智慧書（中英雙語） · 24．控制自己的幻想

24．控制自己的幻想 控制自己的幻想。有時你必須糾正幻想，有時你要促進幻想。這件事關係到我們是否幸福、是否理智。人的幻想可能橫行霸道，並不滿足於冷眼旁觀，而會影響並統治我們的生活。幻想能帶給我們歡樂，也會成為我們的負擔。這取決於它將我們引向何種荒謬。它可讓我們知足，也會讓我們對自己不滿。對某些人來說，幻想是不斷的懲罰，是讓愚蠢之人苦修的鞭帶；對另一些人來說，幻想以快樂的錯覺來承諾幸福和奇遇。它什麼都能做，除非你能通過最謹慎的克制，而成為它的主人。 24．Keep the imagination under control Keep the imagination under control; sometimes correcting, sometimes assisting it. For it is all-important for our happiness, and even sets the reason right. It can tyrannize, and is not content with looking on, but influences and even often dominates life, causing it to be happy or burdensome according to the folly to which it leads. For it makes us either contented or discontented with ourselves. Before some it continually holds up the penalties of action, and becomes the mortifying lash of these fools. To others it promises happiness and adventure with blissful delusion. It can do all this unless the most prudent self-control keeps it in subjection.