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1、第一章论功利与诚实Chapter1OfProfitandHonesty谁都难免说傻话，可悲的是还说得很起劲。这事跟我无关。我的傻话都是漫不经心时傻里傻气说出来的。想说就说，随说随忘，亳不在乎。傻成怎样也就怎样对待，绝不贩卖。我对着白纸说话与对着人说话一样，求的是真。我们的制度，不论在公共还是私人领域，处处都不完美，但不能说它无用，无用就是它的作用。我们生来则由病态的品性黏合而成，野心、嫉妒、羡慕、报复、迷信、失望，与生俱来，难以改变，从野兽身上可以看到这些影子，包括残忍性在内。因此，我们看到别人受苦，内心不但不同情，还会产生一种说不出来的幸灾乐祸的快感。然而，谁消除了这些品质的种子，便也摧毁了
2、人性的基本条件。同样，在我们的制度中，有一些必要的职能，不仅是恶劣的，还是罪恶的。这些罪恶不但有它们的位子，并且不断对我们产生影响，正如我们的健康要靠毒药维持。我经常看到一些法官通过舞弊、许愿或宽恕，使用哄吓、诈骗等手段来诱使罪人招供，我感到很气愤。我痛恨这种不讲信义的法律。同时，由于我很不乐意为了一位君王去背叛一个普通人，我也就不会为了一个普通人去背叛一位君王。我也曾几次参与君王之间的谈判，在分歧与不和中进行斡旋。我竭力避免因我而产生误解，因而把最强烈的意见和盘托出，而不似那些掩饰自己的心意，假装中立迎合别人的人。我是个稚嫩的谈判新手，幸运的是至今一切顺利。我开诚布公，因而与人初次交而我;/
3、法官诱骗罪人招供:让那些先生们看到，我并不是在谋一己之利。Omanisfreefromspeakingfoolishthings;buttheworston,tis,Wiiciiamanlabourstoplaythefool:44Naeistemagnoconatumagnasnugasdixerit.”Trulyhe,withagreateffortwillshortlysayamightytrifle.Terence,Heaut.,actiii.,s.4.Thisdoesnotconcernme;mineslipfrommewithaslittlecareastheyareoflittl
4、evalue,and,tisthebetterforthem.Iwouldpresentlypartwiththemforwhattheyareworth,andneitherbuynorsellthem,butastheyweigh.Ispeakonpaper,asIdotothefirstpersonImeet;andthatthisistrue,observewhatfollows.Towhomoughtnottreacherytobehateful,whenTiberiusrefuseditinathingofsogreatimportancetohim?Hehadwordsenthi
5、mfromGermanythatifhethoughtfit,theywouldridhimofArminiusbypoison:thiswasthemostpotentenemytheRomanshad,whohaddefeatedthemsoignominiouslyunderVarus,andwhoalonepreventedtheiraggrandisementinthoseparts.Hereturnedanswer,ithatthepeopleofRomewerewonttorevengethemselvesoftheirenemiesbyopenways,andwiththeir
6、swordsintheirhands,andnotclandestinelyandbyfraud,whereinhequittedtheprofitableforthehonest.Youwilltellmethathewasabraggadocio;Ibelievesotoo:and,tisnogreatmiracleinmenofhisprofession.Buttheacknowledgmentofvirtueisnotlessvalidinthemouthofhimwhohatesit,forasmuchastruthforcesitfromhim,andifhewillnotinwa
7、rdlyreceiveit,heatleastputsitonforadecoration.Ouroutwardandinwardstructureisfullofimperfection;butthereisnothinguselessinnature,noteveninutilityitself;nothinghasinsinuateditselfintothisuniversethathasnotthereinsomefitandproperplace.Ourbeingiscementedwithsicklyqualities:ambition,jealousy,envy,revenge
8、,superstition,anddespairhavesonaturalapossessioninus,thatitsimageisdiscernedinbeasts;nay,andcruelty,sounnaturalavice;foreveninthemidstofcompassionwefeelwithin,Iknownotwhattart-sweettitillationofill-naturedpleasureinseeingotherssuffer;andthechildrenfeelit:44Suavemarimagno,turbantibusaequoraventis,Ete
9、rramagnumalteriusspectareIaborem:,ltissweet,whenthewindsdisturbthewatersofthevastsea,towitnessfromlandtheperilofotherpersons?Lucretius1ii.1.oftheseedsofwhichqualities,whoevershoulddivestman,woulddestroythefundamentalconditionsofhumanlife.Likewise,inallgovernmentstherearenecessaryoffices,notonlyabjec
10、t,butviciousalso.Vicestherehelptomakeuptheseaminourpiecing,aspoisonsareusefulfortheconservationofhealth.Iftheybecomeexcusablebecausetheyareofusetous,andthatthecommonnecessitycoverstheirtruequalities,wearetoresignthisparttothestrongestandboldestcitizens,whosacrificetheirhonourandconscience,asothersof
