一种习惯的消失或变弱总是因为停止某种活动的结果,
即我们不再进行那种克服了消除或弱化习惯的根由的活动。
The destruction or diminution of a habit results through cessation from act,
in so far, that is, as we cease from exercising an act
which overcame the causes that destroyed or weakened that habit.
因为......习惯之消失或变弱总是某些相反因素直接作用的结果。
For . . . habits are destroyed or diminished
directly through some contrary agency.
因此,一切习惯都会受到相反因素逐渐侵蚀,
那些相反因素需由这些习惯产生的活动方能抵消,
一切习惯会由于长期停止活动而逐渐减弱,直至最终完全消失。
这种情况在学问和德行上表现得尤为明显。
Consequently all habits that are gradually undermined
by contrary agencies which need to be counteracted
by acts proceeding from those habits are diminished
or even destroyed altogether by long cessation from act,
as is clearly seen in the case both of science and of virtue.
因为很显然,一种道德习惯总是使人乐于在行为与情感方面采取中庸之道。
For it is evident that a habit of moral virtue
makes a man ready to choose the mean in deeds and passions.
当一个人不再运用这种良好习惯来调节自己的行为或情感时,
结果必然导致许多激情和行为
在感官欲望和其他外因的作用下
横溢于道德规范之外。
And when a man fails to make use of his virtuous habit
in order to moderate his own passions or deeds,
the necessary result is that many passions and deeds
occur outside the mode of virtue,
by reason of the inclination of the sensitive appetite
and of other external agencies.
这样一来,德行就会因为停止实行而消失殆尽或者大为逊色。
Therefore virtue is destroyed or lessened
through cessation from act.
理性习惯也如此:
理性习惯使人能够随时对自己想象出来的事物做出正确判断。
The same applies to the intellectual habits,
which render man ready to judge rightly of those things
that are pictured by his imagination.
故当人停止运用自己的理性习惯时,
与理性习惯相反的胡思乱想就会出现在他的想象之中。
因此,除非不断地运用理性习惯,把这些胡思乱想加以清除或抑制,
不然人就会变得无力做出正确判断,
有时甚至会完全倾向于做出错误的判断。
这样,理性习惯就会因为停止行动而逐渐削弱,
甚或全然消失。
Hence when man ceases to make use of his intellectual habits,
strange fancies, sometimes in opposition to them,
arise in his imagination,
so that unless those fancies be, as it were,
cut off or kept back by frequent use of his intellectual habits,
man become less fit to judge rightly
and sometinies is even wholly disposed to the contrary;
and thus the intellectual habit is diminished or even wholly destroyed
by cessation from act.
阿奎那:《神学大全》I,ii,53,3 Aquinas, Summa Theofogica
引自第1页