Lesson 45 Of men and galaxies人生星系

In man's early days, competition with other creatures must have been critical.

man's early days ^人类早期

• In **man's early days**, competition with other creatures must have been critical.^{在人类早期，与其它生物的竞争一定是至关重要的。}
• **Man's early days** were marked by constant struggle for survival against the elements.^{人类的早期以与自然元素的持续生存斗争为特征。}
• The artifacts offer a glimpse into **man's early days** and simple tools.^{这些文物提供了对人类早期和简单工具的一瞥。}

competition with other creatures ^{与其它生物的竞争}

• In man's early days, **competition with other creatures** must have been critical.^{在人类早期，与其它生物的竞争一定是至关重要的。}
• The ecosystem is defined by the intense **competition with other creatures** for limited resources.^{生态系统是由与其它生物争夺有限资源的激烈竞争所定义的。}

must have been critical ^{一定是至关重要的/必然是严峻的}

• Competition with other creatures **must have been critical**.^{与其它生物的竞争一定是至关重要的。}
• The unexpected weather event **must have been critical** to the failure of the harvest.^{意外的天气事件对收成失败来说必然是严峻的。}

But this phase of our development is now finished.

this phase of our development ^{我们发展的这个阶段}

• But **this phase of our development** is now finished.^{但我们发展的这个阶段现在已经结束了。}
• We are entering a new era as **this phase of our development** comes to a close.^{随着我们发展的这个阶段接近尾声，我们正在进入一个新时代。}

is now finished ^{现在已经结束了}

• This phase of our development **is now finished**.^{我们发展的这个阶段现在已经结束了。}
• The construction work on the new bridge **is now finished** ahead of schedule.^{新桥的建设工作现在已经提前完成了。}

Indeed, we lack practice and experience nowadays in dealing with primitive conditions. 

indeed ^{确实/实际上}

• **Indeed**, we lack practice and experience nowadays in dealing with primitive conditions.^{实际上，我们现在缺乏处理原始环境的实践和经验。}
• The report confirms the initial findings; **indeed**, the results are even stronger than anticipated.^{报告证实了最初的发现；实际上，结果甚至比预期的还要强劲。}

lack practice and experience ^{缺乏实践和经验}

• We **lack practice and experience** nowadays in dealing with primitive conditions.^{我们现在缺乏处理原始环境的实践和经验。}
• The young politician's proposal shows that he **lacks practice and experience** in actual governance.^{这位年轻政治家的提议表明他缺乏实际治理的实践和经验。}

dealing with primitive conditions ^{处理原始环境}

• We lack practice and experience nowadays in **dealing with primitive conditions**.^{我们现在缺乏处理原始环境的实践和经验。}
• Survival training focuses on methods for **dealing with primitive conditions** in the wild.^{生存训练侧重于在野外处理原始环境的方法。}

I am sure that, without modern weapons, I would make a very poor show of disputing the ownership of a cave with a bear, and in this I do not think that I stand alone.

make a very poor show of ^{表现得非常糟糕/丢脸}

• I would **make a very poor show of** disputing the ownership of a cave with a bear.^{我会在与熊争夺一个洞穴的所有权方面表现得非常糟糕。}
• Despite months of rehearsal, the lead actor **made a very poor show of** his final performance.^{尽管排练了数月，这位主角的最后一场演出表现得非常糟糕。}

disputing the ownership of ^{争夺…的所有权}

• Make a very poor show of **disputing the ownership of** a cave with a bear.^{在与熊争夺一个洞穴的所有权方面表现得非常糟糕。}
• The two neighboring countries are still **disputing the ownership of** the border islands.^{这两个邻国仍在争夺边境岛屿的所有权。}

I do not think that I stand alone ^{我不认为我是一个人（有同感）}

• And in this **I do not think that I stand alone**.^{在这方面，我不认为我是一个人（有同感）。}
• Facing the difficulty of learning a new language, **I do not think that I stand alone**.^{面对学习一门新语言的困难，我不认为我是一个人（有同感）。}

The last creature to compete with man was the mosquito.

