8. The Obvious Comeback 最明显的反驳
Mohandas Gandhi is associated with civil rights and nonviolence, but most definitely not wit. As the following story will show you, Gandhi didn’t have to fight with his fists, but simply had to use his words. After gaining fame for a campaign to promote colonial India’s independence, Gandhi traveled to London and met with British authorities. The British were wonderfully curious about this strange little man, and Gandhi was constantly bombarded with questions from the press and photographers. One day, a reporter cried out, “What do you think of Western civilization?” And in a monumental moment that would define Gandhi’s reputation, he replied:
人们总是把莫汉达斯·甘地和公民权利、非暴力运动这些联系在一起，而绝对不会跟机智挂上钩。下面这个故事告诉你，甘地不需要用拳头战斗，简单的言语就可以。由于推行殖民地印度的独立运动，甘地名声大噪，他去英国旅行时跟英国的当地官员见面。英国人对这个奇怪的小男人相当好奇，甘地频频收到来自报社和摄像师的问题的狂轰乱炸。有次有个记者问道：“你对西方文明有什么看法？“在这样一个和他的名声息息相关的重要时刻，甘地回答道：
“I think it would be a good idea.”
“我觉得这个想法是很好。”