華閱文章網《今 》
李大釗
1）我以為世間最可寶貴的就是“今”，最易喪失的也是“今”。
因為他最易喪失，所以更覺得他可以寶貴。
The Living Present
Of all things in the world, I think, the present is the most precious, and also the most apt to slip through our fingers. We, therefore, treasure it all the more because of its transience.
2）為甚么“今”最可寶貴呢？最好借哲人耶曼孫所說的話答這個疑問：“爾若愛千古，爾當愛現在。
昨日不能喚回來，明天還不確實， 爾能確有把握的就是今日。
今日一天，當明日兩天。”
Why is the present so precious? The following quotation from philosopher Emerson best serves for an answer: “Make use of time if you love eternity; yesterday cannot be recalled; tomorrow cannot be assured; only today is yours. One today is worth two tomorrows.”
3）為甚么“今”最易喪失呢？因為宇宙大化刻刻流轉，絕不停留。
時間這個東西，也不因為吾人貴他愛他稍稍在人間留戀。
試問吾人說“今”說“現在”，茫茫百千萬劫，究竟哪一剎那是吾人的“今”，是吾人的“現在”呢？剛剛說他是“今”是“現在”，他早已風馳電掣的一般，已成“過去”了。
吾人若要糊糊涂涂把他丟掉豈不可惜？
Why is the present so easily lost? Because the universe as well as human life is changing non-stop all the time. Time never tarries with us a bit longer because we treasure and love it. It is hard to tell which moment in the ups and downs of life is our present or now? what we call our present or now at one moment will at the next be quickly gone and become the past. Isn’t it a pity to unthinkingly idle away the present?
4）有的哲學家說， 時間但有“過去”與“未來”，并無“現在”。
有的又說，“過去”“未來”皆是“現在”。
我以為“過去未來皆是現在”的話倒有些道理。
因為“現在”就是所有“過去”流入的世界，換句話說，所有“過去”都埋沒于“現在”的里邊。
故一時代的思潮，不是單純在這個時代所能憑空成立的，不曉得有幾多“過去”時代的思潮，差不多可以說是由所有“過去”時代的思潮，一湊合而成的。
Some philosophers say that we have the past and the future, but not present. Others say that the present is inclusive of the past and the future. I, however, incline towards the latter view because the present is where all the past empties itself or, in other words, where lies hidden the entire legacy of the past. The prevailing thought of any age does not come into being all by itself. It is the synthesis of the popular thoughts of numerous previous ages or probably of all the past.
5）吾人投一石子于時代潮流里面，所激起的波瀾聲響，都向永遠流動傳播，不能消滅。
屈原的《離騷》，永遠使人人感泣。
打擊林肯頭顱的槍聲，呼應于永遠的時間與空間。
一時代的變動，絕不消失，仍遺留于次一時代，這樣傳演，至于無窮，在世界中有一貫相聯的永遠性。
The rippling sound stirred up by a pebble thrown into the current of the times will keep spreading forever. Li Sao, authored by Qu Yuan, will continue to touch a deep chord in the heart of every reader through all ages. The lethal shot that hit Abraham Lincoln’s head will keep echoing through all lands and all eternity. The changes of each age, instead of becoming extinct, will pass on to the next. The process will go on endlessly to form an eternal link in the world.
6）昨日的事件，與今日的事件，合構成數個復雜事件。
此數個復雜事件，與明日的整個復雜事件，更合構成數個復雜事件。
勢力結合勢力，問題牽起問題。
無限的“過去”，都以“現在”為歸宿。
無限的“未來”，都以“現在”為淵源。
“過去”“未來”的中間全仗有“現在”以成其連續，以成其永遠，以成其無始無終的大實在。
一掣現在的鈴，無限的過去未來皆遙相呼應。
這就是過去未來皆是現在的道理，這就是“今”最可寶貴的道理。
The events of yesterday and today will combine to form several complicated events which will in turn combine with those of tomorrow to form several new complicated events. Thus one influence combines with another; one problem gives rise to another. The infinite future results from the present. It is the present that serves as a connecting link between the past and the future to bring about continuity, eternity and a boundless big whole. Ring the bell of the present, and you will hear the distant echoes of the infinite past and future. That accounts for the fact that the present is inclusive of the past and the future and that the living present is the mist precious.
7）現時有兩種不知愛“今”的人：一種是厭“今”的人，一種是樂“今”的人。
厭“今”的人也有兩派。
一派是對于“現在”一切現象都不滿足，因起一種回顧“過去”的感想。
他們覺得“今”的總是不好，古的都是好。
政治、法律、道德、風俗，全是“今”不如古。
此派人唯一的希望在復古。
他們的心力全施于復古的運動。
Nowadays two kinds of people don’t know how to care for the present. One kind are sick of the present; the other are crazy about it.
