Appreciation of literary interest
Reading Essays written by Bacon 400 years ago is also a famous article in English literature, which is well known to all women and children. The style of writing is vigorous, profound and concise. The discussion is simple and easy to understand, and the corresponding drums are analyzed. When reading, if the spring rain moistens things, if the torrent floats stones, if the breeze blows on your face, if everything rings, it makes people feel as if they are in the realm of "wild horses, dust and creatures blowing with interest" in Zhuangzi The Theory of Everything.
Based on the function of reading, this paper analyzes the extraordinary significance of reading and learning to life. At the same time, people's different attitudes and methods to reading and learning also directly affect different learning effects. Bacon believes that reading has three functions, that is, learning is for happiness, honor and ability. There are three concrete manifestations in life, that is, their main purpose of delivery is in privacy and retirement; Decoration is in words; For the ability, it lies in the judgment and disposal of the business.
In the author's view, people's experience and knowledge also directly affect their reading orientation and utility. Specifically, experts can perform one by one, perhaps judging particles; However, general advice, as well as the planning and arrangement of things, is best from what you have learned. Because of different methods, the learning effect will be different. So Bacon said that spending too much time on study is slow; It is a kind of love to decorate with them too much; It is the humor of scholars to make complete judgments according to their rules. This statement is quite similar to Mencius' teaching that "it is better to believe in books than to have no books".
Reading cannot be judged by experience, and learning cannot be divorced from reality. Experience and knowledge should complement each other. In Bacon's view, the accumulation of these two aspects is an indispensable knowledge accumulation in life. Therefore, reading makes up for the deficiency of nature, and experience also makes up for the deficiency of reading: because natural talents are like natural plants, which need to be pruned by reading, and reading itself is too disorganized if it is not bound by experience.
And different attitudes towards reading also determine the number of readers who benefit. Common phenomena are: craftsmen despise learning, ordinary people admit learning, and smart people use learning, but not to impart the usefulness of learning; However, this is a kind of wisdom that is higher than them without them and is obtained through observation. Reading does not make progress, but deliberately finds fault with the author to show his ability. This is another mediocre reading mentality. How can you benefit from reading with this mentality! Therefore, bacon warned economists that reading should not be contradictory and confusing; Don't believe and take it for granted; Don't look for talk and words; But to weigh and consider.
There is a plot in the movie Lenin in 19 18 of the former Soviet Union: Lenin hid his friend Vasily's home in order to avoid being chased by spies. In the evening, Lenin divided the books that Vasily brought him into two categories and told Vasily which books could be used as pillows and which books should be padded. The so-called pillow book is a masterpiece that needs careful reading, careful reading and hard thinking. The so-called footprint books are those mediocre works with shallow writing, shallow thinking and shallow discussion. Bacon's understanding of books and Lenin's views are not bad. So he said, some books are to be tested, some books are to be swallowed, and some books are to be chewed and digested; That is, some books can only be read partially; Others read, but not curiously; Some people are well prepared, diligent and concerned.
The method of reading naturally covers two aspects: the choice of books to read and the appreciation of what to read. However, in a sense, the method of reading also includes the so-called "reading without reading". "Reading without reading" means that for various reasons, readers do not directly read the contents of the book, but learn the basic ideas and contents of the book by reading related review articles or other people's reading notes. This way of reading is actually a learning method that modern people are used to relying on. People adopt this learning method for various reasons. An original work is so rare that you can't appreciate it directly. It's enough to read other people's notes or comments. Second, time is limited, so we can't read one by one. We have to find a convenient way to understand the general content and gist. Naturally, people who use this way of reading may also be suspected of speculation.
But for the diligent students, the application of this method must be balanced, otherwise it will inevitably fall into the quagmire of conformity. In this regard, Bacon's suggestion is that some books can also be read by others or extracted by others; But that will only appear in unimportant arguments and books; Otherwise, distilled books are just like ordinary distilled water, which are flashy things.
Gorky said that books are the ladder of human progress. For human beings, books are the ladder of progress. For individuals, books, nature, are also the ladder of progress. Books can improve a person's cultural accomplishment, expand a person's ideological realm and develop a person's intellectual potential. Therefore, bacon said that reading makes people full; An alert person; Write about a real man. To achieve such a fruitful state, the prerequisite is very important, that is, the books you read must be good books and excellent works.
People who are lazy in reading, if they want to make progress, I'm afraid they can only be realistic in their dreams and never benefit from reality. As bacon said: if a person seldom writes, he needs to have a good memory; If he seldom discusses it, he needs to have a current wisdom; If he reads little, he needs to be cunning to pretend that he doesn't know.
