【摘抄/翻译】亚历山大并不伟大，或者说，他和我们同样伟大。
摘自培根《新工具》（Novum Organum）第一卷97-98。
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But if a man of mature age, unprejudiced senses, and clear mind, would betake himself anew to experience and particulars, we might hope much more from such a one; in which respect we promise ourselves the fortune of Alexander the Great, and let none accuse us of vanity till they have heard the tale, which is intended to check vanity.
……但一个人，若其年纪成熟、感官无碍、心智清明，并决意投入经验与具体之中，我们就将看到另外一番景象；此时，我们的前途一如亚历山大大帝。谁都无权指责我们自负自满，直到他们听闻传说，得到回应。
For Æschines spoke thus of Alexander and his exploits: “We live not the life of mortals, but are born at such a period that posterity will relate and declare our prodigies”; as if he considered the exploits of Alexander to be miraculous.
埃斯基涅斯曾如此评价亚历山大和他的事迹：“我们过的，不是凡人的一生。我们生在一个后人将反复提及，并且称颂功绩的年代。”似乎他把亚历山大的功业当作了神迹。
But in succeeding ages Livy took a better view of the fact, and has made some such observation as this upon Alexander: “That he did no more than dare to despise insignificance.” So in our opinion posterity will judge of us, that we have achieved no great matters, but only set less account upon what is considered important ...
但在之后的时代，李维则对事实作出了更恰当的观察，并如是评述亚历山大：“他所做的，无非是敢于蔑视无意义的事物。”后人在评价我们时，大概也是如此，我们并没有做什么大事，只是不那么在意，一些所谓重要的东西……
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