论法的精神 （古今教育效果的差异）

Difference between the Effects of Ancient and Modern Education.

Most of the ancients lived under governments that had virtue for their principle; and when this was in full vigour they performed actions unusual in our times, and at which our narrow minds are astonished.

大多数古代的人民都生活在崇尚品德的国家之下；而且，当品德兴盛之时，人们将会做出种种我们今天做不到的事情。那些事情会使我们有限的认知受到震撼。

Another advantage their education possessed over ours was that it never could be effaced by contrary impressions. Epaminondas, the last year of his life, said, heard, beheld, and performed the very same things as at the age in which he received the first principles of his education.  Efface：消除; 抹去; 擦掉。

古代的教育还有一个优于当今之处，那就是他们所受的教诲从未被他们违背过。伊巴密浓达在其晚年时的言行举止，仍符合其最初接受的教育。

In our days we receive three different or contrary educations, namely, of our parents, of our masters, and of the world. What we learn in the latter effaces all the ideas of the former. This, in some measure, arises from the contrast we experience between our religious and worldly engagements, a thing unknown to the ancients.

今天我们接受着三种不同类型的或者说是相互矛盾的教育，即父亲的教育、师长的教育和社会的教育。进入社会后，大量的社会经验将父亲和师长教育的全部理念都推翻了。从某种意义上说，这是因为宗教和社会的要求截然不同，古人对此是一无所知的。