Mr. Lu Xun said that reading should be miscellaneous and all parties should have knowledge. Therefore, advocating the "casual reading" style of study is intended to urge scholars to broaden their horizons and deepen their knowledge structure. The so-called "learned man" in ancient China emphasized the knowledgeable style of study. In this regard, "Yan Family Instructions" said, "Don't read the book of the world, don't be presumptuous." Reading too much has limited horizons. Therefore, predecessors had the teaching of "Reading thousands of books and Walking Wan Li Road", and also emphasized the erudite thought of learning. Bacon felt the same way. So he said, history makes people wise; Poet wit; Mathematics is subtle; Natural philosophy is profound; Moral grave; Logic and rhetoric can be argued.
China is an ancient civilization, which attaches importance to education and advocates academic qualifications as the foundation of the country. Reading and learning have been promoted to the historical height of sincerity, integrity, self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country, saving the country and leveling the world by the sages of all ages. How to learn has always been one of the core issues of China's ancient hundred schools of thought. The Book of Rites, The Doctrine of the Mean, The University, The Analects of Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi are self-evident. Even in the notes and notes of ordinary scholars, there are many profound insights. The poet Ye Shi said in his famous "four uselessness":
Reading without knowing the order is useless;
Writing is not a matter of teaching, although it is useless;
Although honesty is useless, it is not in the sense of justice;
Determined not to worry about the world, though high and useless.
It is lofty to combine reading with the development of China culture.
Zhu, a great scholar in Song Dynasty, also had many original views on reading. In the book Ti edited by his disciples, there are many proverbs that Zhu taught his students. As for the method of reading, Zhu said:
Reading the text must be like a warrior, and it must be a fierce battle for a while; If you are a cool officer in prison, you push it to the end and never forgive him, you will get it.
Comparing reading to a fierce battle emphasizes the need to concentrate on reading, not just dabbling. To compare reading to a cruel judge, we must get to the bottom of it, which is specious. This sentence can be described as vivid and profound.
Xunzi attached great importance to reading and learning. In particular, he advocated a gradual and cumulative reading method. He said:
Accumulated soil becomes mountains, and the wind and rain are prosperous; The water drops merged into the ocean and the dragon was born; If the goodness is accumulated into virtue, the gods will be complacent and the sacred heart will be prepared. Therefore, you can't take Wan Li Road without accumulating steps; If you don't accumulate small streams, you will undoubtedly become rivers.
Xunzi explained the truth that many a mickle makes a mickle by metaphor, which is easy to understand and thought-provoking. When the ancients in China debated right and wrong, they liked to use metaphors to name their reasons. This method is also often used to explain the truth of reading. For example, Liu Xiang, a Han Chinese, said when talking about reading in Shuo Yuan:
Less and eager to learn, such as the rising sun; Strong and eager to learn, such as the light of Japan and China; Old and eager to learn, like a candle, is it right or wrong?
It means that when you study when you are young, if the sun rises, you will be hazy, but your heart will be pure; Middle-aged reading, if it is near noon, think skillfully and thoughtfully; Reading when you are old, if the candle shines, your energy is not good, but it is much better than walking in the dark. Instructions can benefit you for life. Although young, middle-aged and old people feel different, they can guide your life.
Comparing China's ancient sages' exposition on reading with Bacon's thought, we can see that China and the West attach equal importance to reading. But there are different opinions about the methods and functions of reading. Comparatively speaking, Bacon's reading view is more or less realistic. The ancient sages of China, from the perspective of governing the country and keeping the country safe, gave full play to their understanding of reading and learning. If one sentence is used to describe the ancient people's view of reading and learning in China, it is "Never forget the past and learn from the future"!
Translation appreciation
Bacon's Research was written 400 years ago. In today's Britain, this article is a classic literary theory, and its language is not only elegant, but also ancient and even mysterious. The language 400 years ago, even the extremely popular spoken language of civilians at that time, is full of "ancient style" feeling in today's ears. What style should be adopted to translate such a classic work? Translate the ancient into the ancient, or turn the ancient into the present? In this regard, we should not only consider the needs of information dissemination, but completely ignore the reality of historical development. As Eugene Nida, an American translator, said in his translation theory: "When translating the ancient Bible, we can't and shouldn't make the translation sound like it happened near a small town ten years ago, because the historical environment involved in the Bible is very important, and we can't completely transform the Pharisees and Sadducees into factions of modern religion."
Nida's theory sounds reasonable. However, when we understand and translate classical literature, we should also pay attention to another tendency, that is, we think that the words in classical literature must be the best words and proverbs. Of course this is not the case. In fact, some ancient sayings that look quite quaint today were probably just colloquial words at that time.
