我为什么而活

 　　Three passions，simple but overwhelmingly1） strong，have governed my life：the longing¹ for love，the search for knowledge，and unbearable³ pity for the suffering of mankind.These passions，like great winds，have blown me hither and thither2），in a way－ward course，over a deep ocean of anguish，reaching to the very verge⁵ of despair.

　　I have sought love，first，because it brings ecstasy3）——ecstasy⁶ so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy.I have sought it，next，because it relieves loneliness——that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim⁷ of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss4）。I have sought it，finally，because in the union of love I have seen，in a mystic miniature5），the prefiguring6） vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined.This is what I sought，and though it might seem too good for human life，this is what——at last——I have found.

　　With equal passion I have sought know ledge².I have wished to understand the hearts of men.I have wished to know why the stars shine.And I have tried to apprehend⁸ the Pythagorean7） power by which number holds sway above the flux⁹.A little of this，but not much，I have achieved.

　　Love and knowledge，so far as they were possible，led upward the heavens.But always pity brought me back to earth.Echoes of cries of pain reverberate8） in my heart.Children in famine，victims tortured by oppressors，helpless old people a hated burden to their sons，and the whole of loneliness，poverty，and pain make a mockery9） of what human life should be.I long to alleviate¹¹ the evil，and I too suffer.

　　This has been my life.I have found it worth living，and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me.

　　三种单纯然而极其强烈的激情支配着我的一生，那就是对于爱情的渴望，对于知识的追求，以及对于人类苦难痛彻肺腑的怜悯。这些激情犹如狂风，把我在伸展到绝望边缘的深深的苦海上东抛西掷，使我的生活没有定向。

　　我追求爱情，首先因为它叫我销魂，爱情令人销魂的魅力使我常常乐意为了几小时这样的快乐而牺牲生活中其他的一切。我追求爱情，又因为它能减轻孤独感——那种一个颤抖的灵魂望着世界边缘之外冰冷而无生命的无底深渊时所感到的可怕的孤独。我追求爱情，还因为爱的结合使我在一种神秘的缩影中提前看到了圣者和诗人曾经想像过的天堂。这就是我所追求的，尽管人的生活似乎还不配享有它，但它毕竟是我终于找到的东西。

　　我以同样的激情追求知识。我想理解人类的心灵。我想了解星辰为何灿烂。我还试图弄懂毕达哥拉斯学说，它认为数是高居于感性流变之上的永恒力量。我在这方面略有成就，但不多。

　　爱情和知识只要存在，总是向上导往天堂。但是，怜悯又总是把我带回人间。痛苦的呼喊在我心中反响、回荡。孩子们受饥荒煎熬，无辜者被压迫者折磨，孤弱无助的老人在自己的儿子眼中变成可恶的累赘，以及世上触目皆是的孤独、贫困和痛苦——这些都是对人类应该过的生活的嘲弄。我渴望能减少罪恶，可我做不到，于是我也感到痛苦。

　　这就是我的一生。我觉得这一生是值得活的。如果可能再给我一次机会，我将欣然重活一次。

　　1. overwhelmingly adv. 压倒性地， 不可抵抗地

　　2. hither and thither⁴ thither 向这边，向那边

　　3. ecstasy n. 入迷

　　4. abyss n. 深渊

　　5. miniature n. 缩图， 缩影

　　6. prefigure v. 预示

　　7. Pythagorean adj. 毕达哥拉斯的

　　8. reverberate¹⁰ v. 反响

　　9. mockery n. 嘲笑

1 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

2 ledge   

n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁

参考例句：

• They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
• Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上，摔倒了。

3 unbearable   

adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的

参考例句：

• It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
• The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。

4 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

5 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

6 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

7 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

8 apprehend   

vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑

参考例句：

• I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
• Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。

9 flux   

n.流动；不断的改变

参考例句：

• The market is in a constant state of flux.市场行情在不断变化。
• In most reactors,there is a significant flux of fast neutrons.在大部分反应堆中都有一定强度的快中子流。

10 reverberate   

v.使回响，使反响

参考例句：

• The decision will reverberate and will jar the country.这项决定将引起反响并震撼这个国家。
• Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my hear.痛苦呼喊的一遍遍的在我的心中回响。

11 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。