Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do.

大多数人所谓的推理就是找到论据去支持他们过去所相信的

Mental indolence is one of the commonest of human traits.

思维懒惰是人类最常有的特性中的一种

Feeling is useful in directing our attention to matters we should think about; it also can provide the enthusiasm and commitment necessary to complete arduous mental tasks. However, feeling is never a good substitute for thinking because it is notoriously unreliable.感觉是有用的，它指引我们的注意力放到我们所思考的东西上面；也提供了我们做麻烦脑力活动所需要的热情和保障。然而，感觉肯定不是思考的好的替代品，大家知道它真的很不可靠。

The focus of this book is on critical thinking. The essence of critical thinking is evaluation. Critical thinking, therefore, may be defined as the process by which we test claims and arguments and determine which have merit and which do not. In other words, critical thinking is a search for answers, a quest. Not surprisingly, one of the most important techniques used in critical thinking is asking probing questions. 本书聚焦于慎思，慎思的焦点在于评估。慎思，那么就可以定义为我们测试主张和观点是否有益的过程。换句话说，慎思是一种对答案的探索，是一种追问。所以不用惊讶，慎思的一个最重要的技能就是问那些可以问到点子上的问题。

critical thinking involves the process of finding answers when they are not so readily available.慎思涉及到当答案并不明显的时候，找到答案的过程

critical thinking is a matter of habit.慎思是一种习惯

one characteristic of critical thinkers — skill in asking appropriate questions. Another is control of one's mental activities.一个慎思者的特征就是提出合适问题的技能。另一个就是能控制自己的思维活动

The basic activities in critical thinking are investigation, interpretation, and judgment, in that order.慎思的基本动程按顺序包括调查，解释和判断。

For some reason, the very act of writing down one idea seems to generate additional ideas.由于某种原因，只是由于你写下了一种想法就会产生附加的一些想法