时代的民众喜爱什么为标准来加以区别。” “譬如现在的民众不喜爱日本式的花草，就是说日本式的花草是坏的。又如现在的民众喜爱巴西的咖啡，也就是说巴西的咖啡的确是好的。某作品的艺术价值的'更好的一半'或'更坏的一半'，当然也要按这种例子来加以区别。” “不运用这个标准，而去追求真呀，善呀，美呀等等标准，那是最滑稽的时代错误了。诸君应该扔掉染红的麦秸帽子那样的旧时代。善恶超越不了好恶，好恶即是善恶，爱憎即是善恶，——这并不限于'半肯定论'，假如诸君有志于搞批评学，这个法则是不能忘记的。” “'半肯定论'大致如上所述，最后我想促请各位注意的，是'如此而已'这句话。'如此而已'这句话是必须要使用的。第一，既然是'如此而已'，那么'如此'确实是肯定'最坏的一半'。但是第二，它又确实是否定'如此'以外的东西的。就是说'如此而已'这句话是颇富于一扬一抑之趣的。但是，更微妙的是第三，'如此'在隐约之间否定了艺术的价值。虽说是否定，却并没有说明为什么否定，只是意在言外罢了，——这是'如此而已'这句话的最显著的特点。明显而又含混，肯定而又否定，这就是真实的'如此而已'的含义。” “我认为这个'半肯定论'比起'全盘否定论'或'缘木求鱼论'来，是更容易取得信任的。'全盘否定论'或'缘木求鱼论'上周我已经讲过了，为了慎重起见我再简略地重复一遍。那就是把某作品的艺术价值，从其艺术价值本身加以全盘否定的批评力法。譬如为了否定某悲剧的艺术价值，想想对悲惨、不快、忧郁等等的责难就明白了。责难反过来运用，也可以咒骂某悲剧缺少幸福、愉快、轻松等等。所谓'缘木求鱼论'指的是从反面所讲的一种情况。'全盘否定论'或'缘木求鱼论'虽然淋漓尽致，有时却可能招来偏激的怀疑。但是'半肯定论'由于承认某作品一半的艺术价值，容易受到公平的对待。” “这里，我把佐佐木茂索的新着《春天的外套》当作练习题，下周请用'半肯定论'对佐佐木氏的作品加以分析。（这时一个年轻的学生提问说：”先生，不准用全盘否定论吗？'）不，'全盘否定论'的分析至少暂时先停停再说。因为不管怎么样，佐佐木氏是有名的新作家，所以仍限于用'半肯定论'的方法分析……“ 一周以后，取得最高分数的答案揭晓如下： 写得真是巧妙。但，毕竟是如此而已。 父母和子女 双亲养育孩子的方法是否正确是有疑问的。诚然牛马也是被双亲养育起来的。但是，在自然的名义下为这种陋习作辩护，确实是双亲的任性了。如果在自然的名义下可以为任何陋习辩护的话，那么首先我们就要为未开化民族的掠夺婚姻而辩护。 again 母亲对子女的爱是最没有利己心的爱。但是，没有利己心的爱，不一定是养育子女的最好的方法。这种爱对子女的影响——至少影响的大半，或者是使之成为暴君，或者是使之成为弱者。 again 人生悲剧的第一幕，是从做父母子女开始的。 again 古代有很多父母重复这样一句话：“我终究是个失败者，可是应该使这孩子得到成功。” 可能 我们是不能为所欲为的，只能做办得到的事。这不限于我们个人，我们的社会也是一样。也许神也不能按照自己的愿望创造这个世界。