the last creature ^{最后的生物}

• **The last creature** to compete with man was the mosquito.^{与人类竞争的最后一个生物是蚊子。}
• The extinction of the giant panda is a reminder that it may not be **the last creature** we lose.^{大熊猫的灭绝提醒我们，它可能不是我们失去的最后一个生物。}

compete with man ^{与人类竞争}

• The last creature to **compete with man** was the mosquito.^{与人类竞争的最后一个生物是蚊子。}

But even the mosquito has been subdued by attention to drainage and by chemical sprays.

has been subdued by ^{已被…所制服/征服}

• But even the mosquito **has been subdued by** attention to drainage and by chemical sprays.^{但即使是蚊子也已被对排水的关注和化学喷雾所制服。}
• The sudden uprising **has been subdued by** the swift deployment of peacekeeping forces.^{突如其来的起义已被维和部队的快速部署所制服。}
• The spread of the invasive plant species **has been subdued by** the introduction of a natural predator.^{入侵植物物种的蔓延已被引入一种天然捕食者所制服。}

Competition between ourselves, person against person, community against community, still persists, however; and it is as fierce as it ever was.

competition between ourselves ^{我们彼此间的竞争}

• **Competition between ourselves**, person against person, still persists.^{我们彼此间的竞争，人与人之间，仍然持续存在。}
• Despite the collaborative environment, **competition between ourselves** for promotion remains intense.^{尽管环境协作，我们彼此间的晋升竞争仍然激烈。}
• History is often characterized by the intense **competition between ourselves** across different empires.^{历史的特征常常是不同帝国之间彼此的激烈竞争。}

still persists, however ^{然而，仍然持续存在}

• Competition between ourselves... **still persists, however**.^{我们彼此间的竞争……然而，仍然持续存在。}
• The habit of procrastination **still persists, however**, despite her best efforts to change.^{尽管她尽了最大努力去改变，然而拖延的习惯仍然持续存在。}

as fierce as it ever was ^{一如既往地激烈}

• And it is **as fierce as it ever was**.^{而且它一如既往地激烈。}
• The rivalry between the two sports teams remains **as fierce as it ever was**.^{这两支运动队之间的竞争仍然一如既往地激烈。}

But the competition of man against man is not the simple process envisioned in biology.

competition of man against man ^{人与人之间的竞争}

• But the **competition of man against man** is not the simple process envisioned in biology.^{但人与人之间的竞争并不是生物学中设想的简单过程。}
• In the modern economy, the **competition of man against man** is primarily intellectual, not physical.^{在现代经济中，人与人之间的竞争主要是知识上的，而非体力上的。}

envisioned in biology ^{在生物学中设想的}

• Is not the simple process **envisioned in biology**.^{并不是生物学中设想的简单过程。}
• The phenomenon is far more complex than the model **envisioned in biology**.^{这种现象比生物学中设想的模型要复杂得多。}

It is not a simple competition for a fixed amount of food determined by the physical environment, because the environment that determines our evolution is no longer essentially physical.

competition for a fixed amount of food ^{对固定数量食物的竞争}

• It is not a simple **competition for a fixed amount of food** determined by the physical environment.^{这不是对由物理环境决定的固定数量食物的简单竞争。}

determined by the physical environment ^{由物理环境决定}

• A fixed amount of food **determined by the physical environment**.^{由物理环境决定的固定数量的食物。}
• The early migration patterns were largely **determined by the physical environment** and climate.^{早期的迁徙模式主要由物理环境和气候决定。}

is no longer essentially physical ^{本质上不再是物理性的} 

• The environment that determines our evolution **is no longer essentially physical**.^{决定我们进化的环境本质上不再是物理性的。}
• Modern warfare **is no longer essentially physical**, relying heavily on cyber capabilities.^{现代战争本质上不再是物理性的，严重依赖网络能力。}

Our environment is chiefly conditioned by the things we believe.

