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Once an opinion is accepted, whatever be the cause of its acceptance, it has a strong tendency to persist. Every time we think along a particular thought-pattern, makes it easier for us to think the same way again. It is quite legitimate to speak of "habits" of thought. The "brain path" becomes so well worn; the pattern of brain-centers becomes so well connected up by continual use, that the nerve current finds a route of practically no resistance, and so it always takes almost exactly the same course.
一旦某个观点被人接受，不论接受的原因是什么，它都有相当大的可能继续存在下去。每—次我们都要按某一特定的思维方式思考，而按统一方式思考要容易得多。这就可以称作思维“习惯”。“思路”变得如此陈旧；神经中枢的模式由于不断使用而变得如此相互连贯，以致神经流实际上找到了一条没有阻力的路线，于是它几乎总是走相同的线路。
We all know the person who has a string of stock anecdotes. We all know too the person who has certain stock arguments and opinions which he expresses, almost in the same words, whenever he receives the "cue." We all know men and women whose minds work like gramophones. Put them on to the "record" about the good old days; or about prohibition; or about the wicked capitalist; or about the lazy and improvident workers; or about the country going to the dogs; or about the modern girl; or some long, tedious anecdote about what I said to him, and what he said to me, and I said... and he said... and then I told him straight...! All we have to do is to start him off—and nothing on earth can stop him—until the "record" has run out!
我们也都认识那个总有某些陈腐观点和看法来发表的人，无论他何时收到“暗示”，他都几乎会用同样的话语来表达。我们都知道一些男女的大脑像留声机一样运转。放张“唱片”在上面，它会播放有关过去的好日子；禁酒时期；恶毒的资本家们；懒惰又得过且过的工人们、国家状况越来越糟、摩登女郎，又或者是某些冗长乏味的轶事，我对他说的话，他说给我的话，我说的……他说的……然后我又直接地告诉他……！这样的人只要我们给他开个头，他就会一直说下去--世上没有什么可以让他停下来--直到“唱片”全部放完！
