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第22章

on liberty-第22章

小说: on liberty 字数: 每页4000字

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applauds the strong man of genius for forcibly seizing on the



government of the world and making it do his bidding in spite of



itself。 All he can claim is; freedom to point out the way。 The power



of compelling others into it is not only inconsistent with the freedom



and development of all the rest; but corrupting to the strong man



himself。 It does seem; however; that when the opinions of masses of



merely average men are everywhere become or becoming the dominant



power; the counterpoise and corrective to that tendency would be the



more and more pronounced individuality of those who stand on the



higher eminences of thought。 It is in these circumstances most



especially; that exceptional individuals; instead of being deterred;



should be encouraged in acting differently from the mass。 In other



times there was no advantage in their doing so; unless they acted



not only differently but better。 In this age; the mere example of



non…conformity; the mere refusal to bend the knee to custom; is itself



a service。 Precisely because the tyranny of opinion is such as to make



eccentricity a reproach; it is desirable; in order to break through



that tyranny; that people should be eccentric。 Eccentricity has always



abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the



amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to



the amount of genius; mental vigour; and moral courage it contained。



That so few now dare to be eccentric marks the chief danger of the



time。



  I have said that it is important to give the freest scope possible



to uncustomary things; in order that it may in time appear which of



these are fit to be converted into customs。 But independence of



action; and disregard of custom; are not solely deserving of



encouragement for the chance they afford that better modes action; and



customs more worthy of general adoption; may be struck out; nor is



it only persons of decided mental superiority who have a just claim to



carry on their lives in their own way。 There is no reason that all



human existence should be constructed on some one or some small number



of patterns。 If a person possesses any tolerable amount of common



sense and experience; his own mode of laying out his existence is



the best; not because it is the best in itself; but because it is



his own mode。 Human beings are not like sheep; and even sheep are



not undistinguishably alike。 A man cannot get a coat or a pair of



boots to fit him unless they are either made to his measure; or he has



a whole warehouseful to choose from: and is it easier to fit him



with a life than with a coat; or are human beings more like one



another in their whole physical and spiritual conformation than in the



shape of their feet? If it were only that people have diversities of



taste; that is reason enough for not attempting to shape them all



after one model。



  But different persons also require different conditions for their



spiritual development; and can no more exist healthily in the same



moral; than all the variety of plants can in the same physical;



atmosphere and climate。 The same things which are helps to one



person towards the cultivation of his higher nature are hindrances



to another。 The same mode of life is a healthy excitement to one;



keeping all his faculties of action and enjoyment in their best order;



while to another it is a distracting burthen; which suspends or



crushes all internal life。 Such are the differences among human beings



in their sources of pleasure; their susceptibilities of pain; and



the operation on them of different physical and moral agencies; that



unless there is a corresponding diversity in their modes of life; they



neither obtain their fair share of happiness; nor grow up to the



mental; moral; and aesthetic stature of which their nature is capable。



Why then should tolerance; as far as the public sentiment is



concerned; extend only to tastes and modes of life which extort



acquiescence by the multitude of their adherents? Nowhere (except in



some monastic institutions) is diversity of taste entirely



unrecognised; a person may; without blame; either like or dislike



rowing; or smoking; or music; or athletic exercises; or chess; or



cards; or study; because both those who like each of these things; and



those who dislike them; are too numerous to be put down。 But the



man; and still more the woman; who can be accused either of doing



〃What nobody does;〃 or of not doing 〃what everybody does;〃 is the



subject of as much depreciatory remark as if he or she had committed



some grave moral delinquency。 Persons require to possess a title; or



some other badge of rank; or of the consideration of people of rank;



to be able to indulge somewhat in the luxury of doing as they like



without detriment to their estimation。 To indulge somewhat; I



repeat: for whoever allow themselves much of that indulgence; incur



the risk of something worse than disparaging speeches… they are in



peril of a commission de lunatico; and of having their property



taken from them and given to their relations。*







  * There is something both contemptible and frightful in the sort of



evidence on which; of late years; any person can be judicially



declared unfit for the management of his affairs; and after his death;



his disposal of his property can be set aside; if there is enough of



it to pay the expenses of litigation… which are charged on the



property itself。 All the minute details of his daily life are pried



into; and whatever is found which; seen through the medium of the



perceiving and describing faculties of the lowest of the low; bears



an appearance unlike absolute commonplace; is laid before the jury as



evidence of insanity; and often with success; the jurors being little;



if at all; less vulgar and ignorant than the witnesses; while the



judges; with that extraordinary want of knowledge of human nature and



life which continually astonishes us in English lawyers; often help



to mislead them。 These trials speak volumes as to the state of feeling



and opinion among the vulgar with regard to human liberty。 So far from



setting any value on individuality… so far from respecting the right



of each individual to act; in things indifferent; as seems good to



his own judgment and inclinations; judges and juries cannot even



conceive that a person in a state of sanity can desire such freedom。



In former days; when it was proposed to burn atheists; charitable



people used to suggest putting them in a madhouse instead: it would be



nothing surprising now…a…days were we to see this done; and the



doers applauding themselves; because; instead of persecuting for



religion; they had adopted so humane and Christian a mode of



treating these unfortunates; not without a silent satisfaction at



their having thereby obtained their deserts。







  There is one characteristic of the present direction of public



opinion peculiarly calculated to make it intolerant of any marked



demonstration of individuality。 The general average of mankind are not



only moderate in intellect; but also moderate in inclinations: they



have no tastes or wishes strong enough to incline them to do



anything unusual; and they consequently do not understand those who



have; and class all such with the wild and intemperate whom they are



accustomed to look down upon。 Now; in addition to this fact which is



general; we have only to suppose that a strong movement has set in



towards the improvement of morals; and it is evident what we have to



expect。 In these days such a movement has set in; much has actually



been effected in the way of increased regularity of conduct and



discouragement of excesses; and there is a philanthropic spirit



abroad; for the exercise of which there is no more inviting fiel

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