chiefly conditioned by ^{主要受…所制约/决定}

• Our environment is **chiefly conditioned by** the things we believe.^{我们的环境主要受我们所相信的事物所制约。}
• The success of the project was **chiefly conditioned by** the amount of funding received.^{项目的成功主要受收到的资金数额所制约。}
• A country's political stability is **chiefly conditioned by** the strength of its democratic institutions.^{一个国家的政治稳定主要受其民主机构的强度所制约。}

the things we believe ^{我们所相信的事物}

• Our environment is chiefly conditioned by **the things we believe**.^{我们的环境主要受我们所相信的事物所制约。}

Morocco and California are bits of the Earth in very similar latitudes, both on the west coasts of continents with similar climates, and probably with rather similar natural resources.

bits of the Earth ^{地球的一部分/地区}

• Morocco and California are **bits of the Earth** in very similar latitudes.^{摩洛哥和加利福尼亚是地球上位于非常相似纬度的地区。}
• Explorers often sought to discover unknown **bits of the Earth** on their voyages.^{探险家们经常在他们的航行中寻求发现地球上未知的地区。}

in very similar latitudes ^{在非常相似的纬度}

• Bits of the Earth **in very similar latitudes**.^{地球上位于非常相似的纬度的地区。}
• Regions **in very similar latitudes** often share similar solar exposure patterns.^{位于非常相似纬度的地区通常共享相似的日照模式。}

on the west coasts of continents ^{在大陆的西海岸}

• Both **on the west coasts of continents** with similar climates.^{都在大陆的西海岸，气候相似。}
• Many major cities are situated **on the west coasts of continents** due to favorable ocean currents.^{由于有利的洋流，许多主要城市都位于大陆的西海岸。}

with rather similar natural resources ^{自然资源可能相当相似}

• And probably **with rather similar natural resources**.^{而且自然资源可能相当相似。}
• The two neighboring provinces are blessed **with rather similar natural resources**, including large mineral deposits.^{这两个相邻的省份拥有相当相似的自然资源，包括大量的矿藏。}

Yet their present development is wholly different, not so much because of different people even, but because of the different thoughts that exist in the minds of their inhabitants.

present development is wholly different ^{目前的开发/发展完全不同}

• Yet their **present development is wholly different**.^{然而，他们目前的开发完全不同。}
• Despite starting with the same resources, the two startups' **present development is wholly different**.^{尽管最初资源相同，但这两家初创公司目前的开发完全不同。}

not so much because of... but because of... ^{与其说是由于…不如说是由于…}

• **Not so much because of** different people even, **but because of** the different thoughts.^{与其说是由于不同的人，不如说是由于存在于他们居民头脑中的不同思想。}
• He left the job **not so much because of** the low salary, **but because of** the toxic work environment.^{他辞职与其说是由于薪水低，不如说是由于有毒的工作环境。}
• The market shift occurred **not so much because of** competition, **but because of** a change in consumer habits.^{市场的转变与其说是由于竞争，不如说是由于消费者习惯的改变。}

the different thoughts that exist in the minds of their inhabitants ^{存在于他们居民头脑中的不同思想}

• Because of **the different thoughts that exist in the minds of their inhabitants**.^{由于存在于他们居民头脑中的不同思想。}

This is the point I wish to emphasize. The most important factor in our environment is the state of our own minds.

the point I wish to emphasize ^{我希望强调的观点/重点}

• This is **the point I wish to emphasize**.^{这是我希望强调的观点。}
• Let me reiterate **the point I wish to emphasize**: deadlines are non-negotiable.^{让我重申我希望强调的观点：截止日期不容商议。}

the most important factor in our environment ^{我们环境中最主要的因素}

• **The most important factor in our environment** is the state of our own minds.^{我们环境中最主要的因素是我们自己的心智状态。}
• Clean air is arguably **the most important factor in our environment** for long-term health.^{洁净的空气可以说是我们环境中对长期健康来说最重要的因素。}

the state of our own minds ^{我们自己的心智状态}

• The most important factor in our environment is **the state of our own minds**.^{我们环境中最主要的因素是我们自己的心智状态。}
• Maintaining a positive **state of our own minds** is essential for creativity and productivity.^{保持积极的心智状态对于创造力和生产力至关重要。}

