第644期：世上总该有一句誓言令人敬畏

发布于2019年11月4日作者:佛老

因为誓言不敢听，因为承诺不敢信，
所以放心着你的沉默，去说服明天的命运。
— 苏芮《牵手》

千百年来，誓言和承诺的价值不断贬低，产量逐年提高。说的人越来越多，信的人越来越少。

但在人们还能以起誓作担保的年代，起码人的心里还有誓言的位置。

现代人越来越无所畏惧，好像什么都不再怕了。

这种怕不该是恐惧(fear)，而应是 revere 和 hold in awe.

“什么都不怕才是最可怕的”，这句话没有找到出处，但每次想到这层意思都会觉得心惊。

誓言越来越靠不住，就像追星族对明星喊的“我爱你”一样廉价。

但世间总还应该有种东西是值得我们敬畏的——如果不信仰宗教，没有神，起码我们应该敬畏自己的良心。

“Fear nothing but your conscience.”
― Suzy Kassem

有这样一段誓词，它没有法律约束力，甚至不强求你一定念出来，但句句直指人的良知。

这就是西方所有医护人员都熟悉的希波克拉底誓言 the Hippocratic Oath.

希波克拉底(Hippocratic)是古希腊的一名医生，大约生活在公元前四世纪(460–370 BC)，被称为西方医学之父。

*誓言全文及译文放在文末。

这段希波克拉底誓言是西方医生在行医前的誓词，类似西方法庭上的证人要先发誓一样。

Oath: I swear by Almighty God that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Affirmation: I solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

*证人可以选择说oath还是affirmation，如果证人有宗教信仰，可以说oath，向他的神起誓。

如果没有宗教信仰，就可以说affirmation，算作对法庭的一个庄严保证，以个人荣誉和人格向法庭保证如实作证，不说假话。

不论信不信世上有神，举头三尺有神灵总是人向善的一个心理敬畏。

有敬畏，才有约束。有敬畏，才不敢任意行事。

什么都不怕，是世上最可怕的事。

The Hippocratic Oath (2017 version)

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;

THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;

I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;

I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age,
disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality,
political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing, or any
other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;

I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;

I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;

I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;

I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely, and upon my honour.