《道德情操论·卷三·论评判自己情感与行为的基础·三·论良心的影响与权威》第19节
It may be thought a singular, but I believe it to be a just, observation, that, in the misfortunes which admit of some remedy, the greater part of men do not either so readily or so universally recover their natural and usual tranquillity, as in those which plainly admit of none. In misfortunes of the latter kind, it is chiefly in what may be called the paroxysm, or in the first attack, that we can discover any sensible difference between the sentiments and behaviour of the wise and those of the weak man. In the end, Time, the great and universal comforter, gradually composes the weak man to the same degree of tranquillity which a regard to his own dignity, which manhood teaches the wise man to assume in the beginning. The case of the man with the wooden {132} leg is an obvious example of this. In the irreparable misfortunes occasioned by the death of children, or of friends and relations, even a wise man may for some time indulge himself in some degree of moderated sorrow. An affectionate, but weak woman, is often, upon such occasions, almost perfectly distracted. Time, however, in a longer or shorter period, never fails to compose the weakest woman to the same degree of tranquillity as the strongest man. In all the irreparable calamities which affect himself immediately and directly, a wise man endeavours, from the beginning, to anticipate and to enjoy before-hand, that tranquillity which he foresees the course of a few months, or a few years, will certainly restore to him in the end.
注释摘要
这段论述承接前文对智者在骤然打击下仍需奋力挣扎的分析，却转向了一个乍看上去颇为反常的观察：面对彻底无法补救的灾祸，一个人反倒比面对尚存一线希望的不幸更容易恢复内心的平静。这条被他自认为虽奇僻却正确的经验命题，在这里成为整节后半部分真正的枢纽。他的目的并不在于鼓励麻木，而是要借此推进一个更精确的判断──道德上的自制与平静，其真正难度原来并不在不可挽回的绝境当…