← On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition"

On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 2

English → Chinese Full Text Level 8/10

What we care about in a light is that it shows the way, not whether it is lamp or candle, tallow or wax.

我们对光的关注在于它能否照亮道路，而不在于它是油灯还是蜡烛，是动物脂还是蜂蜡。

Our only real interest in Zadig lies in the conceptions of which he is the putative father; and his biographer has stated these with so much clearness and vivacious illustration, that we need hardly feel a pang, even if critical research should prove King Moabdar and all the rest of the story to be unhistorical, and reduce Zadig himself to the shadowy condition of a solar myth.

我们对扎第格真正感兴趣的，只是他被认为是那些思想观念之父这一点；而他的传记作者对这些观念的阐述如此清晰生动，即便批判性研究最终证明莫阿布达王以及故事中的其他一切均无史实依据，甚至将扎第格本人贬为太阳神话中的虚幻形象，我们也几乎无需为此感到痛惜。

Voltaire tells us that, disenchanted with life by sundry domestic misadventures, Zadig withdrew from the turmoil of Babylon to a secluded retreat on the banks of the Euphrates, where he beguiled his solitude by the study of nature.

伏尔泰告诉我们，扎第格因种种家庭变故而对生活心灰意冷，便从巴比伦的喧嚣中抽身而出，隐居于幼发拉底河畔的僻静之所，以研习自然来消遣孤独的时光。

The manifold wonders of the world of life had a particular attraction for the lonely student; incessant and patient observation of the plants and animals about him sharpened his naturally good powers of observation and of reasoning; until, at length, he acquired a sagacity which enabled him to perceive endless minute differences among objects which, to the untutored eye, appeared absolutely alike.

生命世界的万千奇妙对这位孤独的求知者有着特别的吸引力；他对周围动植物持续不懈、耐心细致的观察，磨砺了他本已出众的观察力与推理能力；久而久之，他练就了一种敏锐的洞察力，能够在那些未经训练的眼睛看来毫无二致的事物之间，发现无穷无尽的细微差异。

It might have been expected that this enlargement of the powers of the mind and of its store of natural knowledge could tend to nothing but the increase of a man's own welfare and the good of his fellow-men.

人们或许会以为，心智能力的增长与自然知识的积累，除了增进个人的福祉与造福他人之外，别无其他归宿。

But Zadig was fated to experience the vanity of such expectations.

