在掌握足够资料之前建立理论会导致严重的错误。

1. A theory conjured up without the benefit of data amounts to little more than the theorist’s hopes and desires—what he or she wants to be true and not be true.

2. By theorizing before collecting data the theorist also runs that risk of interpreting that data in a manner which makes it appear to lend more credence to the theory than it actually does.

实用主义是我们现在主要的追求，一切的力量和才智都必须为其服务。任何并非显著实用的东西在当今世界几乎是没有价值的。

1. Practicality seems clearly to be the litmus test for education today.

2. Practicality also dictates what sort of art is produced today.

3. Practicality is also the overriding concern in contemporary politics.

4. On the other hand, the claim amounts to an overstatement when it comes to today’s scientific endeavors.

当务之急和长远大计的关系

拥护革新和接受新想法很简单。但是在大多数人们看来，最困难的是接受把这些新想法付诸实现的方式。

1. In areas of politics and law, new ideas are not often easily accepted.

2. Yet once society grows to accept these new ideas, it seems that it has an easier time accepting how they are put into practice.

3. In contrast, consider innovations in the natural sciences. It seems that we universally embrace any new technology in the name of progress. Of course there are always informed dissenters with legitimate concerns.

4. Yet the reasons why these dissenters oppose certain innovations have to do with their potential applications and uses, not with the innovations themselves.