It is well known that where the white man has invaded a primitive culture, the most destructive effects have come not from physical weapons but from ideas.

it is well known that ^众所周知

• **It is well known that** where the white man has invaded a primitive culture, destructive effects followed.^{众所周知，白人侵入原始文化的地方，都会带来破坏性影响。}
• **It is well known that** exercise has significant benefits for mental health.^{众所周知，运动对心理健康有显著益处。}

has invaded a primitive culture ^{侵入了一个原始文化}

• Where the white man **has invaded a primitive culture**, the most destructive effects occurred.^{白人侵入了一个原始文化的地方，带来了最具破坏性的影响。}
• The modern world **has invaded a primitive culture** with technology and new economic systems.^{现代世界以技术和新的经济体系侵入了一个原始文化。}

the most destructive effects have come from ^{最具破坏性的影响来自于}

• **The most destructive effects have come not from** physical weapons **but from** ideas.^{最具破坏性的影响并非来自于物理武器，而是来自于思想。}

Ideas are dangerous.

dangerous ^危险的

• Ideas are **dangerous**.^{思想是危险的。}
• The committee reviewed the new policy, deeming it potentially **dangerous** for public trust.^{委员会审查了这项新政策，认为它对公众信任可能很危险。}
• Ignoring the warning signs in the market can be financially **dangerous**.^{忽视市场中的警告信号在经济上可能是危险的。}

The Holy Office knew this full well when it caused heretics to be burned in days gone by. 

knew this full well ^{非常清楚这一点}

• The Holy Office **knew this full well** when it caused heretics to be burned.^{宗教裁判所对此非常清楚，因为它在过去的日子里曾导致异教徒被烧死。}
• She **knew this full well** that delaying the repair would lead to greater problems later.^{她非常清楚，推迟修理会在以后导致更大的问题。}

caused heretics to be burned ^{导致异教徒被烧死}

• It **caused heretics to be burned** in days gone by.^{它在过去的日子里曾导致异教徒被烧死。}

in days gone by ^{在过去的日子里}

• The Holy Office knew this full well... **in days gone by**.^{宗教裁判所对此非常清楚，它在过去的日子里曾导致异教徒被烧死。}
• Life was simpler **in days gone by**, before the invention of the internet.^{在过去的日子里，在互联网发明之前，生活更简单。}

Indeed, the concept of free speech only exists in our modern society because when you are inside a community, you are conditioned by the conventions of the community to such a degree that it is very difficult to conceive of anything really destructive.

the concept of free speech ^{言论自由的概念}

• **The concept of free speech** only exists in our modern society.^{言论自由的概念只存在于我们的现代社会中。}

are conditioned by the conventions of the community ^{受制于社区的习俗}

• You are **conditioned by the conventions of the community** to such a degree.^{你受制于社区的习俗到了如此程度。}
• The individual's behavior is heavily **conditioned by the conventions of the community** in which they live.^{个人的行为在很大程度上受制于他们所居住社区的习俗。}

to such a degree that ^{到了如此程度以至于}

• You are conditioned by the conventions of the community **to such a degree that** it is very difficult to conceive of anything really destructive.^{你受制于社区的习俗到了如此程度，以至于很难构想出任何真正具有破坏性的事物。}
• The market changed **to such a degree that** the original business model was no longer viable.^{市场变化到了如此程度，以至于最初的商业模式不再可行。}

conceive of anything really destructive ^{构想出任何真正具有破坏性的事物}

• It is very difficult to **conceive of anything really destructive**.^{很难构想出任何真正具有破坏性的事物。}
• It is hard for people living in peace to **conceive of anything really destructive** like a large-scale conflict.^{对于生活在和平中的人来说，很难构想出任何真正具有破坏性的事物，比如大规模冲突。}

It is only someone looking on from outside that can inject the dangerous thoughts.

looking on from outside ^{从外部观察}

• It is only someone **looking on from outside** that can inject the dangerous thoughts.^{只有从外部观察的人才能注入危险的思想。}
• The report provided a critical perspective by **looking on from outside** the company's internal politics.^{这份报告通过从公司内部政治的外部观察，提供了批判性的视角。}

inject the dangerous thoughts ^{注入危险的思想} 

• Only someone looking on from outside that can **inject the dangerous thoughts**.^{只有从外部观察的人才能注入危险的思想。}
• Propaganda aims to **inject the dangerous thoughts** of division and hatred into the public discourse.^{宣传旨在向公共话语中注入分裂和仇恨的危险思想。}

I do not doubt that it would be possible to inject ideas into the modern world that would utterly destroy us.