11、oldsacrificedtheirlives,forthegoodoftheircountry:we,whoareweaker,takeuponuspartsboththataremoreeasyandlesshazardous.Thepublicwealrequiresthatmenshouldbetray,andlie,andmassacre;letusleavethiscommissiontomenwhoaremoreobedientandmoresupple.Inearnest,Ihaveoftenbeentroubledtoseejudges,byfraudandfalsehope
12、soffavourorpardon,allureacriminaltoconfesshisfact,andthereintomakeuseofcozenageandimpudence.Itwouldbecomejustice,andPlatohimself,whocountenancesthismannerofproceeding,tofurnishmewithothermeansmoresuitabletomyownliking:thisisamaliciouskindofjustice,andIlookuponitasnolesswoundedbyitselfthanbyothers.Is
13、aidnotlongsincetosomecompanyindiscourse,thatIshouldhardlybedrawntobetraymyprinceforaparticularman,whoshouldbemuchashamedtobetrayanyparticularmanformyprince;and1donotonlyhatedeceivingmyself,butthatanyoneshoulddeceivethroughme;Iwillneitheraffordmatternoroccasiontoanysuchthing.InthelittleIhavehadtomedi
14、atebetwixtourprincesBetweentheKingofNavarre1afterwardsHenryIV.,andtheDucdeGuise.SeeDeThou1DeVitaSua,iii.9.inthedivisionsandsubdivisionsbywhichweareatthistimetorntopieces,Ihavebeenverycarefulthattheyshouldneitherbedeceivedinmenordeceiveothersbyme.Peopleofthatkindoftradingareveryreserved,andpretendtob
15、ethemostmoderateimaginableandnearesttotheopinionsofthosewithwhomtheyhavetodo;Iexposemyselfinmystiffopinion,andafteramethodthemostmyown;atendernegotiator,anovice,whohadratherfailintheaffairthanbewantingtomyself.Andyetithasbeenhithertowithsogoodluck(forfortunehasdoubtlessthebestshareinit),thatfewthing
16、shavepassedfromhandtohandwithlesssuspicionormorefavourandprivacy.IhaveafreeandopenwaythateasilyinsinuatesitselfandobtainsbeliefwiththosewithwhomIamtodealatthefirstmeeting.Sincerityandpuretruth,inwhatagesoever,passforcurrent;andbesides,thelibertyandfreedomofamanwhotreatswithoutanyinterestofhisownisne
17、verhatefulorsuspected,andhemayverywellmakeuseoftheanswerofHyperidestotheAthenians,whocomplainedofhisbluntwayofspeaking:ttMessieurs,donotconsiderwhetherornoIamfree,butwhetherIamsowithoutabribe,orwithoutanyadvantagetomyownaffairs?Mylibertyofspeakinghasalsoeasilyclearedmefromallsuspicionofdissemblingby
18、itsvehemency,leavingnothingunsaid,howhomeandbittersoever(sothatIcouldhavesaidnoworsebehindtheirbacks),andinthatitcarriedalongwithitamanifestshowofsimplicityandindifference.Ipretendtonootherfruitbyactingthantoact,andaddtoitnolongargumentsorpropositions;everyactionplaysitsowngame,winifitcan.Astotheres
19、t,Iamnotswayedbyanypassion,eitherofloveorhatred,towardsthegreat,norhasmywillcaptivatedeitherbyparticularinjuryorobligation.Ilookuponourkingswithanaffectionsimplyloyalandrespectful,neitherpromptednorrestrainedbyanyprivateinterest,andIlovemyselfforit.Nordoesthegeneralandjustcauseattractmeotherwisethan
20、withmoderation,andwithoutheat.Iamnotsubjecttothosepenetratingandclosecompactsandengagements.Angerandhatredarebeyondthedutyofjustice;andarepassionsonlyusefultothosewhodonotkeepthemselvesstrictlytotheirdutybysimplereason:“Utaturmotuanimi,quiutirationenonpotest.”Hemayemployhispassion,whocanmakenouseofh
