कर्म तार्किक आत्मा की वह गतिविधि है, जो तर्कहीनता से नफ़रत करती है और या तो उससे लड़ती है या खुद भ्रष्ट हो जाती है। जब वह दूसरों की तर्कहीनता देखती है, तो उसे सुधारने की कोशिश करती है और यह काम या तो शिक्षा देकर कर सकती है या खुद सार्वजनिक मामलों में उतरकर, अपने आचरण से सुधार लाती है। और कर्म का उद्देश्य यह सुनिश्चित करना है कि दर्शनशास्त्र (फ़िलॉसफ़्री) जीवित रहे, क्योंकि अगर मनुष्य केवल भौतिक चीज़ों तक सिमट कर रह जाए, तो वह महज़ एक जानवर बनकर रह जाएगा।
Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.
Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.
इससे ज़्यादा मूर्खतापूर्ण विचार शायद ही कोई हो सकता है, क्योंकि यह बिल्कुल साफ़ है कि पाठक को वही बताया जाता है जो लेखक उसे बताना चाहता है, और इस तरह पाठक को बरगलाकर लगभग किसी भी बात पर यकीन दिला दिया जाता है।
And a more foolish notion can scarcely be imagined, it being obvious that the reader is only informed of what the writer wishes him to know, and is thus seduced into believing almost anything.
And a more foolish notion can scarcely be imagined, it being obvious that the reader is only informed of what the writer wishes him to know, and is thus seduced into believing almost anything.
कूटनीति और सदाचार का मेल आसान नहीं होता।
Diplomacy and virtue do not make easy companions.
Diplomacy and virtue do not make easy companions.
क्या आप जानते हैं, मैं सिर्फ़ यहूदियों के साथ ही बात कर सकता हूँ? कम से कम जब वे धर्मग्रंथों का हवाला देते हैं, तो वे किसी पादरी की रटी-रटाई बातें नहीं दोहरा रहे होते हैं। उनकी सबसे बड़ी खूबी यह है कि वे मेरी लगभग हर बात से असहमत होते हैं। बल्कि, वे अपनी खुद की कही गई लगभग हर बात से भी असहमत होते हैं। और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि वे यह नहीं सोचते कि चिल्लाने से उनकी बात में ज़्यादा वज़न आ जाता है।
Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument.
Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument.
हर तबाही का कोई न कोई स्वागत करता ही है; हमेशा कोई न कोई ऐसा होता है जो आपदा पर खुश होता है और उसमें एक नई शुरुआत और बेहतर दुनिया की उम्मीद देखता है।
Every cataclysm is welcomed by somebody; there is always someone to rejoice at disaster and see in it the prospect of a new beginning and a better world.
Every cataclysm is welcomed by somebody; there is always someone to rejoice at disaster and see in it the prospect of a new beginning and a better world.
क्योंकि इंसान दूसरों की नज़रों में प्रतिष्ठा के उस कमज़ोर धागे के सहारे टिके रहते हैं, जो इतना कोमल और नाज़ुक होता है कि हवा का एक झोंका भी उसे उड़ा ले जाए।
For men are held above their fellows by the gossamer of reputation, which is so soft and fragile a breath can blow it away.
For men are held above their fellows by the gossamer of reputation, which is so soft and fragile a breath can blow it away.
पहली बार, वह सचमुच कुछ और चाहती थी। वह नहीं जानती थी कि वह क्या चाहती है, बस इतना जानती थी कि यह खतरनाक है और उसे जो मिला है उसी में संतोष करना चाहिए, लेकिन उसके भीतर एक गहरा खालीपन जाग उठा था, जो अब कसकने लगा था।
For the first time, she did want more. She did not know what she wanted, knew that it was dangerous and that she should rest content with what she had, but she knew an emptiness deep inside her, which began to ache.
For the first time, she did want more. She did not know what she wanted, knew that it was dangerous and that she should rest content with what she had, but she knew an emptiness deep inside her, which began to ache.
क्योंकि अपने अतीत के अलावा हम हैं ही क्या? अगर वह भी छिन जाए, तो हम कुछ नहीं बचते।
For what are we but our past? If that is lost, we become nothing.
For what are we but our past? If that is lost, we become nothing.
