(附张培基译文）



　　由小学到中学，所修习的无非是一些普通的基本知识。就是大学四年，所授课业也还是相当粗浅的学识。世人常称大学为"最高学府"，这名称易滋生误解，好像过此以上即无学问可言。大学的研究所才是初步研究学问的所在，在这里做学问也只能算是处涉藩篱，注重的是研究学问的方法与实习。学无止境，一生的时间都嫌太短，所以古人皓首穷经，头发白了还是在继续研究，不过在这样的研究中确实有浓厚的趣味。



　　在初学的阶段，由小学至大学，我们与其倡言趣味，不如偏重纪律。一个合理编列的课程表，犹如一个营养均衡的食谱，里面各个项目都是有益而必须的，不可偏废，不可再有选择。所谓选修科目也只是在某一项目范围内略有捡选余地而以。一个受过良好教育的人，犹如一个科班出身的戏剧演员，在坐科的时候他是要服从严格纪律的，唱功坐功都要认真学习，各种角色的戏都要完全谙通，学成之后才能各按其趣味而单独发展其所长。学问要有根底，根底要打得平正结实，以后永远受用。初学阶段的科目之中最重要的莫过于语文与数学。语文是阅读达意的工具，国文不通便很难表达自己，外国文不通便很难吸取外来的新知。数学是思想条理之最好的训练。其他科目也各有各的好处，其重要性很难强分轩轾，例如体育，从另一个方面看也是重要的无以复加。总之，我们在求学时代，应该暂且把趣味放在一边，耐着性子接受教育的纪律，把自己锻炼成为坚实的材料。学问的趣味，留在将来慢慢享受一点也不迟。



　　Primary and secondary school will impart to you only some rudiments of knowledge. Even what you learn during the four years of university will be sth quite superficial too. A university has often been misleadingly referred to as "the highest seat of learning", which sounds as if there were no more learning to speak of beyond it. The research institute of a university, however, is the place for preliminaryscholarship. But even there you get only the first taste of learning and the emphasis is on research methodology and practice. Art is long, life is short. That is why some of our ancients continued to study even when they were hoary-headed. They were, of course, motivated by an enormous interest in their studies.



　　 During the preliminary stage of learning, from primary school to college, it is better to advocate discipline than interest. A properly arranged school curriculum, like a cookbook on nutritionally well-balanced food, must include all the useful and indispensable courses---courses which are equally important and obligatory. The so-called electives mean only some little option within the scope of a certain item. A well-educated person is like a professionally trained Peking opera singer. While undergoing the training, he must observe a most exact discipline. He must pay equal attention to singing, acting and learn to play different roles. It is not until he has finished the all-round training that he begins to develop his own specialty according to his personal disposition. Laying a solid foundation for learning will be of great lifelong benefit to you. Of all the school subjects during the preliminary stage of learning, languages and mathematics are the most important. Languages serve as a tool for reading and communication. Without a good knowledge of Chinese, you will find it difficult to express yourself. Without a good knowledge of a foreign language, you will find it difficult to absorb new knowledge from abroad. Mathematics makes for logical thinking. Other objects also have their respective use. It is hard to say which is more important. Physical education, for example, is also extremely important from another point of view. In short, while in school, we should temporarily put aside our personal liking and patiently observe school discipline so that we may temper ourselves and become solid stuff. Don't hurry---there will be a time for you to find relish in learning in the days to come.
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