然而，扎第格注定要亲身体验这种期望的虚妄。

Vocabulary

我们: wǒmen — We or us, first-person plural pronoun.
对: duì — Correct; toward; regarding something.
光: guāng — Light; radiance; brightness.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
关注: guānzhù — To pay attention to; to focus on something.
在于: zàiyú — To lie in; to consist in; to depend on.
它: tā — It; third-person singular pronoun for objects.
能否: néngfǒu — Whether or not one is able to do something.
照亮: zhàoliàng — To illuminate; to light up a place.
道路: dàolù — Road; path; way forward.
而: ér — But; and; yet; connecting contrasting clauses.
不: bù — No; not; negation particle.
是: shì — To be; is; am; are.
油灯: yóudēng — Oil lamp; traditional lamp burning oil.
还是: háishi — Or; still; used in questions or alternatives.
蜡烛: làzhú — Candle; a wax stick used for lighting.
真正: zhēnzhèng — Genuine; truly; real; authentic.
感兴趣: gǎn xìngqù — To be interested in something or someone.
只是: zhǐshì — Just; merely; only; nothing more than.
他: tā — He; him; third-person singular masculine pronoun.
被: bèi — Passive marker; by; indicates passive voice.
认为: rènwéi — To think; to consider; to believe something.
那些: nàxiē — Those; referring to plural things at a distance.
思想观念: sīxiǎng guānniàn — Ideas and concepts; intellectual notions and beliefs.
之父: zhī fù — Father of; founder or originator of something.
这一点: zhè yīdiǎn — This point; this particular aspect or matter.
这些: zhèxiē — These; referring to plural nearby things or ideas.
观念: guānniàn — Concept; idea; notion; way of thinking.
阐述: chǎnshù — To expound; to elaborate and explain clearly.
如此: rúcǐ — So; such; like this; in this manner.
清晰: qīngxī — Clear; distinct; easy to understand or see.
生动: shēngdòng — Vivid; lively; engaging and full of life.
即便: jíbiàn — Even if; even though; a concessive conjunction.
批判性: pīpànxìng — Critical; relating to critical analysis or scrutiny.
研究: yánjiū — Research; study; to investigate systematically.
最终: zuìzhōng — Finally; ultimately; in the end.
证明: zhèngmíng — To prove; to demonstrate; to verify as true.
以及: yǐjí — As well as; and; along with something else.
故事: gùshi — Story; tale; narrative account of events.
中: zhōng — In; inside; within; middle.
其他: qítā — Other; the rest; remaining items or people.
一切: yīqiè — Everything; all; without exception.
均: jūn — All; equally; without exception; each one.
无: wú — Without; lacking; none; to not have.
史实: shǐshí — Historical fact; documented truth from history.
依据: yījù — Basis; grounds; evidence to rely upon.
甚至: shènzhì — Even; going so far as; to the extent that.
将: jiāng — Will; to take; used before object in sentences.
本人: běnrén — Oneself; the person in question; personally.
贬为: biǎn wéi — To demote to; to reduce to a lesser status.
虚幻: xūhuàn — Illusory; unreal; imaginary; phantasmal.
形象: xíngxiàng — Image; figure; representation of a person or thing.
也: yě — Also; too; as well; likewise.
几乎: jīhū — Almost; nearly; practically; very close to.
无需: wúxū — No need to; unnecessary to do something.
为此: wèicǐ — For this reason; because of this; on account of this.
感到: gǎndào — To feel; to sense; to experience an emotion.
痛惜: tòngxī — To feel deep regret; to lament sorrowfully.
告诉: gàosu — To tell; to inform; to let someone know.
因: yīn — Because of; due to; owing to a cause.
种种: zhǒngzhǒng — Various kinds; all sorts; multiple types.
家庭: jiātíng — Family; household; domestic unit.
变故: biàngù — Misfortune; unexpected change; unfortunate incident.
生活: shēnghuó — Life; living; daily existence and lifestyle.
心灰意冷: xīn huī yì lěng — Disheartened and discouraged; utterly disappointed and despondent.
便: biàn — Then; thereupon; consequently; as a result.
从: cóng — From; since; following; starting from a point.
喧嚣: xuānxiāo — Clamor; noisy tumult; loud and chaotic bustle.
抽身而出: chōu shēn ér chū — To extricate oneself; to withdraw from a situation.
隐居于: yǐnjū yú — To live in seclusion at; to retreat and reside.
畔: pàn — Beside; bank of a river; alongside water.
僻静: pìjìng — Secluded and quiet; remote and peaceful place.
以: yǐ — With; by means of; using; in order to.
研习: yánxí — To study and practice; to learn through research.
自然: zìrán — Nature; natural; the natural world around us.
来: lái — To come; used to indicate purpose or direction.
