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完成南美之旅多年后，洪堡临终前曾带着自怜和自傲的心情埋怨：“人们常说我同时对太多东西感兴趣，例如植物学、天文学和比较解剖学。但你果真能够抑制一个人的求知欲，不让他了解和拥抱周遭的一切吗？”

Towards the end of his life, his South American adventures long behind him, Humboldt complained, with a mixture of selfpity and pride, 'People often say that I'm curious about too many things at once: botany, astronomy, comparative anatomy. But can you really forbid a man from harbouring a desire to know and embrace everything which surrounds him?'

我们当然阻止不了他，更恰当的做法应该是对他表示支持和敬意。但在对他的旅程表示钦佩时，我们或许也不应该排除对那些身处醉人的城市，却偶尔有强烈赖床的想法和想立即回家的旅人表示一些同情。

We cannot of course forbid him such a thing-a pat on the back feels more appropriate. But perhaps admiration for his journey does not preclude a degree of sympathy for those who, in fascinating cities, have occasionally been visited by a strong wish to remain in bed and take the next flight home.