年輕的時候讀到基督教的原罪或是佛教的五毒十惑，總是做激烈想像。對於自己內裡的劣根性斬除的寬嚴先後也隨著年紀變化。雖然我們平日常聽到「驕傲」「忌妒」「貪婪」「暴怒」的譴責，好人也盡量避免這些罪愆。一般人伐撻的 sin 通常不是肉身的「貪吃」「肉慾」和「懶怠」，總覺得情有可原。長大後才知道「懶怠」其實是心靈的罪。

 馬羅的《浮士德》(1606 年版) 有一段七原罪的惡行惡狀，非常精采。

     MEPHISTOPHILIS brings in the SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

     BELZEBUB. Now, Faustus, question them of their names and dispositions.

     FAUSTUS. That shall I soon.—What art thou, the first?

      PRIDE. I am Pride.  I disdain to have any parents.  I am like to Ovid's flea; I can creep into every corner of a wench; sometimes,  like a perriwig, I sit upon her brow; next, like a necklace, I hang     about her neck; then, like a fan of feathers, I kiss her lips; and then, turning myself to a wrought smock, do what I list.   But, fie, what a smell is here!  I'll not speak a word more for a king's ransom, unless the ground be perfumed, and covered with cloth of arras.

     FAUSTUS. Thou art a proud knave, indeed.—What art thou, the second?

     COVETOUSNESS. I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl, in a leather bag:  and, might I now obtain my wish, this house, you,  and all, should turn to gold, that I might lock you safe into my chest:  O my sweet gold!

     FAUSTUS. And what art thou, the third?

      ENVY. I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife.  I cannot read, and therefore wish all books burned.  I am lean with seeing others eat.  O, that there would come a famine over all the world, that all might die, and I live alone! then thou shouldst see how fat I'd be.  But must thou sit, and I stand? come down, with a vengeance!

     FAUSTUS. Out, envious wretch!—But what art thou, the fourth?

     WRATH. I am Wrath.  I had neither father nor mother:  I leapt  out of a lion's mouth when I was scarce an hour old; and ever  since have run up and down the world with this case of rapiers, wounding myself when I could get none to fight withal.   I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father.

     FAUSTUS. And what art thou, the fifth?

     GLUTTONY. I am Gluttony.  My parents are all dead, and the devil a penny they have left me, but a small pension, and that buys me thirty meals a-day and ten bevers,—a small trifle to suffice nature.  I come 84 of a royal pedigree:  my father was a Gammon of Bacon, my mother was a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickled-herring and Martin Martlemas-beef; but my godmother, O, she was an ancient gentlewoman; her name was Margery March-beer.  Now, Faustus, thou hast heard all my progeny; wilt thou bid me to supper?

     FAUSTUS. Not I.

     GLUTTONY. Then the devil choke thee!

     FAUSTUS. Choke thyself, glutton!—What art thou, the sixth?

     SLOTH. Heigho!  I am Sloth.  I was begotten on a sunny bank. Heigho!  I'll not speak a word more for a king's ransom.

     FAUSTUS. And what are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last?

     LECHERY. Who, I, sir?  I am one that loves an inch of raw mutton better than an ell of fried stock-fish; and the first letter of my name begins with L. 

     LUCIFER. Away to hell, away!  On, piper!      [Exeunt the SINS.]

貪吃和暴怒著墨甚多，懶怠也是輕輕帶過。

 可是我年紀漸長，越來越像個 existentialist, 也更同意 T. S. Eliot 的看法，sloth 真的是精神上的罪。

 常常發現同一個境遇的人後來卻有完全不一樣的人生和人生觀，這時候再抱怨「時不我予」，聽起來就讓人生氣。因為我的工作，二十一年來看到了許多學生在毫無後盾的狀況下沒幾年就變成別人的強力後盾，而一些擁有隨心所欲取得資源的人卻每天哀聲嘆氣喊衰，果然就是一副衰樣。

 我不相信成功有任何標準，但是還沒衰就開始唱衰的人絕對是一個失敗的人。

 Sloth!

 (這隻可愛的動物要背負這麼悲情的名字。還是改一改好了......Bradypus variegatus)