Lesson 6 The Sporting Spirit 體育精神 原文是英國著名諷刺作家喬治·奧威爾所作，代表作有《1984》《動物農場》等，下文由本人翻譯，是一篇短篇的議論，已然成了名篇，不過各大出版社大都不敢收錄其中。 每每聽聞諸如體育能締造國家間的友誼，抑或是諸如唯有世界公民在足球或板球賽場上相擁圍聚，他們才能避免在狼煙四起的沙場決斗時，我總震驚不已?？v使一個人對于具體的例子（如1936年奧運會）一無所知，對于國際視野的運動比賽所致使的憎惡的放蕩也無所獲，他至少能從總結性的準則觸類旁通。 現今幾乎所有訓練的運動都是富于競爭性的。人們只是為了獲勝而樂此不疲。如果你不赴以全力去贏，那么游戲幾乎失去了其意義。在一片翠綠的農郊鄉(xiāng)野中，你自選一邊隊伍，淡然于席卷而來的愛國主義、地方觀念。在這種場合下，你是有可能只為歡愉與磨煉技術而玩的。但當名譽的問題拂起心頭，當你意識到你和你的隊伍將會因落敗而蒙面，內心最深處的野蠻、好斗的直覺天性難免縈繞。這般道理，即使只在校足球隊的隊員都無比清楚。而在國際階段的比賽中，比賽，坦言之，已然成了模擬戰(zhàn)爭。但是最打緊的不是選手的行為，而是眾看客對此的態(tài)度。還有，就是在觀眾背后，國家的態(tài)度。那些國家總為這些荒誕不經的競技而癲癡如狂，進而不可理喻地堅信在短期內如此——跑步、跳躍、踢球都是國家美德素質的“絕佳”測驗。 附原文 I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the would could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce if from general principles. Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as a the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe -- at any rate for short periods -- that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.