讀孫子兵法學英文/息事寧人
【經濟日報╱朱文章】

2011.08.05 06:40 am


息事寧人 forgive and forget

古希臘史記載:柯西拉(雅典盟邦)與祖國柯林斯(斯巴達盟邦)關係惡劣,原因是柯林斯宗教慶典上,其他家邦代表善頌善禱,柯西拉卻出言不遜(dissing someone),柯林斯大失面子(being dissed),因此種下禍根(an apple of discord),從此彼此互視為眼中釘(thorn in someone's side)。

適逢獨立小邦埃比達姆諾斯內戰,柯西拉以事不關己置身事外(wait and see when the dust settles),拒絕其中一派請求奪權;柯林斯卻全力支援,想藉機拉進同盟,柯西拉聞訊震怒,斯巴達和雅典因此也被捲入。所以整個伯羅奔尼撒大戰,竟起因於不見經傳小國的內戰。

希臘史家修昔底德在《伯羅奔尼撒戰史》中,詳細記錄了兩柯之間的仇隙(blood feud),並解釋其中原委:因為雙方感受到(be at/on the receiving end)對方的輕視和不尊重,又不能以息事寧人(forgive and forget)態度,提出化解之道,達成和睦(brotherly)關係。

孫子說:「兵怒而相迎,久而不合,又不相去,必謹察之。」指兩個集團劍拔弩張,但尚未開打的緊急狀態下,主事者對於維繫和平的支撐條件、開啟戰火的可能狀況,都要仔細察查,目的是不打沒把握的仗。揆諸希臘史實,譬如大軍已經壓境,身為小國要謹言慎行,不要提供大國動武的藉口。

例:"There's a danger to your teeth if you dissed the wrong guy."「說話要檢點,免得白挨揍。」

"The Corcyraeans got dissed by the Corinthians' decision to get involved the civil war."「柯林斯涉入他國內戰,柯西拉人聞訊極表憤怒。」

"This problem seems to be an apple of discord between the two countries."「這個問題,是兩國齟齬不和的根源。」“They see each other as a thorn in their side, and one tries to get rid of the other.”「他們彼此敵視,都想將對方除之而後快。」

"Uncle Sam once adopted a policy of 'wait and see when the dust settles' about the future of Taiwan in the late 1940s"「1940年代末期,美國對台灣採取等待塵埃落定政策。」

"The long-standing blood-feud between them has no chance to be reduced."「他們之間的血海深仇,完全不可能化解。」

"People in Taiwan have been on the receiving end of unfair diplomatic treatment and to say their lives are made pretty unbearable would be an understatement."「台灣人民受到不公平外交打壓久矣,言語也無法說明一二。」

"Olympic competition is wonderful to watch because you see the most different and talented people in the world who all share the same brotherly respect even if they lose."「奧林匹克運動會最可觀的地方,就是運動員彼此友愛,不因敗北失去風度。」

"We find it hard to forgive and forget especially when someone thinks us lowly."「知道別人小看我們,這是最難讓人釋懷之處。」(作者任教陸軍官校)

【2011/08/05 經濟日報】@ http://udn.com/

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