エセー10 人生の痛みと闘う

(That the taste of good and evil depends on the opinion we have of them...)

That the taste of good and evil depends on the opinion we have of them...

(Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, not by the things themselves.)

Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, not by the things themselves.

(If what we call evil and torment is neither evil nor torment in itself,)

If what we call evil and torment is neither evil nor torment in itself,

(if it is merely our fancy that gives it this quality, it is in us to change it.)

if it is merely our fancy that gives it this quality, it is in us to change it.

(Having the choice, we are insane if we give sickness and poverty bitter taste)

Having the choice, we are insane if we give sickness and poverty bitter taste

(if we can give them a good one.)

if we can give them a good one.

(Fortune furnishes merely the material;)

Fortune furnishes merely the material;

(it is for us to give it form.)

it is for us to give it form.

(It depends on us to give it a different savor.)

It depends on us to give it a different savor.

(Some call death the most horrible of horrible things;)

Some call death the most horrible of horrible things;

(others call it the only haven from the torments of this life.)

others call it the only haven from the torments of this life.

(Consider pain; as poverty has nothing to be feared but this.)

Consider pain; as poverty has nothing to be feared but this.

(It delivers us into the pain, by the hunger, cold, heat, and sleepless nights.)

It delivers us into the pain, by the hunger, cold, heat, and sleepless nights.

(But it is us to lessen it by patience and, even should the body be disturbed by it,)

But it is us to lessen it by patience and, even should the body be disturbed by it,

(to maintain our soul in good trim.)

to maintain our soul in good trim.

(If this were not so, who would have brought into credit valor, strength, magnanimity, and resolution?)

If this were not so, who would have brought into credit valor, strength, magnanimity, and resolution?

(Where would these play their part, if there were no pain to defy?)

Where would these play their part, if there were no pain to defy?

(How shall we acquire the advantage that we have over the common herd?)

How shall we acquire the advantage that we have over the common herd?

(People are happy, not in hilarity or sensuality or laughter, the comrades of levity,)

People are happy, not in hilarity or sensuality or laughter, the comrades of levity,

(but even in firmness and constancy in pain.)

but even in firmness and constancy in pain.