《论自由·第三章·个性·论幸福的要素之一》第12节
I insist thus emphatically on the importance of genius, and the necessity of allowing it to unfold itself freely both in thought and in practice, being well aware that no one will deny the position in theory, but knowing also that almost every one, in reality, is totally indifferent to it. People think genius a fine thing if it enables a man to write an exciting poem, or paint a picture. But in its true sense, that of originality in thought and action, though no one says that it is not a thing to be admired, nearly all, at heart, think that they can do very well without it. Unhappily this is too natural to be wondered at. Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. They cannot see what it is to do for them: how should they? If they could see what it would do for them, it would not be originality. The first service which originality has to render them, is that of opening their eyes: which being once fully done, they would have a chance of being themselves original. Meanwhile, recollecting that nothing was ever yet done which some one was not the first to do, and that all good things which exist are the fruits of originality, let them be modest enough to believe that there is something still left for it to accomplish, and assure themselves that they are more in need of originality, the less they are conscious of the want.
注释摘要
这段论述在密尔的整体论证链条中承担着一个巧妙的过渡功能。此前他已反复说明，个性与自由发展是人类幸福和个人进步的核心要素，但一个常见的反对意见是：普通人并不觉得个性有什么了不起，他们安于习俗，并不需要那么大的自由去尝试不同的生活方式。面对这种冷漠，密尔没有直接斥责，而是把视线转向了一个特殊群体——有原创能力的天才。他的策略是：就算你自认为不需要个性自由，你也…