Among those who are sick of the present, some are dissatisfied with everything of today that they become nostalgic about yesterday. To them, things nowadays, including politics, laws, morality and social customs, are all inferior to those in the past. They place their only hope on turning the clock back to days of old. They throw themselves heart and soul into the back-to-the-ancients campaign.
8）一派是對于“現在”一切現象都不滿足，與復古的厭“今”派全同。
但是他們不想“過去”，但盼“將來”。
盼“將來”的結果，往往流于夢想，把許多“現在”可以努力的事業都放棄不做，單是耽溺于虛無飄渺的空玄境界。
這兩派人都是不能助益進化，并且很足阻滯進化的。
Some, though also dissatisfied with everything of today like those mentioned above, long for the future instead of the past, so much as that they abandon themselves to dreams and fantasies and even give up many things that can be achieved right now through their own efforts. People of these two categories hinder social progress instead of furthering it.
9）樂“今”的人大概是些無志趣無意識的人，是些對于“現在”一切滿足的人。
覺得所處境遇可以安樂優游，不必再商進取，再為創造。
這種人喪失“今”的好處，阻滯進化的潮流，同厭“今”派毫無區別。
People who are crazy about the present are generally apathetic and lack high aspirations. They see nothing wrong in the present. Complacent about their present circumstances, they feel no need for progress or creation. Such people abuse the present and stem the tide of progress. There is no difference at all between them and those who are sick of the present.
10）原來厭“今”為人類的通性。
大凡一境尚未實現以前，覺得此境有無限的佳趣，有無疆的福利；一旦身陷其境，卻覺不過爾爾，隨即起一種失望的念，厭“今”的心。
又如吾人方處一境，覺得無甚可樂；而一旦其境變異，卻又覺得其境可戀，其情可思。
It is common among human beings to be discontented with the present. They usually dream of something that has not yet come into being with fantasies about its being extremely agreeable and beneficial. But, once that something has become a reality, they call it just so-so and then fall into despair and grow weary of the present. Or they may feel a new environment rather unimpressive, but once things have changed, they begin to think well of it and recall it with tenderness.
11）前者為企望“將來”的動機；后者為反顧“過去”的動機。
但是回想“過去”，毫無效用，且空耗努力的時間。
若以企望“將來”的動機，而盡“現在”的努力，則厭“今”思想卻大足為進化的原動。
樂“今”是一種惰性，須再進一步，了解“今”所以可愛的道理，全在憑他可以為創造“將來”的努力，決不在得他可以安樂無為。
The former case has to do with future expectations, and the latter with past memories. However, given a combination of the two cases, dissatisfaction with the present will become a great moving force of social development. Being contented with things as they are is a kind of inertia. We need to understand that the present is precious not because it can allow us to idle about in the midst of comfort and pleasure, but because it offers us an opportunity to strive to create the future.
12）熱心復古的人，開口閉口都是說“現在”的境象若何黑暗，若何卑污，罪惡若何深重，禍患若何劇烈。
要曉得“現在”的境象倘若真是這樣黑暗，這樣卑污，罪惡這樣深重，禍患這樣劇烈，也都是“過去”所遺留的宿孽，斷斷不是“現在”造的。
全歸咎于“現在”，是斷斷不能受的。
要想改變他，但當努力以創造將來，不當努力以回復“過去”。
Those keen on returning to the past keep telling us how dark and vile the status quo is and what serious wickedness and heavy misfortune it brings. They should understand, however, that what they speak of, if true, is a long-standing inheritance from the past, definitely not a product of today. It is utterly wrong to attribute it all to the present. The only way to change the status quo is to strive to create the future, not to attempt to revive the past.
13）我請以最簡明的一句話寫出這篇的意思來：
吾人在世，不可厭“今”而徒回思“過去”，夢想“將來”，以耗誤“現在”的努力；又不可以“今”境自足，豪不拿出“現在”的努力，謀“將來”的發展。
宜善用“今”以努力為“將來”之創造。
由“今”所造的功德罪孽，永久不滅。
故人生本務，在隨實在之進行，為后人造大功德。
Now let me sum up briefly as follows:
We should not let the present slip away idly, being displeased with it and lost in past memories and the future dreams. Nor should we rest content with the present and thus make absolutely no efforts to achieve future development. Let’s make the best of today so as to create tomorrow. Our deeds of today, good or bad, will have an everlasting impact on the future. It is therefore our duty to keep up with the trend of the times and strive for the well-being of future generations.
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