《毛泽东选集》的英译在20世纪60年代是件很重要的事，抽调去翻译的人都是大人物。如担当《毛选》英译校对的就是钱钟书先生。把1967年出版的《毛泽东著作选读》英文版中《为人民服务》一文，与Julia Lovell翻译的一对照，发现当时翻译的水平确实还是很高的，Julia Lovell的译文是在中国人的译文上改进而来的，当然就更加简洁了。

今录两个版本的英译和汉语原文，一是重温毛主席的著作，因为我觉得毛主席他老人家的话比现在好多人说的话简洁、明了和结实的多；二是学习翻译的技巧。

为人民服务
Serve the People
 

(一九四四年九月八日） 
September 8, 1944
 

毛泽东

我们的共产党和共产党所领导的八路军、新四军，是革命的队伍。我们这个队伍完全是为着解放人民的，是彻底地为人民的利益工作的。张思德同志就是我们这个队伍中的一个同志。

（中译）Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people’s interests. Comrade Chang Szu-the was in the ranks of these battalions.

（罗译）Our Communist Party, and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our Party are battalions of the revolution---totally devoted to the liberation of the people and working entirely in the interests of the people. Comrade Zhang Side was in the ranks of these battalions.

人总是要死的，但死的意义有不同。中国古时候有个文学家叫做司马迁的说过：人固有一死，或重于泰山，或轻于鸿毛。为人民利益而死，就比泰山还重；替法西斯卖力，替剥削人民和压迫人民的人去死，就比鸿毛还轻。张思德同志是为人民利益而死的，他的死是比泰山还要重的。

（中译）All men must die, but death can vary in its significance. The ancient Chinese writer Szuma Chien said, “Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.”To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai, but to work for the fascists and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade Chang Szu-the died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than Mount Tai.

（罗译）All men must die one day, but not all deaths have the same significance. The ancient Chinese writer Sima Qian said, “Though it is certain all men must die, some deaths carry more weght than Mount Tai, while others carry less weight than a feather.”To die for the cause of the people carries more weight than Mount Tai, but to waste one’s energy in the service of the fascists and to die for the exploiters and oppressors carries less weight than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died serving the interests of the people, and his death carries more weight than Mount Tai.

因为我们是为人民服务的，所以，我们如果有缺点，就不怕别人批评指出。不管是什么人，谁向我们指出都行。只要你说得对，我们就改正。你说的办法对人民有好处，我们就照你的办。“精兵简政”这一条意见，就是党外人士李鼎铭先生提出来的；他提得好，对人民有好处，我们就采用了。只要我们为人民的利益坚持好的，为人民的利益改正错的，我们这个队伍就一定会兴旺起来。

（中译）If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone , no matter who, may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea “better troops and simpler administration”was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming, who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our rank will surely thrive.

（罗译）We serve the people therefore, If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized. Any individual, whoever it may be, can point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct ourselves. If what he proposes is benefical to the people, we will act upon it. The suggestion to have “fewer but better troops and a simplified administration” was made by Mr. Li Dingming, who is not a Communist. This was a good idea, it was benefical to the people, so we adopted it. If, in the interests of the people, we persevere in doing what is right and correcting what is wrong, every one in our ranks will thrive.

我们都是来自五湖四海，为了一个共同的革命目标，走到一起来了。我们还要和全国大多数人民走这一条路。我们今天已经领导着有九千一百万人口的根据地，但是还不够，还要更大些，才能取得全民族的解放。我们的同志在困难的时候，要看到成绩，要看到光明，要提高我们的勇气。中国人民正在受难，我们有责任解救他们，我们要努力奋斗。要奋斗就会有牺牲，死人的事是经常发生的。但是我们想到人民的利益，想到大多数人民的痛苦，我们为人民而死，就是死得其所。不过，我们应当尽量地减少那些不必要的牺牲。我们的干部要关心每一个战士，一切革命队伍的人都要互相关心，互相爱护，互相帮助。

（中译）We hail from all corners of the country and have joined together for a common revolutionary objective. And we need the vast majorityof the people with us on the road to this objective. Today, we already lead base areas with us a population of 91 millions, but this is not enough; to liberate the whole nation more are needed. In times of difficulty we must not lose sight of our achievement, must see the bright future and must pluck up our courage. The Chinese people are suffering; it is our duty to save them and we must exert ourselves in struggle. Wherever there is struggle there is sacrifice, and death is a common occurrence. But we have the interests of the people and the suffering of the great majority at heart, and when we die for the people it is a worthy death. Nevertheless, we should do our best to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. Our cadres must show concern for every soldier and all the people in the revolutionary ranks must care for each other, must love and help each other.

（罗译）We hail from all corners of our country and have joined together here with a common revolutionary goal in mind. The vast majorityof people need to come with us on the road to this objective. Today, we already have operations bases covering areas with a population of 91 millions, but this is not enough; we need a greater network of bases if we are to liberate the whole nation. In difficulty times our comrades must not lose sight of our success, they must recognize our bright future and must pluck up their courage. The Chinese people are suffering and it is our duty to save them; we will need to use all our might and main in this struggle. Now, when there is struggle there is sacrifice: death is a common occurrence. As we have taken to heart the interests of the people and the suffering of the great majority of the people, to die for the people is to give that death real significance. Nevertheless, we must keep unnecessary sacrifices to a minimum.. Our officers must be mindful of every soldier and every member of every revolutionary battalions must look after each other,and must love and help each other.

今后我们的队伍里，不管死了谁，不管是炊事员，是战士，只要他是做过一些有益的工作的，我们都要给他送葬，开追悼会。这要成为一个制度。这个方法也要介绍到老百姓那里去。村上的人死了，开个追悼会。用这样的方法，寄托我们的哀思，使整个人民团结起来。

（中译）From now on, when anyone in our ranks who has done some useful work dies, be he sodier or cook, we should have a funeral ceremony and a memorial meeting in his honour. This should become the rule. And it should be introduced among the people as well. When someone dies in a village, let a memorial meeting be held. In this way we express our mourning for the dead and unite all the people.

（罗译） From now on, when anyone in our ranksdies, whether he be a cook or a soldier, if he has done anything usefull at all,his funeral should be held at a meeting to honour his memory. This should become the rule. And this practice should also be introduced among the people. When someone dies in a village, let a meeting be held in his memory. In this way,by expressing our sorrow, we will be serving to unite all the people.

（本文来源于网络，版权归原作者所有，仅供学习与研究，如果侵权，请及时联系我们，以便尽快删除。） 

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