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托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 145

托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资

I think it has been proved in the former parts of this essay that such a state of society is absolutely impracticable. What consequences then are we to expect from looking to such a point as our guide and polar star in the great sea of political discovery? Reason would teach us to expect no other than winds perpetually adverse, constant but fruitless toil, frequent shipwreck, and certain misery. We shall not only fail in making the smallest real approach towards such a perfect form of society; but by wasting our strength of mind and body, in a direction in which it is impossible to proceed, and by the frequent distress which we must necessarily occasion by our repeated failures, we shall evidently impede that degree of improvement in society, which is really attainable.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 145 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

马尔萨斯认为前文已证明那种社会绝对行不通。那么把它当作政治探索的北极星,会有什么结果?理性告诉我们:只会遇到逆风、徒劳辛苦、频繁翻船和必然的痛苦。我们不仅无法真正靠近那种完美社会,还会因为把身心力量浪费在不可能的方向上,又因反复失败造成困苦,反而拖累那些本来可以实现的进步。所以,目标定得虚高,代价是连眼前能改好的也改不好。

上下文

马尔萨斯继续批评葛德文的完美社会设想,强调不切实际的目标会消耗改革力量。

今日一问

你正在为什么不可能的目标耗费精力,而忽略了身边可实现的改进?

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