452、我曾与一些灵人交谈过，他们以为天堂和天堂的喜乐在于成为最大的。但我告诉他们，在天堂，最大的就是最小的，因为凡想成为最小的人都拥有最大的幸福。既然最小的人拥有最大的幸福，那么可推知，他是最大的。因为若不是最幸福的，成为最大的又有什么意义呢？有权势的人以权势、有财富的人以财富所追求的，不就是幸福吗？我补充说，天堂也不在于为了成为最大的而渴望成为最小的，因为在这种情况下，真正希望和渴望的，还是成为最大的。相反，天堂在于发自内心愿意别人比自己更好，渴望为了促进他人的幸福而服务他人，并且这样做是出于爱，没有任何自私的意图或目的。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]452. I spoke with some spirits who thought heaven and heavenly joy consisted in being greatest. But I told them that the greatest in heaven is the one who is least.{*1} Whoever wants to be least has the greatest happiness. Since the person with the greatest happiness is the person who is least, it follows that such a person is the greatest. What is being greatest if not being happiest? Happiness is what the powerful seek in power and what the rich seek in riches.
I added that heaven does not consist in the desire to be least for the purpose of being greatest, because then the hope and longing is to be greatest. Heaven is wishing better for others than for ourselves with all our heart and serving others for the sake of their own happiness, not for any selfish goal but for love.
Footnotes:
{*1} This is an allusion to Luke 22:26: "Let the greater among you be as the younger; and the one who rules be as the one who serves." [RS]
Potts(1905-1910) 452
452. I have conversed with spirits who supposed heaven and heavenly joy to consist in being the greatest. But they were told that in heaven he is greatest who is least, because he who would be the least has the greatest happiness, and consequently is the greatest, for what is it to be the greatest except to be the most happy? it is this that the powerful seek by power, and the rich by riches. They were told, further, that heaven does not consist in desiring to be the least in order to be the greatest, for in that case the person is really aspiring and wishing to be the greatest; but that heaven consists in this, that from the heart we wish better for others than for ourselves, and desire to be of service to others in order to promote their happiness, and this for no selfish end, but from love.
Elliott(1983-1999) 452
452. I have spoken to spirits who imagined that heaven and heavenly joy consisted in being the greatest. But they were told that in heaven that person is the greatest who is least, for anyone who wishes to be the least has the greatest happiness. And because the person who is least does have the greatest happiness, he is for that very reason the greatest. What does being the greatest mean but being the happiest of all? It is what the powerful look for in power, and the rich in riches. They were told as well that heaven does not consist in desiring to be least so that in the end one maybe the greatest, for when that is the case the impulse and desire is to be the greatest. Instead heaven consists in a heartfelt desire that things shall be better for others than for oneself and a desire to serve others and further their happiness, doing so with no selfish intention but out of love.
Latin(1748-1756) 452
452. Locutus cum spiritibus qui putabant caelum et gaudium caeleste in consistere ut maximi sint; sed dictum iis quod in caelo maximus sit qui minimus; nam qui minimus esse vult, maximam felicitatem habet; et quia maximam felicitatem habet qui minimus, sequitur inde quod sit maximi Quid est maximus esse nisi quam felicissimus? id quaerunt potentes per potentiam, et divites per divitias: et porro dictum quod non consistat caelum in eo ut desideret minimum esse propterea ut sit maximus, tunc enim spirat et cupit esse maximum; sed est quod ex corde aliis melius velit quam sibi, servire aliis eorum felicitatis gratia, ex nullo fine sui sed ex amore.