"Brave New World (Translated Classic)" Reading Notes

"Brave New World (Translated Classics)" Reading Notes#

Author: Aldous Huxley
Reading Duration: 4 hours

These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "Brave New World (Translated Classics)" on WeChat Reading.

Preface by the Author of "Brave New World"#

All moralists agree that prolonged regret is the most undesirable emotion. If you have done something wrong, feel regret, make amends within your ability, and remind yourself to do better next time, but you must never wallow in your mistakes. Rolling in a dung heap will not make you clean.

Their bodies will henceforth become the sexual property of all, and the innate sense of decency and the taboos painstakingly instilled by traditional culture will be washed away.

At that time, I predicted it would be realized in six hundred years; today, it seems that within a century, that terrifying world will descend upon us, provided we can avoid being blown to bits during this time. In fact, unless we resist centralization and utilize applied science, not as a means to human ends but as a means to create free individuals, we have only two choices: either a few nationalist totalitarian military states, grounded in the terror of atomic bombs, resulting in the destruction of human civilization (if it is limited warfare, militarism will linger); or the rapid technological advancement and social chaos caused by the atomic revolution will lead to the birth of a totalitarian superpower, evolving the world into a warlike and brutal utopia for the sake of efficiency and stability. You have paid with money, and you will bear the consequences of your choices. 1946

All moralists agree that prolonged regret is the most undesirable emotion. If you have done something wrong, feel regret, make amends within your ability, and remind yourself to do better next time, but you must never wallow in your mistakes. Rolling in a dung heap will not make you clean.

Their bodies will henceforth become the sexual property of all, and the innate sense of decency and the taboos painstakingly instilled by traditional culture will be washed away.

At that time, I predicted it would be realized in six hundred years; today, it seems that within a century, that terrifying world will descend upon us, provided we can avoid being blown to bits during this time. In fact, unless we resist centralization and utilize applied science, not as a means to human ends but as a means to create free individuals, we have only two choices: either a few nationalist totalitarian military states, grounded in the terror of atomic bombs, resulting in the destruction of human civilization (if it is limited warfare, militarism will linger); or the rapid technological advancement and social chaos caused by the atomic revolution will lead to the birth of a totalitarian superpower, evolving the world into a warlike and brutal utopia for the sake of efficiency and stability. You have paid with money, and you will bear the consequences of your choices. 1946

Chapter One#

Specifically, it is virtue and pleasure, while the summary is the necessary evil in thought. The backbone of society is not philosophers, but sawyers and stamp collectors.

And this is the secret of pleasure and virtue—loving what you must do. The goal of cultivation is to make people love their unavoidable social mission.

Specifically, it is virtue and pleasure, while the summary is the necessary evil in thought. The backbone of society is not philosophers, but sawyers and stamp collectors.

And this is the secret of pleasure and virtue—loving what you must do. The goal of cultivation is to make people love their unavoidable social mission.

Chapter Sixteen#

You have not been scientifically trained, so you lack judgment. I was a very distinguished physicist of my time. Too distinguished—distinguished enough to know that our science is nothing more than a cookbook, with a set of orthodox cooking theories that no one may question, and a series of recipes that absolutely prohibit adding anything without the chef's consent. Now I am the chef. But back then, I was a curious young assistant. I began to cook my own dishes. Unorthodox dishes, illegal dishes. In fact, a bit of real science.

In comparison, China is a hopelessly turbulent land; even the matriarchal clans of ancient times were not as stable as our society.

You have not been scientifically trained, so you lack judgment. I was a very distinguished physicist of my time. Too distinguished—distinguished enough to know that our science is nothing more than a cookbook, with a set of orthodox cooking theories that no one may question, and a series of recipes that absolutely prohibit adding anything without the chef's consent. Now I am the chef. But back then, I was a curious young assistant. I began to cook my own dishes. Unorthodox dishes, illegal dishes. In fact, a bit of real science.

In comparison, China is a hopelessly turbulent land; even the matriarchal clans of ancient times were not as stable as our society.

Chapter Seventeen#

A person whose dreams cannot be contained by the vastness of the universe.

We are not our own masters, just as the things we possess do not constitute us. What creates us is not ourselves. We are not our own masters. We are creations of God. Therefore, in this sense, is it not our happiness? What happiness or comfort is there in believing we are our own masters? Perhaps only those who possess youth and prosperity think so.