It's like reading historical records today. When we saw "Get rich and forget everything" in Chen She Family, we couldn't help but be awed. In Lu Xun's words, it is simply "scared that we have to kowtow." But this "scary" classic quotation is not from the mouth of the ancient holy king, nor from the mouth of the literati, but from the poor people who were farming with Chen Sheng at that time, which is also the spoken language of the people during the Daqin Empire. Bobby Chen's heartfelt words, widely admired by people with lofty ideals, were just casual sighs of a wage earner named Chen at that time. But today, the folk mantra of that year has become a famous aphorism, and even the most famous "literary masters" dare not feel ashamed.
Bacon was a famous British philosopher 400 years ago. He was well educated and well informed, and his essay notes were excellent at that time. In the history of English literature for more than 400 years, Bacon's literary theory is unique with its profound thoughts, exquisite art and excellent literature. Its influence on English literature and thought is quite similar to that of China's Eight Masters in Tang and Song Dynasties. What style should be adopted to translate such a classic literary theory? Do you want to use Ba Li-style popular language or Chun Xue-style classic elegant language? Judging from the current popular versions, there are exquisite and elegant versions, plain and popular versions, and more literary colloquial works.
Among these translations, Professor Wang Zuoliang's classic translation is undoubtedly the most influential, widely spread and successful masterpiece, which is praised and admired by translation circles and readers. Some classic sentences translated by him are almost familiar in academic circles and are talked about by people. For example, the translation of "Reading for pleasure, decorating for energy" is "reading for pleasure, rich in color and long in talent", which can be described as superb translation, with both form and spirit, which set each other off into interest.
The dictionary of English phrase serve means "to work" and "to be used". Translated as "enough", it can be said that there are often different opinions. It goes hand in hand with "enough joy, enough color and enough talent", interlocking, progressive in structure and forceful in reading. It can be said that Chinese has brought the characteristics of concise structure, profound semantics and beautiful artistic conception to the extreme.
In Professor Wang's translations, such translations can be found everywhere. For example, the main use of light is for privacy and retail; Decoration is in words; As for the ability, it is in judging and handling the translation of business. "Its joy is also the most visible when living alone; Its welfare lottery is also the most common talk; Its talent is also the most common in life judgment. "Another example is to make history wise; Poet wit; Mathematics is subtle; Natural philosophy is profound; Moral grave; Logic and rhetoric can be argued. Reading history makes people wise, reading poems makes people witty, mathematics makes people careful, science makes people deep, logic makes people grave, and the study of logic and rhetoric makes people able to distinguish. Such translation is both "realistic" (respecting the actual connotation of the original text) and "detached from China" (more profound, subtle and wonderful than the original text in semantics and context).
If we look at other more popular versions, our interest and intention will be greatly weakened. For example, reading is fun, pride and ability. Translation means "reading can give people pleasure, elegance and ability". Although the meaning is clear, the literature is not as interesting as before. After careful scrutiny, the collocation of words in the translation is also quite flawed. Reading "gives" people "interest" and is barely accessible. However, it is inevitable that reading "endows" people with "elegance". Reading "empowers" people, which sounds like westernized China people.
Classical literary theory is a masterpiece if it can be translated in a classical way. However, translation may be completely divorced from the development of the times. Now most readers in China are not familiar with the classical culture of China. Translating western classical literary theories in popular language will certainly help readers to better understand and learn. It is also the choice of most translators, and there are many excellent works. Moreover, as long as it is properly controlled, buzzwords can completely convey the meaning of classical literary theory.
I once saw a scholar translate Bacon's On Reading into "Reading for pleasure, being proud and being able", which has three functions: one is to cultivate temperament, the other is to be persistent and elegant, and the third is to increase talents. Compared with Professor Wang's classical translation style, this kind of translation is naturally more popular, and the effect of expressing ideas is still good, but it seems a bit too much to translate embellishment into "clinging to elegance".
During my one year in Tianjin, I heard a teacher translate reading into "What's the use of reading?"? Cultivate temperament, increase literary talent, and be good at this. " This translation is very popular, but it is very satisfactory. As the saying goes, vulgarity is elegance. Whether the translation is elegant or not depends on the style of the translation on the one hand, and has a great relationship with the charm and artistic conception of the translation on the other.
Attachment: Bacon of Learning and its three Chinese versions.
original text
Learning is for entertainment, decoration and talent growth. The main use of their happiness is solitude and seclusion; Decoration is in words; For the ability, it lies in the judgment and disposal of the business. Because experts can execute one by one, and perhaps judge the details; But general advice, as well as the planning and arrangement of things, are best from those who are knowledgeable.