भगवान न करे कि कभी मुझे पैसे के लिए किताब छापने की जिल्लत उठानी पड़े, या मेरे परिवार का कोई सदस्य खुद को इतना गिरा दे। कौन जाने इसे कौन पढ़ेगा? मुझे लगता है कि आज तक कोई भी अच्छी किताब मुनाफे के लिए नहीं लिखी गई है।
God forbid that I should ever suffer the shame of publishing a book for money, or of having one of my family so demean themselves. How can one tell who might read it? No worthy book has ever been written for gain, I think.
God forbid that I should ever suffer the shame of publishing a book for money, or of having one of my family so demean themselves. How can one tell who might read it? No worthy book has ever been written for gain, I think.
जो इंसान बुराई या पाप से फायदा उठाता है, वही उसका असली गुनहगार होता है।
He who profits by villainy, has perpetrated it.
He who profits by villainy, has perpetrated it.
विल कॉर्ट के मन में सफल होने की चाह तो थी, पर वह इतनी तीव्र नहीं थी कि वह उसे पाने के लिए अपने स्वभाव से समझौता कर लेता।
He (William Cort) had some desire to be successful, but it did not burn so strongly in him that he was prepared to overcome his character to achieve it.
He (William Cort) had some desire to be successful, but it did not burn so strongly in him that he was prepared to overcome his character to achieve it.
मैंने यह सीख लिया था कि अगर मुझे जीवन में कुछ भी हासिल करना है, तो मुझे मोह-माया से ऊपर उठना होगा।
I learned that I' have to be detached if I was ever to achieve anything at all.
I learned that I' have to be detached if I was ever to achieve anything at all.
मैंने अपनी छोटी सी क्षमता के मुताबिक ज्ञान को सहेजा, उसकी सूची बनाई और ज्ञान के उस अथाह महासागर में गोता लगाया, यह जानते हुए भी कि एक इंसान की पूरी ज़िंदगी भी उन चमत्कारों के एक छोटे से हिस्से को जानने के लिए काफ़ी नहीं है। यह कितनी क्रूर बात है कि हमें जानने की इच्छा तो दी गई है, लेकिन उसे ठीक से पूरा करने के लिए समय नहीं दिया गया। हम सब अधूरे सपनों के साथ ही मरते हैं; यह ज़िंदगी का सबसे बड़ा सबक है जिसे हमें सीखना ही होता है।
In my small way, I preserved and catalogued, and dipped into the vast ocean of learning that awaited, knowing all the time that the life of one man was insufficient for even the smallest part of the wonders that lay within. It is cruel that we are granted the desire to know, but denied the time to do so properly. We all die frustrated; it is the greatest lesson we have to learn.
In my small way, I preserved and catalogued, and dipped into the vast ocean of learning that awaited, knowing all the time that the life of one man was insufficient for even the smallest part of the wonders that lay within. It is cruel that we are granted the desire to know, but denied the time to do so properly. We all die frustrated; it is the greatest lesson we have to learn.
मैनlius... अपने मेहमानों को बुलाने में बहुत सावधानी बरतता था, और गैयास वैलेरियस जैसे उजड्ड और फूहड़ लोगों को जानबूझकर अपने दायरे से दूर रखता था। लेकिन ऐसे लोग हर तरफ थे; असल में मैनlius ही सपनों की दुनिया में जी रहा था और उसकी शालीनता का दायरा दिन-ब-दिन छोटा होता जा रहा था। गैयास वैलेरियस, जो एक रईस और ताकतवर परिवार का सदस्य था, ने कभी प्लातो (प्लेटो) का नाम तक नहीं सुना था। सौ साल, या पचास साल पहले भी, ऐसी अज्ञानता की कल्पना तक नहीं की जा सकती थी। और आज तो यह हैरानी की बात होगी कि ऐसा कोई शख्स दर्शनशास्त्र के बारे में कुछ भी जानता हो, और अगर उसे समझाया भी जाए, तो भी वह समझना नहीं चाहेगा।
Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But they were all around; it was Manlius who lived in a dream world, and his bubble of civility was becoming smaller and smaller. Caius Valerius, powerful member of a powerful family, had never even heard of Plato. A hundred, even fifty years before, such an absurdity would have been inconceivable. Now it was surprising if such a man did know anything of philosophy, and even if it was explained, he would not wish to understand.