As a person ages, with the passage of time, they feel so weak, listless, and unwell, thus imagining that they are merely ill, believing that this painful state is due to some specific reason, like being sick, and trusting that they can recover, thereby calming their fears. This is just a futile thought! This illness is aging, a terrible disease. People say that it is the fear of death and what happens after death that leads people to turn to religion as they grow older. But my experience leads me to believe that it is not out of fear or fantasy, but as we age, we naturally develop religious feelings, as passions settle down, and as fantasies and sensations are no longer as exciting as before, our reason is no longer disturbed, distracted by the indulgences of pleasures, desires, and distractions; the image of God becomes clear; our souls feel, see, and yearn for the source of all light, this transformation is natural and inevitable. Because all those things that once gave vitality and charm to the sensory world have begun to lose their influence on us, the existence of phenomena is no longer stimulated by internal or external factors, we feel the need to rely on something eternal, something that never deceives us—truth, absolute eternal truth. Yes, we will surely turn to God, for the essence of this religious feeling is so pure, it brings such joy to the soul, feeling it can compensate for all our losses.

A person whose dreams cannot be contained by the vastness of the universe.

We are not our own masters, just as the things we possess do not constitute us. What creates us is not ourselves. We are not our own masters. We are creations of God. Therefore, in this sense, is it not our happiness? What happiness or comfort is there in believing we are our own masters? Perhaps only those who possess youth and prosperity think so.

As a person ages, with the passage of time, they feel so weak, listless, and unwell, thus imagining that they are merely ill, believing that this painful state is due to some specific reason, like being sick, and trusting that they can recover, thereby calming their fears. This is just a futile thought! This illness is aging, a terrible disease. People say that it is the fear of death and what happens after death that leads people to turn to religion as they grow older. But my experience leads me to believe that it is not out of fear or fantasy, but as we age, we naturally develop religious feelings, as passions settle down, and as fantasies and sensations are no longer as exciting as before, our reason is no longer disturbed, distracted by the indulgences of pleasures, desires, and distractions; the image of God becomes clear; our souls feel, see, and yearn for the source of all light, this transformation is natural and inevitable. Because all those things that once gave vitality and charm to the sensory world have begun to lose their influence on us, the existence of phenomena is no longer stimulated by internal or external factors, we feel the need to rely on something eternal, something that never deceives us—truth, absolute eternal truth. Yes, we will surely turn to God, for the essence of this religious feeling is so pure, it brings such joy to the soul, feeling it can compensate for all our losses.

Chapter Two#

What about those who are congenitally deficient? Our medicine and social services preserve their lives, allowing them to reproduce. Helping the unfortunate is clearly a good thing. But the results of bad mutations are being inherited in bulk by our descendants, gradually polluting the gene pool on which our species relies for reproduction, which is clearly a bad thing. We find ourselves in an ethical dilemma, needing to pour all our wisdom and goodwill into finding a middle path.

Chapter Three#

"He accepts authority without complaint, worships his leader"—Mussolini is always right.

Chapter Five#

In a crowd, people lose their ability to think rationally and make moral choices. Their suggestibility is heightened to the point of losing their judgment and will; they become very easily excited, losing all sense of individual or collective responsibility, suddenly feeling rage, excitement, and panic. In short, the behavior of a person in a crowd is like having swallowed a large dose of a powerful stimulant.

Chapter Six#

Almost all of us desire peace and freedom, but only a small portion of people are passionate about the thoughts, feelings, and actions that promote peace and freedom. Conversely, almost no one wants war or tyranny, but many find pleasure in the thoughts, feelings, and actions that contribute to war and tyranny.

Political propagandists only exploit the weaknesses of voters, not their potential strengths. They do not attempt to educate the masses to make them fit for self-governance. They are content to manipulate and exploit them.

Almost all of us desire peace and freedom, but only a small portion of people are passionate about the thoughts, feelings, and actions that promote peace and freedom. Conversely, almost no one wants war or tyranny, but many find pleasure in the thoughts, feelings, and actions that contribute to war and tyranny.

Political propagandists only exploit the weaknesses of voters, not their potential strengths. They do not attempt to educate the masses to make them fit for self-governance. They are content to manipulate and exploit them.

Chapter Seven#

Ironically, only madmen can endure the pressures of modern warfare for long. Individual madness avoids the consequences of collective madness.

Sometimes, the terrible and inhumane atrocities committed by one person against another stem from a love of the terrifying yet alluring nature of cruel means. However, more often, abuse is carried out in the name of utilitarianism, theological thought, or national interest.

Ironically, only madmen can endure the pressures of modern warfare for long. Individual madness avoids the consequences of collective madness.

Sometimes, the terrible and inhumane atrocities committed by one person against another stem from a love of the terrifying yet alluring nature of cruel means. However, more often, abuse is carried out in the name of utilitarianism, theological thought, or national interest.

Chapter Nine#

The tachistoscope consciously noted the images, then turned to focus on the dreams the subjects had that night, asking them to draw what they had dreamed. The results clearly indicated that the details of the images the subjects had not noticed formed the material of their dreams.