I do not doubt that ^{我毫不怀疑}

• **I do not doubt that** it would be possible to inject ideas into the modern world.^{我毫不怀疑，将思想注入现代世界是可能的。}
• **I do not doubt that** with enough effort, we can overcome this challenge before the deadline.^{我毫不怀疑，只要付出足够的努力，我们就能在截止日期前克服这一挑战。}

utterly destroy us ^{彻底摧毁我们}

• Ideas into the modern world that would **utterly destroy us**.^{注入现代世界的思想将彻底摧毁我们。}
• The unexpected natural disaster had the potential to **utterly destroy us** if not for the early warning systems.^{如果不是早期预警系统，这场意料之外的自然灾害有可能彻底摧毁我们。}

I would like to give you an example, but fortunately I cannot do so. Perhaps it will suffice to mention the nuclear bomb.

I would like to give you an example ^{我想给你举一个例子}

• **I would like to give you an example**, but fortunately I cannot do so.^{我想给你举一个例子，但幸运的是我不能这样做。}

I cannot do so ^{我不能这样做}

• I would like to give you an example, but fortunately **I cannot do so**.^{我想给你举一个例子，但幸运的是我不能这样做。}

it will suffice to mention ^{提及…就足够了}

• Perhaps **it will suffice to mention** the nuclear bomb.^{也许提及核弹就足够了。}
• When explaining the concept, **it will suffice to mention** the core principle without delving into the complex mathematics.^{在解释这个概念时，提及核心原理就足够了，而无需深入复杂的数学。}

Imagine the effect on a reasonably advanced technological society, one that still does not possess the bomb, of making it aware of the possibility, of supplying sufficient details to enable the thing to be constructed.

reasonably advanced technological society ^{一个相当先进的科技社会}

• Imagine the effect on a **reasonably advanced technological society**.^{想象一下对一个相当先进的科技社会的影响。}

still does not possess the bomb ^{仍然不拥有核弹}

• One that **still does not possess the bomb**.^{一个仍然不拥有核弹的社会。}
• The region **still does not possess the bomb**, despite decades of trying to develop the technology.^{尽管几十年来一直试图开发这项技术，该地区仍然不拥有核弹。}

making it aware of the possibility ^{让它意识到这种可能性}

• Of **making it aware of the possibility**, of supplying sufficient details.^{让它意识到这种可能性，提供足够的细节。}
• The investigation succeeded in **making it aware of the possibility** of a security breach.^{调查成功地让它意识到安全漏洞的可能性。}

supplying sufficient details to enable the thing to be constructed ^{提供足够的细节使之能够被建造}

• Of **supplying sufficient details to enable the thing to be constructed**.^{提供足够的细节使之能够被建造。}

Twenty or thirty pages of information handed to any of the major world powers around the year 1925 would have been sufficient to change the course of world history.

major world powers ^{世界主要大国}

• Information handed to any of the **major world powers** around the year 1925.^{在1925年左右交给世界主要大国中的任何一个的信息。}
• The summit brought together leaders from all the **major world powers** to discuss climate change.^{这次峰会汇集了所有世界主要大国的领导人，讨论气候变化问题。}

around the year 1925 ^{大约在1925年}

• Major world powers **around the year 1925**.^{大约在1925年的世界主要大国。}

would have been sufficient to ^{将足以/本来就足够}

• Twenty or thirty pages of information **would have been sufficient to** change the course of world history.^{二十或三十页信息将足以改变世界历史的进程。}
• A simple apology **would have been sufficient to** resolve the misunderstanding.^{一个简单的道歉本来就足够解决这个误会。}

change the course of world history ^{改变世界历史的进程}

• Would have been sufficient to **change the course of world history**.^{将足以改变世界历史的进程。}
• The invention of the printing press is widely credited with **changing the course of world history**.^{印刷术的发明被广泛认为是改变世界历史进程的功劳。}