Manlius ... took care in his invitations, actively sought to exclude from his circle crude and vulgar men like Caius Valerius. But they were all around; it was Manlius who lived in a dream world, and his bubble of civility was becoming smaller and smaller. Caius Valerius, powerful member of a powerful family, had never even heard of Plato. A hundred, even fifty years before, such an absurdity would have been inconceivable. Now it was surprising if such a man did know anything of philosophy, and even if it was explained, he would not wish to understand.
[मनुष्य] [अपनी आत्मा के प्रकाश की बजाय] सांसारिक मूर्खता और मोह-माया को चुनते हैं। वे बेतुकी बातों पर यकीन करते हैं और सच से कतराते हैं। नहीं, वे ऐसा नहीं करते। बात सिर्फ़ इतनी है कि वे डरे हुए हैं। और उन्हें तब तक यहीं धरती पर रहना होगा जब तक कि वे यहाँ से जाने का रास्ता नहीं पा लेते। और वे कैसे जाते हैं? ऊपर की ओर यात्रा कैसे होती है? क्या सदाचार सीखना पड़ता है?इस पर वह हँसती है। तुमने किताबें बहुत पढ़ी हैं, पर समझा बहुत कम है। सदाचार कोई मंज़िल नहीं, एक रास्ता है। इंसान सदाचारी नहीं हो सकता। समझ ही असली लक्ष्य है। जब वह हासिल हो जाता है, तो आत्मा को पंख मिल जाते हैं।
[Men] prefer the foolish belief and the passions of the earth [to the enlightenment of their souls]. They believe the absurd and shrink from the truth.No, they do not. They are afraid, that is all. And they must remain on earth until they come to the way of leaving it.And how do they leave? How is the ascent made? Must one learn virtue?Here she laughs. You have read too much, and learned too little. Virtue is a road, not a destination. Man cannot be virtuous. Understanding is the goal. When that is achieved, the soul can take wing.
[Men] prefer the foolish belief and the passions of the earth [to the enlightenment of their souls]. They believe the absurd and shrink from the truth.No, they do not. They are afraid, that is all. And they must remain on earth until they come to the way of leaving it.And how do they leave? How is the ascent made? Must one learn virtue?Here she laughs. You have read too much, and learned too little. Virtue is a road, not a destination. Man cannot be virtuous. Understanding is the goal. When that is achieved, the soul can take wing.
दर्शनशास्त्र को मिटाया नहीं जा सकता, भले ही लोग कितनी भी कोशिश कर लें... आत्मा की फ़ितरत ही रोशनी की तलाश करना है। वह अपने उद्गम स्थल पर लौートना चाहती है, और ज्ञान की रोशनी तक पहुँचने की कोशिश उसे हमेशा करती रहनी होगी।
Philosophy cannot be extinguished, though men will try ... The spirit seeks the light, that is its nature. It wishes to return to its origin, and must forever try to reach enlightenment.
Philosophy cannot be extinguished, though men will try ... The spirit seeks the light, that is its nature. It wishes to return to its origin, and must forever try to reach enlightenment.
बुद्धि के बिना शक्ति अत्याचार है, और शक्ति के बिना बुद्धि व्यर्थ है।
Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
वह ऐसी चीज़ की तलाश कर रही थी जो मैं उसे कभी नहीं दे सकता था।" उसकी गहरी आँखें फिर से जूलिया के मन में उतर गईं। "युवती, तुम्हारे स्वभाव में भी कुछ ऐसी ही बात है। मेरी सलाह मानो: यह मत सोचना कि तुम्हें वह किसी और इंसान में मिल जाएगी। वह तुम्हें नहीं मिलेगी। वह वहाँ है ही नहीं। तुम्हें उसे अपने ही भीतर खोजना होगा।
She was looking for something I could never give her." Again his dark eyes bored into Julia's mind. "You have something of the same about you, young woman. Take my advice: Don't think you will find it in another person. You won't. It's not there. You must find it in yourself.
She was looking for something I could never give her." Again his dark eyes bored into Julia's mind. "You have something of the same about you, young woman. Take my advice: Don't think you will find it in another person. You won't. It's not there. You must find it in yourself.
अच्छी नीयत वाले लोगों द्वारा किया गया बुरा काम सबसे बदतर होता है... हमने सबसे अच्छे कारणों से भयानक काम किए हैं, और यही बात इसे और भी बदतर बना देती है।
The evil done by men of goodwill is the worst of all ... We have done terrible things, for the best of reasons, and that makes it worse.
