《瓦尔登湖·第十八章·结束语·Conclusion》第8节
No face which we can give to a matter will stead us so well at last as the truth. This alone wears well. For the most part, we are not where we are, but in a false position. Through an infirmity of our natures, we suppose a case, and put ourselves into it, and hence are in two cases at the same time, and it is doubly difficult to get out. In sane moments we regard only the facts, the case that is. Say what you have to say, not what you ought. Any truth is better than make-believe. Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had anything to say. “Tell the tailors,” said he, “to remember to make a knot in their thread before they take the first stitch.” His companion’s prayer is forgotten.
注释摘要
梭罗在这段结束语里把整本书的伦理主张压缩成了一条极简的律令：忠于真实。他先用一个关于面子的比喻——我们给事情贴上的任何假面，都不如真相那样经得起磨损，“stead us so well at last”，终究靠得住。随后他诊断我们日常的困境：我们常常不在自己所处的真实位置上，而是活在一个假想的位置里。他称之为“假位”，false position。人类的性…