消遣: xiāoqiǎn — Pastime; to pass time; leisure amusement.
孤独: gūdú — Lonely; solitary; feeling alone and isolated.
时光: shíguāng — Time; period of time; moments passing by.
生命: shēngmìng — Life; living existence; vitality of living things.
世界: shìjiè — World; the earth; the entire global realm.
万千: wànqiān — Myriad; thousands upon thousands; countless varieties.
奇妙: qímiào — Wonderful; marvelous; amazingly extraordinary and fascinating.
这位: zhè wèi — This person; referring respectfully to someone present.
求知者: qiúzhīzhě — Seeker of knowledge; one who pursues learning eagerly.
有着: yǒuzhe — Has; possesses; there exists a quality or feature.
特别: tèbié — Special; particular; especially; unusually.
吸引力: xīyǐnlì — Attraction; appeal; power to draw interest.
周围: zhōuwéi — Surroundings; around; the area nearby.
动植物: dòng zhíwù — Animals and plants; flora and fauna combined.
持续不懈: chíxù bùxiè — Persistent and unrelenting; continuous without slackening effort.
耐心细致: nàixīn xìzhì — Patient and meticulous; careful and thorough in work.
观察: guānchá — To observe; to watch carefully; observation.
磨砺: mólì — To hone; to sharpen; to temper through practice.
了: le — Completed action particle; indicates change of state.
本已: běn yǐ — Already; originally already possessed or established.
出众: chūzhòng — Outstanding; remarkable; standing out from the crowd.
观察力: guānchálì — Power of observation; ability to notice details.
与: yǔ — And; with; together with; connecting nouns.
推理能力: tuīlǐ nénglì — Reasoning ability; capacity to draw logical conclusions.
久而久之: jiǔ ér jiǔ zhī — Over time; gradually; after a long period passes.
练就: liànjiù — To develop through practice; to forge a skill.
一种: yī zhǒng — A kind of; a type of; one sort of.
敏锐: mǐnruì — Keen; sharp; acute in perception or insight.
洞察力: dòngchálì — Insight; penetrating ability to perceive hidden truths.
能够: nénggòu — To be able to; capable of doing something.
在: zài — At; in; on; indicating location or ongoing action.
未经训练: wèi jīng xùnliàn — Untrained; lacking formal training or instruction.
眼睛: yǎnjing — Eyes; the organs used for seeing.
看来: kànlái — It seems; it appears; looking at it this way.
毫无二致: háo wú èr zhì — Identical; exactly alike; without the slightest difference.
事物: shìwù — Things; objects; matters; entities in the world.
之间: zhījiān — Between; among; in the middle of two things.
发现: fāxiàn — To discover; to find; to realize something new.
无穷无尽: wúqióng wújìn — Endless; infinite; without limit or boundary.
细微: xìwēi — Subtle; minute; very small and fine differences.
差异: chāyì — Difference; distinction; variation between two things.
人们: rénmen — People; folks; the general public.
或许: huòxǔ — Perhaps; maybe; possibly; expressing uncertainty.
会: huì — Will; would; can; to be able to do.
以为: yǐwéi — To mistakenly think; to assume; to suppose wrongly.
心智: xīnzhì — Mind; intellect; mental faculties and capabilities.
能力: nénglì — Ability; capability; skill; capacity to do things.
增长: zēngzhǎng — To grow; to increase; growth in amount or level.
知识: zhīshi — Knowledge; learning; information acquired through study.
积累: jīlěi — To accumulate; to build up gradually over time.
除了: chúle — Besides; except for; in addition to something.
增进: zēngjìn — To promote; to enhance; to further improve something.
个人: gèrén — Individual; personal; relating to oneself specifically.
福祉: fúzhǐ — Well-being; welfare; happiness and flourishing of life.
造福: zàofú — To benefit; to bring happiness or welfare to others.
他人: tārén — Others; other people; those besides oneself.
之外: zhī wài — Outside of; beyond; apart from something mentioned.
别无: bié wú — Have nothing else; no other option or outcome.
归宿: guīsù — Final destination; ultimate resting place or end goal.
然而: rán'ér — However; but; yet; expressing contrast or turn.
注定: zhùdìng — Destined; fated; bound to happen inevitably.
要: yào — To want; must; will; expressing necessity or desire.
亲身: qīnshēn — Personally; firsthand; experienced by oneself directly.
体验: tǐyàn — To experience; to feel personally; lived experience.
这种: zhè zhǒng — This kind of; this type of; this sort.
期望: qīwàng — Hope; expectation; to anticipate a desired outcome.
虚妄: xūwàng — Vain; illusory; unfounded and delusional expectation.

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