評論
打印
Once an opinion is accepted, whatever be the cause of its acceptance, it has a strong tendency to persist. Every time we think along a particular thought-pattern, makes it easier for us to think the same way again. It is quite legitimate to speak of "habits" of thought. The "brain path" becomes so well worn; the pattern of brain-centers becomes so well connected up by continual use, that the nerve current finds a route of practically no resistance, and so it always takes almost exactly the same course.
一旦某個觀點被人接受，不論接受的原因是什么，它都有相當大的可能繼續存在下去。每—次我們都要按某一特定的思維方式思考，而按統一方式思考要容易得多。這就可以稱作思維“習慣”。“思路”變得如此陳舊；神經中樞的模式由于不斷使用而變得如此相互連貫，以致神經流實際上找到了一條沒有阻力的路線，于是它幾乎總是走相同的線路。
We all know the person who has a string of stock anecdotes. We all know too the person who has certain stock arguments and opinions which he expresses, almost in the same words, whenever he receives the "cue." We all know men and women whose minds work like gramophones. Put them on to the "record" about the good old days; or about prohibition; or about the wicked capitalist; or about the lazy and improvident workers; or about the country going to the dogs; or about the modern girl; or some long, tedious anecdote about what I said to him, and what he said to me, and I said... and he said... and then I told him straight...! All we have to do is to start him off—and nothing on earth can stop him—until the "record" has run out!
我們也都認識那個總有某些陳腐觀點和看法來發表的人，無論他何時收到“暗示”，他都幾乎會用同樣的話語來表達。我們都知道一些男女的大腦像留聲機一樣運轉。放張“唱片”在上面，它會播放有關過去的好日子；禁酒時期；惡毒的資本家們；懶惰又得過且過的工人們、國家狀況越來越糟、摩登女郎，又或者是某些冗長乏味的軼事，我對他說的話，他說給我的話，我說的……他說的……然后我又直接地告訴他……！這樣的人只要我們給他開個頭，他就會一直說下去--世上沒有什么可以讓他停下來--直到“唱片”全部放完！