Pure science will not remain at the level of pure science forever. Sooner or later, it will transform into applied science, ultimately becoming technology.

When an expressionless face is unconsciously associated with the word "happy," it seems to the observer that it is smiling, appearing friendly, kind, and outgoing. When the same face is unconsciously associated with "angry," it seems to take on a stern expression and becomes hostile and difficult to deal with in the eyes of the observer. (To a group of young women, it may also appear very masculine—while when associated with the word "happy," this face seems to belong to a member of the same gender group. Husbands and fathers, take note.)

The tachistoscope consciously noted the images, then turned to focus on the dreams the subjects had that night, asking them to draw what they had dreamed. The results clearly indicated that the details of the images the subjects had not noticed formed the material of their dreams.

Pure science will not remain at the level of pure science forever. Sooner or later, it will transform into applied science, ultimately becoming technology.

When an expressionless face is unconsciously associated with the word "happy," it seems to the observer that it is smiling, appearing friendly, kind, and outgoing. When the same face is unconsciously associated with "angry," it seems to take on a stern expression and becomes hostile and difficult to deal with in the eyes of the observer. (To a group of young women, it may also appear very masculine—while when associated with the word "happy," this face seems to belong to a member of the same gender group. Husbands and fathers, take note.)

Chapter Ten#

The consistent argument in democratic societies is that power is often abused, and therefore should be limited and entrusted to officials with term limits. In such societies, the use of hypnotic suggestion by officials should be regulated by law—of course, if sleep suggestion is indeed a powerful tool. But is it really a powerful tool?

A person in a deep sleep cannot accept suggestions. But Mr. Barber found that when subjects were in a light sleep and given prompts, they would respond just as they would in a hypnotic trance.

In fact, from the Buddhist perspective, most of us have been half-asleep, living our lives like sleepwalkers, following the instructions of others. Awakening is complete awareness, and the word "Buddha" can be translated as "the awakened one."

In real life, there is no such thing as an average person; there are only specific men, women, and children, each with their inherent physical and mental characteristics, all trying (or being forced) to cram their biological diversity into the uniformity of cultural patterns.

The consistent argument in democratic societies is that power is often abused, and therefore should be limited and entrusted to officials with term limits. In such societies, the use of hypnotic suggestion by officials should be regulated by law—of course, if sleep suggestion is indeed a powerful tool. But is it really a powerful tool?

A person in a deep sleep cannot accept suggestions. But Mr. Barber found that when subjects were in a light sleep and given prompts, they would respond just as they would in a hypnotic trance.

In fact, from the Buddhist perspective, most of us have been half-asleep, living our lives like sleepwalkers, following the instructions of others. Awakening is complete awareness, and the word "Buddha" can be translated as "the awakened one."

In real life, there is no such thing as an average person; there are only specific men, women, and children, each with their inherent physical and mental characteristics, all trying (or being forced) to cram their biological diversity into the uniformity of cultural patterns.

Chapter Eleven#

Education on the proper and improper use of symbols could have started immediately. In fact, it could have begun at any time in the past thirty or forty years. But now children are not receiving systematic education to discern truth from falsehood or to distinguish meaningful from meaningless statements. Why is this? Because their elders, even if they live in democratic countries, do not want them to receive such education.

Regardless of how great the physical and mental differences among humans may be, love is as essential to us as food and shelter. Ultimately, it is the value of thought; without thought, love will be weak, and freedom will be unattainable.

Education on the proper and improper use of symbols could have started immediately. In fact, it could have begun at any time in the past thirty or forty years. But now children are not receiving systematic education to discern truth from falsehood or to distinguish meaningful from meaningless statements. Why is this? Because their elders, even if they live in democratic countries, do not want them to receive such education.

Regardless of how great the physical and mental differences among humans may be, love is as essential to us as food and shelter. Ultimately, it is the value of thought; without thought, love will be weak, and freedom will be unattainable.

Chapter Twelve#

It is very possible for a person to not be in prison, yet not be free—without suffering personal imprisonment, but being a mental prisoner, forced to think, feel, and act as the state or a representative of private interests wishes.

Such preventive laws may have some effect, but if the depersonalized forces currently threatening freedom continue to rampage, they will soon become ineffective. The most perfect constitution and preventive laws cannot withstand the growing pressures brought about by population growth and technological advancement. The constitution will not be abolished; good laws will continue to exist in the code, but these liberal forms will only serve to cover and decorate the profound essence of unfreedom. If overpopulation and excessive organization are not curbed, we may witness a reversal in democratic countries, leading to a process that transforms Britain into a democratic regime while still retaining the external characteristics of a monarchy. Under the relentless impact of overpopulation and excessive organization, along with the influence of increasingly effective means of thought manipulation, the essence of democratic countries will change, while the ancient and elegant forms—elections, parliaments, supreme courts, and others—will be preserved. The inner essence will be a new type of non-violent regime. All traditional names and sacred slogans will be indistinguishable from the good old days. Democracy and freedom will be the themes of every broadcast and every editorial—but that will be a democracy and freedom with a special meaning. Meanwhile, the oligarchs and their trained soldiers, police, thought manufacturers, and thought controllers will quietly manipulate the situation according to their own ideas.

