12.自然和人工:原料与加工
自然和人工:原料与加工。世上没有未经修饰的美;若无人工修饰,优点都将变得粗俗。人工技巧可弥补短处,提升长处。天生之物很少完美,因此我们必须求助人工技术。若无陶冶,最好的秉性也会变得毫无教养;若无培养,任何天赋都将折损一半。若无人为的修炼,任何人都有不够完美的一面;任何优点都需要打磨。
12.Natureandart
Natureandart:materialandworkmanship。Thereisnobeautyunadornedandnoexcellencethatwouldnotbecomebarbaricifitwerenotsupportedbyartifice:thisremediestheevilandimprovesthegood。Naturescarcelyevergivesustheverybest;forthatwemusthaverecoursetoart。Withoutthisthebestofnaturaldispositionsisuncultured,andhalfislackingtoanyexcellenceiftrainingisabsent。Everyonehassomethingunpolishedwithoutartificialtraining,andeverykindofexcellenceneedssomepolish。