The evil done by men of goodwill is the worst of all ... We have done terrible things, for the best of reasons, and that makes it worse.
सभ्यता का सार सभ्य होना है; कर्म का उद्देश्य समाज को जीवित रखना है, क्योंकि केवल समाज में ही दर्शन वास्तव में पनप सकता है।
The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy truly take place.
The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy truly take place.
सिर्फ इसलिए कि कोई काम पहले नहीं किया गया, यह इस बात का प्रमाण नहीं है कि वह किया ही नहीं जा सकता।
The simple fact that something has not been done, is no proof that it cannot be.
The simple fact that something has not been done, is no proof that it cannot be.
सद्गुण ईश्वर के चिंतन और दर्शन के अभ्यास से आता है। लेकिन यह जनसेवा से भी आता है। एक के बिना दूसरा अधूरा है। बुद्धि के बिना शक्ति अत्याचार है, और शक्ति के बिना बुद्धि व्यर्थ है।
Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is incomplete without the other. Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is incomplete without the other. Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.
क्या हिपेशिया अलेक्जेंड्रिया की सबसे महान दार्शनिक और ज्ञान के पुराने मूल्यों की सच्ची शहीद नहीं थीं? गुस्से में भरी भीड़ ने उन्हें इसलिए टुकड़े-टुकड़े नहीं किया कि वह एक महिला थीं, बल्कि इसलिए कि उनका ज्ञान इतना अगाध था और उनकी तर्क-शैली इतनी प्रबल थी कि उन्होंने बहस करने वाले हर व्यक्ति को शर्मिंदा करके चुप करा दिया था। वे उनसे तर्क नहीं कर पाए, इसलिए उन्होंने उनकी हत्या कर दी।
Was not Hypatia the greatest philosopher of Alexandria, and a true martyr to the old values of learning? She was torn to pieces by a mob of incensed Christians not because she was a woman, but because her learning was so profound, her skills at dialectic so extensive that she reduced all who queried her to embarrassed silence. They could not argue with her, so they murdered her.
Was not Hypatia the greatest philosopher of Alexandria, and a true martyr to the old values of learning? She was torn to pieces by a mob of incensed Christians not because she was a woman, but because her learning was so profound, her skills at dialectic so extensive that she reduced all who queried her to embarrassed silence. They could not argue with her, so they murdered her.
जब यह सब खत्म हो जाएगा, तो लोग अकेले जर्मनी को दोषी ठहराने की कोशिश करेंगे, जर्मनी अकेले नाजियों को दोषी ठहराने की कोशिश करेगा, और नाजी अकेले हिटलर को दोषी ठहराने की कोशिश करेंगे। वे दुनिया के सारे पापों का बोझ उसी पर डाल देंगे। लेकिन यह सच नहीं है। तुम्हें अंदाज़ा था कि क्या हो रहा है, और मुझे भी। एक साल पहले ही बहुत देर हो चुकी थी। मैंने एक रिपोर्टर को उसकी नौकरी से इसलिए निकलवा दिया क्योंकि तुमने मुझसे कहा था। उसे देश से निकाल दिया गया था। जिस दिन मैंने वह किया, मैंने सभ्यता में अपना छोटा सा योगदान दिया, बस वही जो वास्तव में मायने रखता है।
When all this is over, people will try to blame the Germans alone, and the Germans will try to blame the Nazis alone, and the Nazis will try to blame Hitler alone. They will make him bear the sins of the world. But it's not true. You suspected what was happening, and so did I. It was already too late over a year ago. I caused a reporter to lose his job because you told me to. He was deported. The day I did that I made my little contribution to civilization, the only one that matters.
When all this is over, people will try to blame the Germans alone, and the Germans will try to blame the Nazis alone, and the Nazis will try to blame Hitler alone. They will make him bear the sins of the world. But it's not true. You suspected what was happening, and so did I. It was already too late over a year ago. I caused a reporter to lose his job because you told me to. He was deported. The day I did that I made my little contribution to civilization, the only one that matters.
आप वास्तव में कौन हैं, यह इससे कम महत्वपूर्ण है कि आप कैसे दिखते हैं।
Who you are is less important than what you seem.
Who you are is less important than what you seem.