アダム・スミス『道徳感情論』(74)偉大なる助け主「時」

In the end, Time, the great and universal comforter, gradually composes the weak man to the same degree of tranquillity which a regard to his own dignity and manhood teaches the wise man to assume in the beginning. The case of the man with the wooden leg is an obvious example of this. In the irreparable misfortunes occasioned by the death of children, or of friends and relations, even a wise man may for some time indulge himself in some degree of moderated sorrow. - Adam Smith, The Theory of moral sentiments: 3.1.2. Chap. II

《結局のところ、万人の偉大な助け主たる「時」は、自らの尊厳と男らしさへの配慮が賢者に最初に抱かせるのと同程度の平穏へと徐々にその弱者を落ち着かせるのである。木製の義足をした男の例は、このことがよく分かる例である。子供の死、友人や親戚の死といった回復不可能な不幸に見舞われれば、賢明な人間でさえ、多少控えめではあれ、暫(しば)し悲しみに浸ることだろう》―アダム・スミス『道徳感情論』第3部:第3章

An affectionate, but weak woman, is often, upon such occasions, almost perfectly distracted. Time, however, in a longer or shorter period, never fails to compose the weakest woman to the same degree of tranquillity as the strongest man. In all the irreparable calamities which affect himself immediately and directly, a wise man endeavours, from the beginning, to anticipate and to enjoy before-hand, that tranquillity which he foresees the course of a few months, or a few years, will certainly restore to him in the end. – Ibid.

《優しいがか弱い女性は、そのような場合、まったくといって取り乱すことが多い。しかしながら、時が経てば、早晩、どんなにか弱い女性であっても、必ず最も強い男性と同じ程度の平穏さに落ち着く。即座に直接感動する回復不可能な災難であっても、賢者は、端(はな)から、数ヶ月ないしは数年経(た)てば、必ず最終的に回復されると見込まれる平穏さを、事前に期待し、享受しようとするのである》― 同

In the misfortunes for which the nature of things admits, or seems to admit, of a remedy, but in which the means of applying that remedy are not within the reach of the sufferer, his vain and fruitless attempts to restore himself to his former situation, his continual anxiety for their success, his repeated disappointments upon their miscarriage, are what chiefly hinder him from resuming his natural tranquillity, and frequently render miserable, during the whole of his life, a man to whom a greater misfortune, but which plainly admitted of no remedy, would not have given a fortnight's disturbance. – Ibid.

《事の本質上、救済の余地がある、あるいはあるように見えるが、その救済策を適用する手段が苦しんでいる人の手の届かないところにある災厄では、元の状況に自分を戻そうと悪足掻(わるあが)きし、その試みが成功することを絶えず望み、失敗して失望を繰り返すことが、本来の平穏を取り戻すのを妨げている主なものであり、より大きいが明らかに救済の余地がない災厄に見舞われれば、2週間も悩まされることはなかっただろう人を、生涯にわたって悲惨な目に遭わせることもしばしばなのである》― 同

In the fall from royal favour to disgrace, from power to insignificancy, from riches to poverty, from liberty to confinement, from strong health to some lingering, chronical, and perhaps incurable disease, the man who struggles the least, who most easily and readily acquiesces in the fortune which has fallen to him, very soon recovers his usual and natural tranquility, and surveys the most disagreeable circumstances of his actual situation in the same light, or, perhaps, in a much less unfavourable light, than that in which the most indifferent spectator is disposed to survey them. Faction, intrigue, and cabal, disturb the quiet of the unfortunate statesman. Extravagant projects, visions of gold mines, interrupt the repose of the ruined bankrupt. – Ibid.

《王の寵愛(ちょうあい)から不名誉へ、権力から無価値へ、富裕から貧困へ、自由から監禁へ、健康から長引く、慢性的な、恐らく不治の病へ、転落しても、全く藻掻(もが)きもせず、自分に降りかかった運命を極めてすんなりすぐさま黙従する人は、あっという間にいつもの自然な平穏を取り戻し、自分の現状のうち最も不愉快な境遇を、最も無関心な観察者が見るのと同じ見方で、あるいは恐らくは遥かに否定的ではない見方で見る。派閥、陰謀、徒党が、不運な政治家の静寂を搔き乱す。法外な計画、金鉱の幻が、破産者の安息を妨げるのである》― 同

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