上句见:Day256
The Story of Philosophy《哲学的故事》第1章Plato第4节IV. The Ethical Problem第4段引文第1句:
This, of course, is the doctrine which our own day more or less correctly associates with the name of Nietzsche. "Verily I laughed many a time over the weaklings who thought themselves good because they had lame paws."11 Stirner expressed the idea briefly when he said that "a handful of might is better than a bagful of right." Perhaps nowhere in the history of philosophy is the doctrine better formulated than by Plato himself in another dialogue, Gorgias (483 f), where the Sophist Calicoes denounces morality as an invention of the weak to neutralize the strength of the strong.
They distribute praise and censure with a view to their own interests; they say that dishonesty is shameful and unjust — meaning by dishonesty the desire to have more than their neighbors; for knowing their own inferiority, they would be only too glad to have equality…. But if there were a man who had sufficient force [enter the Superman], he would shake off and break through and escape from all this; he would trample under foot all our formulas and spells and charms, and our laws, that sin against nature…. He who would truly live ought to allow his desires to wax to the uttermost; but when they have grown to their greatest he should have courage and intelligence to minister to them, and to satisfy all his longings. And this I affirm to be natural justice and nobility. But the many cannot do this; and therefore they blame such persons, because they are ashamed of their own inability, which they desire to conceal; and hence they call intemperance base…. They enslave the nobler natures, and they praise justice only because they are cowards.
11Thus Spake Zarathustra, New York, 1906, P.166
浙江大学译本:
他们按照自身的利益来展开赞扬和谴责,他们声称不诚实是可耻的、不公正的——在此,不诚实指那种想要比邻居拥有更多的欲望;假如他们知道自己是如此劣等,那他们该会为大家平等而窃喜不已……
解析
这句是《高尔吉亚篇》里的文字,是作者用来补充他前面的总结“弱者发明道德为了制衡强者”。
1、 They distribute praise and censure with a view to their own interests;
个人口味:他们依据自身利益进行赞扬和指责;
2、 they say that dishonesty is shameful and unjust — meaning by dishonesty the desire to have more than their neighbors;
他们声称不诚实是可耻的、不公正的——他们所说的不诚实是指想拥有比邻居更多的欲望;
3、 for knowing their own inferiority, they would be only too glad to have equality….
因为他们知道自己的劣势,所以会非常乐意大家平等……
inferiority: the quality of being worse than other things or people;劣等;低下;自卑;
They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?这些顾虑是自然的、正确的。难道你指望我会为你那些低微的亲戚而欢欣鼓舞吗?《傲慢与偏见》
only too glad to do:强调非常积极的、肯定的情绪或意愿,而不同与“too…to…”这个消极意愿。only too 表示“非常”,“特别” = very或exceedingly。
Political assassins are only too glad to do their work and to fly. 因为在政治暗杀中,凶手一经得手,势必立即逃走。《福尔摩斯探案之血字的研究》
他们依据自身利益进行赞扬和指责;他们声称不诚实是可耻的、不公正的——他们所说的不诚实是指想拥有比邻居更多的欲望;因为他们知道自己的劣势,所以会非常乐意大家平等……