Leviathan - 01
When we say any thing is infinite无限的, we signify表示...的意思 only,
that we are not able to conceive the ends, and bounds of the things named;
having no conception of the thing, but of our own inability.
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And therefore the name of God is used, not to make us
conceive构想 him; (for he is incomprehensible; and his greatness,
and power are unconceivable;) but that we may honour him.
===CHAPTER V : OF REASON AND SCIENCE
And as in arithmetic, unpractised men must, and professors
themselves may often err, and cast up计算 false; so also in any other
subject of reasoning, the ablest, most attentive, and most practised
men, may deceive themselves, and infer推断 false conclusions;
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not but that reason itself is always right reason, as well as arithmetic
is a certain and infallible不会犯错的 art: but no one man's reason, nor the reason
of any one number of men, makes the certainty; no more than
an account is therefore well cast up, because a great many men
have unanimously一致地 approved it.
Reason is the pace; increase of science, the way; and the benefit of
mankind, the end.
As, much experience, is prudence★审慎; so, is much science,
sapience智慧.
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let us suppose one man endued授予 with an excellent natural use, and
dexterity熟练/灵巧 in handling his arms; and another to have added to that
dexterity, an acquired science, of where he can offend, or be
offended by his adversary敌人, in every possible posture, or guard:
the ability of the former, would be to the ability of the latter,
as prudence to sapience; both useful; but the latter infallible万无一失的.
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But they that trusting only to the authority of books,
follow the blind blindly, are like him that, trusting to the
false rules of a master of fence, ventures冒险 presumptuously自以为是地
upon an adversary, that either kills or disgraces him.
The signs of science, are some, certain and infallible; some, uncertain.
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Certain, when he that pretended the science of any
thing, can teach the same; that is to say, demonstrate the truth
thereof perspicuously显明地 to another;
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uncertain, when only some particular events answer to his
pretence, and upon many occasions prove so as he says they must.
In any business, whereof a man has not infallible science to proceed
by; to forsake放弃 his own natural judgment, and be guided by general sentences
read in authors, and subject to many exceptions, is a sign of folly, and
generally scorned鄙视 by the name of pedantry假学问/迂腐.
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And even of those men themselves, that in councils委员会 of the commonwealth,
love to show their reading of politics and history, very few do it
in their domestic affairs, where their particular interest is
concerned; having prudence enough for their private affairs: but in
public they study more the reputation of their own wit, than the
success of another's business.