It is lazy to spend too much time on study; It is a kind of love to decorate with them too much; It is the humor of scholars to make judgments completely according to their rules. Reading supplements the deficiency of nature, and experience supplements the deficiency of reading: because natural talents are like natural plants, which need to be pruned by reading, and reading itself is too difficult to point out the direction if it is not bound by experience.
Cunning people despise learning, ignorant people admire learning, and wise people use learning because learning does not teach people how to use it; However, this is a kind of wisdom that is higher than them without them and is obtained through observation. Reading is not for refutation and confusion; Don't believe and take it for granted; Don't look for talk and words; But to weigh and consider.
Some books can be tasted, some books can be swallowed, and a few books need to be chewed and digested; That is, some books can only be read partially; Others read, but not curiously; Some people are well prepared, diligent and concerned. Some books can also be read by others and extracted by others; But that will only appear in unimportant arguments and books; Otherwise, distilled books are just like ordinary distilled water, which are flashy things.
Reading makes a full person; An alert person; Write about a real man. Therefore, if a person seldom writes, he needs to have a good memory; If he seldom discusses it, he needs to have a current wisdom; If he reads little, he needs to be cunning to pretend that he doesn't know.
History makes people wise; Poet wit; Mathematics is subtle; Natural philosophy is profound; Moral grave; Logic and rhetoric can be argued. Study in more places. If a person's intelligence is hindered, he can read appropriate books to make it smooth: just like all diseases of the body, they can be eliminated by appropriate exercise. Bowling is good for stones and reins; Shoot the lungs and chest; Walking gently for the stomach; Ride for the head; Wait a minute. Therefore, if a person's wisdom is wandering, let him learn mathematics; Because in the demonstration, if his wisdom has never been called so little, he must start over. If his intelligence is not good at distinguishing or finding differences, let him study scholasticism; Because they are symini sectors. If he is not good at studying problems or proving and explaining another with one thing, let him study the lawyer's case. So every mental defect may have a special treatment.
Learning in Morality: Learning into Role
Symini sectores: Cumin seed separator, or hair splitter.
translate
A, Wang Zuoliang translation:
About reading
Reading is enough to make people happy, enrich colors and make people grow. When you are isolated from the world alone, its happiness is also the most obvious; Its welfare lottery is also the most common talk; Its talents are also the most common in judging things in life. Although sophisticated people can dwell on the details or distinguish the details one by one, looking at the overall planning and overall planning are those who are eager to learn and have deep thinking. Too much reading time is easy to be lazy, and there are too many literary talents and decorations. Judging things completely according to the provisions is a pedant's state. Reading makes up for the deficiency of nature, and experience makes up for the deficiency of reading. Natural talent is like natural flowers and plants. After reading it, you will know how to trim and transplant. As the types of books show, if you don't follow experience, they are too big to be used.
There is a skill that despises reading. Ignorant people long for reading, but only smart people use reading. However, reading does not tell people its usefulness. The wisdom of using books is not in the book, but outside the book, all by observation. When reading, don't deliberately question the author, don't believe everything in the book, and don't just look for chapters and sentences, but think carefully.
Some books are tasted, some are swallowed, and some have to be chewed and digested. In other words, some people only need to read part of it, some people just need to dabble in it, and a few people have to read it all. When reading, they must be absorbed and tireless. You can also ask someone to help you read this book, but only if the subject matter is inferior or the value is not high. Otherwise, the book classics are distilled like water and tasteless.
Reading makes a full man, discussion a witty man, and notes an exact man. Therefore, journalists who don't often write must have a strong memory, those who don't often discuss must be born smart, and those who don't often read must deceive the world. Only when they have skills can they be ignorant and obvious.
Reading history makes people wise, reading poems makes people witty, mathematics makes people careful, science makes people deep, logic makes people grave, and logic rhetoric makes people eloquent: no matter what you learn, you will become a character. A person's mental retardation can be alleviated by proper books, just as all diseases of the body can be eliminated by proper exercise. Rolling is good for the testicles and kidneys, archery is good for the chest and lungs, walking is good for the stomach, riding is good for the brain, and so on. If the intelligence is not concentrated, mathematics can be read and calculus must be absorbed. If it is slightly scattered, it must be repeated; If you can't tell the difference, you can read the philosophy of the scholastic school. Guy is a person who has a critical attitude towards all previous dynasties. If you are not good at seeking common ground while reserving differences and trying to prove one thing to another, you can look at the lawyer's file. In this way, whenever there is a defect in the brain, there is a specific medicine that can be cured.