All of this is easier said than done. The growing population each year should be reduced. But how to do it? We have two options—on one hand, famine, plague, and war; on the other hand, birth control.

"In the end," said the religious grand inquisitor in Dostoevsky's parable, "in the end, they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us: 'Let us be your slaves, but please let us eat our fill.'" When Alyosha Karamazov asked the storyteller—his brother—if the grand inquisitor was being sarcastic, Ivan's answer was: "Not at all! He sees this as an achievement for himself and the church; they have eliminated freedom to bring happiness to humanity." Yes, to bring happiness to humanity. The grand inquisitor insisted: "Because for humanity or human society, nothing is more unreliable than freedom." Losing freedom is the most unreliable thing because when things get bad and the feed is cut, the dodo trapped on the ground will again clamor to use its wings—and when things improve and the farmer raising dodos becomes generous again, they will abandon the use of their wings once more. The young people who now disdain democracy may grow up to become champions of democracy.

Under the rule of a scientific dictator, education will truly take effect—the result being that the vast majority of men and women will grow to love their servitude and will never think of revolution. We seem to have no reason to believe that a dictatorship fully aligned with science will be overthrown.

Meanwhile, there is still freedom in the world. Indeed, many young people seem not to cherish freedom. But some among us still believe that without freedom, one cannot become a complete human being; therefore, freedom is the highest value. Perhaps the forces threatening freedom are too powerful now to resist for long, but in any case, our responsibility is to resist to the best of our ability.

It is very possible for a person to not be in prison, yet not be free—without suffering personal imprisonment, but being a mental prisoner, forced to think, feel, and act as the state or a representative of private interests wishes.

Such preventive laws may have some effect, but if the depersonalized forces currently threatening freedom continue to rampage, they will soon become ineffective. The most perfect constitution and preventive laws cannot withstand the growing pressures brought about by population growth and technological advancement. The constitution will not be abolished; good laws will continue to exist in the code, but these liberal forms will only serve to cover and decorate the profound essence of unfreedom. If overpopulation and excessive organization are not curbed, we may witness a reversal in democratic countries, leading to a process that transforms Britain into a democratic regime while still retaining the external characteristics of a monarchy. Under the relentless impact of overpopulation and excessive organization, along with the influence of increasingly effective means of thought manipulation, the essence of democratic countries will change, while the ancient and elegant forms—elections, parliaments, supreme courts, and others—will be preserved. The inner essence will be a new type of non-violent regime. All traditional names and sacred slogans will be indistinguishable from the good old days. Democracy and freedom will be the themes of every broadcast and every editorial—but that will be a democracy and freedom with a special meaning. Meanwhile, the oligarchs and their trained soldiers, police, thought manufacturers, and thought controllers will quietly manipulate the situation according to their own ideas.

All of this is easier said than done. The growing population each year should be reduced. But how to do it? We have two options—on one hand, famine, plague, and war; on the other hand, birth control.

"In the end," said the religious grand inquisitor in Dostoevsky's parable, "in the end, they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us: 'Let us be your slaves, but please let us eat our fill.'" When Alyosha Karamazov asked the storyteller—his brother—if the grand inquisitor was being sarcastic, Ivan's answer was: "Not at all! He sees this as an achievement for himself and the church; they have eliminated freedom to bring happiness to humanity." Yes, to bring happiness to humanity. The grand inquisitor insisted: "Because for humanity or human society, nothing is more unreliable than freedom." Losing freedom is the most unreliable thing because when things get bad and the feed is cut, the dodo trapped on the ground will again clamor to use its wings—and when things improve and the farmer raising dodos becomes generous again, they will abandon the use of their wings once more. The young people who now disdain democracy may grow up to become champions of democracy.

Under the rule of a scientific dictator, education will truly take effect—the result being that the vast majority of men and women will grow to love their servitude and will never think of revolution. We seem to have no reason to believe that a dictatorship fully aligned with science will be overthrown.

Meanwhile, there is still freedom in the world. Indeed, many young people seem not to cherish freedom. But some among us still believe that without freedom, one cannot become a complete human being; therefore, freedom is the highest value. Perhaps the forces threatening freedom are too powerful now to resist for long, but in any case, our responsibility is to resist to the best of our ability.

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