It is a strange thought, but I believe a correct one, that twenty or thirty pages of ideas and information would be capable of turning the present-day world upside down, or even destroying it.

it is a strange thought ^{这是一个奇怪的想法}

• **It is a strange thought**, but I believe a correct one.^{这是一个奇怪的想法，但我相信是正确的。}
• **It is a strange thought** to consider a world without widespread internet connectivity.^{考虑一个没有广泛互联网连接的世界是一个奇怪的想法。}

would be capable of ^{将有能力/能够}

• Ideas and information **would be capable of** turning the present-day world upside down.^{思想和信息将有能力颠覆当今世界。}
• With the right team, the startup **would be capable of** challenging the industry leaders within five years.^{有了合适的团队，这家初创公司将有能力在五年内挑战行业领导者。}

turning the present-day world upside down ^{颠覆当今世界}

• Would be capable of **turning the present-day world upside down**, or even destroying it.^{将有能力颠覆当今世界，甚至摧毁它。}
• The sudden technological breakthrough risks **turning the present-day world upside down**.^{突如其来的技术突破有颠覆当今世界的风险。}

I have often tried to conceive of what those pages might contain, but of course I cannot do so because I am a prisoner of the present-day world, just as all of you are.

tried to conceive of ^{曾试图构想}

• I have often **tried to conceive of** what those pages might contain.^{我曾试图构想那些页面可能包含什么。}
• The architect **tried to conceive of** a building that seamlessly integrated with the natural landscape.^{这位建筑师曾试图构想一座与自然景观无缝融合的建筑。}

prisoner of the present-day world ^{当今世界的囚徒}

• I am a **prisoner of the present-day world**, just as all of you are.^{我是当今世界的囚徒，就像你们所有人一样。}
• The lack of imagination meant the artist felt like a **prisoner of the present-day world**, unable to escape current trends.^{缺乏想象力意味着这位艺术家感觉自己是当今世界的囚徒，无法摆脱当前的潮流。}

We cannot think outside the particular patterns that our brains are conditioned to, or, to be more accurate, we can think only a very little way outside, and then only if we are very original.

think outside the particular patterns ^{跳出特定的模式思考}

• We cannot **think outside the particular patterns** that our brains are conditioned to.^{我们不能跳出我们的大脑被制约的特定模式进行思考。}
• True innovation requires the ability to **think outside the particular patterns** established by the industry.^{真正的创新需要有能力跳出行业建立的特定模式进行思考。}

are conditioned to ^{被制约于/习惯于}

• The particular patterns that our brains **are conditioned to**.^{我们的大脑被制约的特定模式。}
• Most people **are conditioned to** use their phones immediately upon waking up.^{大多数人习惯于在醒来后立即使用手机。}

to be more accurate ^{更准确地说}

• Or, **to be more accurate**, we can think only a very little way outside.^{或者，更准确地说，我们只能向外思考一小部分。}
• The meeting concluded at 3:15 PM, or **to be more accurate**, 3:17 PM.^{会议在下午3点15分结束，或者更准确地说，是下午3点17分。}

only a very little way outside ^{只能向外思考一小部分}

• We can think **only a very little way outside**, and then only if we are very original.^{我们只能向外思考一小部分，而且只有在我们非常具有独创性时才能如此。}

only if we are very original ^{只有在我们非常具有独创性时才能如此}

• We can think only a very little way outside, and then **only if we are very original**.^{我们只能向外思考一小部分，而且只有在我们非常具有独创性时才能如此。}
• The funding will be released **only if we are very original** in our approach to the problem.^{只有在我们解决问题的方法非常具有独创性时，资金才会被发放。}