21、isreason.*Cicero,Tusc.Quaes.,iv.25.AHlegitimateintentionsaretemperateandequableofthemselves;ifotherwise,theydegenerateintoseditiousandunlawful.Thisisitwhichmakesmewalkeverywherewithmyheaderect,myfaceandmyheartopen.Intruth,andIamnotafraidtoconfessit,Ishouldeasily,incaseofneed,holduponecandletoSt.Mich
22、aelandanothertohisdragon,liketheoldwoman;Iwillfollowtherightsideeventothefire,butexclusively,ifIcan.LetMontaignebeoverwhelmedinthepublicruinifneedbe;butiftherebenoneed,Ishouldthinkmyselfobligedtofortunetosaveme,andIwillmakeuseofallthelengthoflinemydutyallowsforhispreservation.WasitnotAtticuswho,bein
23、gofthejustbutlosingside,preservedhimselfbyhismoderationinthatuniversalshipwreckoftheworld,amongstsomanymutationsanddiversities?Forprivateman,ashewas,itismoreeasy;andinsuchkindofwork,Ithinkamanmayjustlynotbeambitioustoofferandinsinuatehimself.Foraman,indeed,tobewaveringandirresolute,tokeephisaffectio
24、nunmovedandwithoutinclinationinthetroublesofhiscountryandpublicdivisions,Ineitherthinkithandsomenorhonest:“Eanonmedia,sednullaviaest,veluteventumexspectantium,quofbrtunaeconsiliasuaapplicent.vThatisnotamiddleway,butnoway,toawaitevents,bywhichtheyrefertheirresolutionstofortune.*Livy,xxxii.21.Thismayb
25、eallowedinourneighbours,affairs;andthusGelo,thetyrantofSyracuse,suspendedhisinclinationinthewarbetwixttheGreeksandbarbarians,keepingaresidentambassadorwithpresentsatDelphos,towatchandseewhichwayfortunewouldincline,andthentakefitoccasiontofallinwiththevictors.Itwouldbeakindoftreasontoproceedafterthis
26、mannerinourowndomesticaffairs,whereinamanmustofnecessitybeoftheonesideortheother;thoughforamanwhohasnoofficeorexpresscommandtocallhimout,tositstillIholditmoreexcusable(andyetIdonotexcusemyselfupontheseterms)thaninforeignexpeditions,towhich,however,accordingtoourlaws,nomanispressedagainsthiswill.Andy
27、eteventhosewhowhollyengagethemselvesinsuchawarmaybehavethemselveswithsuchtemperandmoderation,thatthestormmayflyovertheirheadswithoutdoingthemanyharm.HadwenotreasontohopesuchanissueinthepersonofthelateBishopofOrleans,theSieurdeMorvilliers?Anablenegotiator,who,thoughprotectedbytheGuises,andstronglysup
28、portingthem,wasyetveryfarfrompersecutingtheReformists.Hedied1577.And1know,amongstthosewhobehavethemselvesmostbravelyinthepresentwar,somewhosemannersaresogentle,obliging,andjust,thattheywillcertainlystandfirm,whatevereventHeavenispreparingforus.Iamofopinionthatitproperlybelongstokingsonlytoquarrelwit
29、hkings;andIlaughatthosespiritswho,outoflightnessofheart,lendthemselvestosodisproportioneddisputes;foramanhasneverthemoreparticularquarrelwithaprince,bymarchingopenlyandboldlyagainsthimforhisownhonourandaccordingtohisduty;ifhedoesnotlovesuchaperson,hedoesbetter,heesteemshim.Andnotablythecauseofthelaw
30、sandoftheancientgovernmentofakingdom,hasthisalwaysannexedtoit,thateventhosewho,fortheirownprivateinterest,invadethem,excuse,iftheydonothonour,thedefenders.Butwearenot,aswenowadaysdo,tocallpeevishnessandinwarddiscontent,thatspringfromprivateinterestandpassion,duty,noratreacherousandmaliciousconduct,c