Second, the translation of Liao
About reading
Reading can give people pleasure, elegance and ability. When people live alone or retire, they can best appreciate the pleasure of reading; When you speak, you can best show the elegance of reading; When judging and handling affairs, the ability gained by reading can be fully exerted. People with practical experience but no knowledge may be able to implement or judge the details of some things one by one, but only people with real knowledge can be competent for the overall guidance, planning and handling of their careers. Spending too much time studying is listless, too much knowledge is pretentious, and judging everything with academic theory is a nerd's hobby. Learning can beautify human nature, and experience can enrich learning. Natural plants need artificial pruning, and human nature also needs learning induction, and learning itself must be regulated by experience, otherwise it will be too pedantic.
Capable people despise learning, shallow people marvel at learning, but smart people can use learning. Because learning itself does not teach people the purpose of learning, as for how to apply it, it is a kind of wisdom beyond learning and gained through observation! Reading is not to argue for medicine, nor to follow blindly, nor to find information to talk about, but to weigh and think.
Some books just need to be tasted, some books can be devoured, and some books need to be chewed and digested slowly. In other words, some books only need to be read, some books only need to be browsed, and some books must be read intensively. Some books don't need to read the original, just read their abridged versions, but this is only limited to second-rate books with unimportant content: otherwise, the abridged versions are often as tasteless as distilled water.
Reading makes people profound, debate makes people sharp, and writing makes people sharp. If a person seldom writes, he needs to have a strong memory; If he seldom argues, he needs tact; If he seldom reads, he needs to be cunning and pretend to know what he doesn't understand.
History makes people wise, poetry makes people imaginative, mathematics makes people subtle, natural philosophy makes people deep, ethics makes people grave, logic and rhetoric make people able to contend. In a word, reading can cultivate personality. Moreover, reading can eliminate all psychological obstacles, just as proper exercise can correct some diseases in the body. For example, bowling is good for the kidneys; Archery is good for the chest and lungs; Walking is good for the stomach; Riding a horse is good for the brain and so on. Therefore, if a person is distracted, it is best to let him study mathematics, because he must concentrate on calculating the purpose of mathematics problems. If his attention is a little distracted, he must start from the beginning. If a person is not good at distinguishing, let him consult the masters of deductive school, because they are the ones who are unscathed in analysis. If a person is mentally retarded, it is better to let him learn from the case of a lawyer. Therefore, every psychological defect has a special remedy.
Third, Sun's translation
On learning
Learning can be used as a pastime, as a decoration, and can also enhance talents. This is for recreation, when the Lord is lonely and retired; For decoration, it is under discussion; For talent, it is between distinguishing right from wrong and foresight; Because people who specialize in one skill can manipulate or even judge one thing, and only those who know how to do it can take care of the overall situation and be flexible.
It is laziness for a country to indulge in learning; It is flashy for a country to show off its knowledge; Not eating books is a common problem for scholars. Learning can perfect nature and improve oneself through experience; Because talent is like natural vegetation, it still needs pruning through learning; A degree is just empty talk unless it is subject to experience.
Smart people despise learning, fools envy learning, and smart people use learning; Learning itself does not teach people how to use it; Only observation can bring wisdom beyond study.
Reading is not to argue, to believe blindly, to speak loudly, but to balance feelings and reason.
Some books can be tasted, some books can be eaten raw, and a few books should be chewed slowly and integrated; In other words, some books can be read, but you don't need to be cautious; There are still a few books to read and study carefully. Some books can be read or extracted by others; But this is limited to those unimportant expositions and shoddy books; Otherwise, refined books are as tasteless as refined water.
Reading makes a full man, old sayings make a witty man and notes make an exact man. Therefore, if a person seldom takes notes, he needs to have a superhuman memory; If he seldom discusses it, he needs to be talented; And if he seldom reads, he needs to be full of cunning to cover up his ignorance.
Reading history makes people wise, reading poems makes them wise, calculating makes them meticulous, natural philosophy makes them deep, ethics makes them grave, and logical rhetoric makes them able to contend.
In short, learn to shape character; No, any obstacle in the mind can be removed through proper study. This is like a disease that can be eliminated through proper exercise: rolling is good for the waist and kidneys, archery is good for the chest and lungs, walking is good for the stomach, riding is good for the brain, and so on. Therefore, if someone is lazy in arithmetic, let him learn, because in calculus, his attention is slightly distracted and he must start from scratch; If his wisdom is not enough to distinguish differences, let him learn from scholastic philosophers, because they are good at finding faults; And if he is not good at handling affairs and cannot follow suit, let him learn from the lawyer's case. Therefore, every mental defect may have a special prescription.