哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第9部分 (第3/7頁)

orical　figures　which　appertain

to　them　as　private　persons。　Man　must　eat　and　drink；　he　sustains　relations　to　friends　and

acquaintances；　he　has　passing　impulses　and　ebullitions　of　temper。　“No　man　is　a　hero　to　his

valet…de…chambre；”　is　a　well…known　proverb；　I　have　added　—　and　Goethe　repeated　it　ten　years

later　—　“but　not　because　the　former　is　no　hero；　but　because　the　latter　is　a　valet。”　He　takes　off　the

hero's　boots；　assists　him　to　bed；　knows　that　he　prefers　champagne；　&c。　Historical　personages

waited　upon　in　historical　literature　by　such　psychological　valets；　e　poorly　off；　they　are　brought

down　by　these　their　attendants　to　a　level　with　—　or　rather　a　few　degrees　below　the　level　of　—　the

morality　of　such　exquisite　discerners　of　spirits。　The　Thersites　of　Homer　who　abuses　the　kings　is　a

standing　figure　for　all　times。　Blows　—　that　is　beating　with　a　solid　cudgel　—　he　does　not　get　in　every

age　as　in　the　Homeric　one；　but　his　envy；　his　egotism；　is　the　thorn　which　he　has　to　carry　in　his　flesh；

and　the　undying　worm　that　gnaws　him　is　the　tormenting　consideration　that　his　excellent　views　and

vituperations　remain　absolutely　without　result　in　the　world。　But　our　satisfaction　at　the　fate　of

Thersitism　also；　may　have　its　sinister　side。

§　35

A　World…historical　individual　is　not　so　unwise　as　to　indulge　a　variety　of　wishes　to　divide　his

regards。　He　is　devoted　to　the　One　Aim；　regardless　of　all　else。　It　is　even　possible　that　such　men

may　treat　other　great；　even　sacred　interests；　inconsiderately；　conduct　which　is　indeed　obnoxious　to

moral　reprehension。　But　so　mighty　a　form　must　trample　down　many　an　innocent　flower…crush　to

pieces　many　an　object　in　its　path。