最好借哲人耶曼孙所说的话答这个疑 问："尔若爱千古，尔当爱现在。
The following quotation from the philosopher Emerson\ best serves for an answer: "Make use of time if you love eternity; yesterday cannot be recalled; tomorrow cannot be assured; only today is yours.
因为宇宙大化刻刻流转，绝不停留。
Because the universe as well as human life is changing non-stop all the time.
时间这个东西，也不因为吾人贵他爱他稍稍在人间留恋。
Time never tarries with us a bit longer because we treasure and love it.
有的哲学家说，时间但有"过去"与"未来"，并无"现在"。
Some philosophers say that we have the past and the future, but no present.
有 的又说，"过去""未来"皆是"现在"。
Others say that the present is inclusive of the past and the future.
因为"现在"就是所有 "过去"流入的世界，换句 话说，所有"过去"都埋没于"现在"的里边。
I, however, incline towards the latter view because the present is where all the past empties itself or, in other words, where lies hidden the entire legacy of the past.
故一时代的思潮，不 是单纯在这个时代所能凭空成立的，不晓得有几多"过去"时代的思 潮，差不多可以说是由所有"过去"时代的思潮，一凑合而成的。
The prevailing thought of any age does not come into being all by itself.
吾 人投一石子于时代潮流里面，所激起的波澜声响，都向永远流动传 播，不能消灭。
The rippling sound stirred up by a pebble thrown into the current of the times will keep spreading forever.
打击林肯头颅的 枪声，呼应于永远的时间与空间。
The lethal shot that hit Abraham Lincoln's head will keep echoing through all lands and all eternity.
一时代的变动，绝不消失，仍遗 營 留于次一时代，这样传演，至于无穷，在世界中有一贯相连的永远性。
The changes of each age, instead of becoming extinct, will pass on to the next.
昨日的事件，与今日的事件，合构成数个复杂事件。
The events of yesterday and today will combine to form several complicated events which will in turn combine with those of tomorrow to form several new complicated events.
无限的"未来"， 都以"现在"为渊源。
The infinite past results in the present, and the infinite future results from the present.
"过去""未来"的中间全仗有"现在"以成其 连续，以成其永远，以成其无始无终的大实在。
It is the present that serves as a connecting link between the past and the future to bring about continuity, eternity and a boundless big whole.
一掣现在的铃，无限 的过去未来皆遥相呼应。
Ring the bell of the present, and you will hear the distant echoes of the infinite past and future.
这就是过去未来皆是现在的道理，这就是 "今"最可宝贵的道理。
That accounts for the fact that the present is inclusive of the past and the future and that the living present is the most precious.
现时有两种不知爱"今"的人：一种是厌"今"的人，一种是乐 "今"的人。
One kind are sick of the present; the other are crazy about it.
政治、法律、道德、风俗，全是"今"不如古。
To them, things nowadays, including politics, law, morality and social customs, are all inferior to those in the past.
一派是对于"现在" 一切现象都不满足，与复古的厌"今"派全同。
Among those who are sick of the present, some are so dissatisfied with everything of today that they become nostalgic about yesterday.
这两派 人都是不能助益进化，并且很足阻滞进化的。
People of these two categories hinder social progress instead of furthering it.
乐"今"的人大概是些无志趣无意识1的人，是些对于"现在"一 切满足的人。
People who are crazy about the present are generally apathetic and lack high aspirations.
这种人丧失"今"的好处"，阻滞进化的潮流，同厌"今"派毫无区 别。
Complacent about their present circumstances, they feel no need for progress or creation.
O9 o01 5 Such people abuse the present and stem the tide of progress: There is no difference at all between them and those who are sick of the present.
原来厌"今"为人类的通性。
Itis common among human beings to be discontented with the present.
又如吾人方处一境，觉得无甚可乐， 而一旦其境变易，却又觉得其境可恋，其情可思。
Or they may feel a new environment rather unimpressive, but once things have changed, they begin to think well of it and recall it with tenderness.
前者为企望"将来" 的动机，后者为反顾"过去"的动机西。
The former case has to do with future expectations, and the latter with past memories.