31、ourage;theycalltheirpronenesstomischiefandviolencezeal;,tisnotthecause,buttheirinterest,thatinflamesthem;theykindleandbeginawar,notbecauseitisjust,butbecauseitiswar.AmanmayverywellbehavehimselfCommodiouslyandloyallytooamongstthoseoftheadverseparty;carryyourself,ifnotwiththesameequalaffection(forthat
32、iscapableofdifferentmeasure),atleastwithanaffectionmoderate,welltempered,andsuchasshallnotsoengageyoutooneparty,thatitmaydemandallyouareabletodoforthatside,contentyourselfwithamoderateproportionoftheir,favourandgoodwill;andtoswimintroubledwaterswithoutfishinginthem.Theotherway,ofofferingaman,sselfan
33、dtheutmostserviceheisabletodo,bothtoonepartyandtheother,hasstilllessofprudenceinitthanconscience.Doesnothetowhomyoubetrayanother,towhomyouwereaswelcomeastohimself,knowthatyouwillatanothertimedoasmuchforhim?Heholdsyouforavillain;andinthemeantimehearswhatyouwillsay,gathersintelligencefromyou,andworksh
34、isownendsoutofyourdisloyalty;double-dealingmenareusefulforbringingin,butwemusthaveacaretheycarryoutaslittleasispossible.IsaynothingtoonepartythatImaynot,uponoccasion,saytotheother,withalittlealterationofaccent;andreportnothingbutthingseitherindifferentorknown,orwhatisofcommonconsequence.Icannotpermi
35、tmyself,foranyconsideration,totellthemalie.Whatisintrustedtomysecrecy,Ireligiouslyconceal;butItakeasfewtrustsofthatnatureuponmeasIcan.Thesecretsofprincesareatroublesomeburthentosuchasarenotinterestedinthem.Iverywillinglybargainthattheytrustmewithlittle,butconfidentlyrelyuponwhatItellthem.Ihaveeverkn
36、ownmorethanIdesired.Oneopenwayofspeakingintroducesanotheropenwayofspeaking,anddrawsoutdiscoveries,likewineandlove.Philippides,inmyopinion,answeredKingLysimachusverydiscreetly,who,askinghimwhatofhisestateheshouldbestowuponhim?“Whatyousaidhe,“provideditbenoneofyoursecrets.,Iseeeveryoneisdispleasedifth
37、ebottomoftheaffairbeconcealedfromhimwhereinheisemployed,orthattherebeanyreservationinthething;formypart,Iamcontenttoknownomoreofthebusinessthanwhattheywouldhavemeemploymyselfin,nordesirethatmyknowledgeshouldexceedorrestrictwhatIhavetosay.IfImustserveforaninstrumentofdeceit,letitbeatleastwithasafecon
38、science:Iwillnotbereputedaservanteithersoaffectionateorsoloyalastobefittobetrayanyone:hewhoisunfaithfultohimself,isexcusablysotohismaster.Buttheyareprinceswhodonotacceptmenbyhalves,anddespiselimitedandconditionalservices:Icannothelpit:IfranklytellthemhowfarIcango;foraslaveIshouldnotbe,buttoreason,an
39、dIcanhardlysubmiteventothat.Andtheyalsoaretoblametoexactfromafreemanthesamesubjectionandobligationtotheirservicethattheydofromhimtheyhavemadeandbought,orwhosefortuneparticularlyandexpresslydependsupontheirs.Thelawshavedeliveredmefromagreatanxiety;theyhavechosenasideforme,andgivenmeamaster;allothersu
40、periorityandobligationoughttoberelativetothat,andcut,offfromallother.Yetthisisnottosay,thatifmyaffectionshouldotherwiseinclineme,myhandshouldpresentlyobeyit;thewillanddesirearealawtothemselves;butactionsmustreceivecommissionfromthepublicappointment.AHthisproceedingofmineisalittledissonantfromtheordi
41、naryforms;itwouldproducenogreateffects,norbeofanylongduration;innocenceitselfcouldnot,inthisageofours,eithernegotiatewithoutdissimulation,ortrafficwithoutlying;and,indeed,publicemploymentsarebynomeansformypalate:whatmyprofessionrequires,IperformafterthemostprivatemannerthatIcan.Beingyoung,Iwasengage
42、duptotheearsinbusiness,anditsucceededwell;butIdisengagedmyselfingoodtime.Ihaveoftensinceavoidedmeddlinginit,rarelyaccepted,andneveraskedit;keepingmybackstillturnedtoambition;butifnotlikerowerswhosoadvancebackward,yetso,atthesamelime,thatIamlessobligedtomyresolutionthantomygoodfortune,thatIwasnotwhol
43、lyembarkedinit.Fortherearewayslessdispleasingtomytaste,andmoresuitabletomyability,bywhich,ifshehadformerlycalledmetothepublicservice,andmyownadvancementtowardstheworldsopinion,IknowIshould,inspiteofallmyownargumentstothecontrary,havepursuedthem.Suchascommonlysay,inoppositiontowhatIprofess,thatwhatIc
44、allfreedom,simplicity,andplainnessinmymanners,isartandsubtlety,andratherprudencethangoodness,industrythannature,goodsensethangoodluck,domemorehonourthandisgrace:but,certainly,theymakemysubtletytoosubtle;andwhoeverhasfollowedmeclose,andpryednarrowlyintome,Iwillgivehimthevictory,ifhedoesnotconfessthat
45、thereisnoruleintheirschoolthatcouldmatchthisnaturalmotion,andmaintainanappearanceoflibertyandlicence,soequalandinflexible,throughsomanyvariousandcrookedpaths,andthatalltheirwitandendeavourcouldneverhaveledthemthrough.Thewayoftruthisoneandsimple;thatofparticularprofit,andthecommodityofaffairsamanisen
46、trustedwith,isdouble,unequal,andcasual.Ihaveoftenseenthesecounterfeitandartificiallibertiespractised,but,forthemostpart,withoutsuccess;theyrelishofAEsop,sasswho,inemulationofthedog,obliginglyclappedhistwofbre-feetuponhismastersshoulders;butasmanycaressesasthedoghadforsuchanexpressionofkindness,twice
47、somanyblowswithacudgelhadthepoorassforhiscompliment:“Idmaximequemquedecet,quodestcujusquesuummaxime.Thatbestbecomeseverymanwhichbelongsmosttohim;Cicero,DeOffic.,i.31.1willnotdeprivedeceitofitsdue;thatwerebutilltounderstandtheworld:Iknowithasoftenbeenofgreatuse,andthatitmaintainsandsuppliesmostmen,se
48、mployment.Therearevicesthatarelawful,astherearemanyactions,eithergoodorexcusable,thatarenotlawfulinthemselves.ThejusticewhichinitselfisnaturalanduniversalisotherwiseandmorenoblyorderedthanthatOtherjusticewhichisspecial,national,andconstrainedtotheendsofgovernment,4tVerijurisgermanaequejustitiaesolid
49、ametexpressameffigiemnullamtenemus;umbraetimaginibusutimurf,Weretainnosolidandexpressportraitureoftruerightandgermanejustice;wehaveonlytheshadowandimageofit.Cicero,DeOffic.,iii.17.insomuchthatthesageDandamis,hearingthelivesofSocrates,Pythagoras,andDiogenesread,judgedthemtobegreatmeneveryway,exceptingthattheyweretoomuchsubjectedtothereverenceofthelaws,which,tosecondandauthorise,truevirtuemustabateverymuchofitsorigina
