self-made 的词源

在1610年代，“通过自己的行动或努力所成就的”，由self-和made组合而成。Self-made man这个说法最早出现在1826年，属于美式英语；它的含义是“在没有外部帮助的情况下，凭借自己的努力获得物质成功”。

This expression, in the sense in which I here use it, is perhaps peculiar to our own country ; for it denotes a class of men to be found in no other part of the world. It is true, that in Europe there have been those, who, having a bent of the mind, or a genius, as it is called, for some particular employment, have by their own unassisted, persevering efforts, risen to eminence in their favorite pursuit. But the self-made men of our country differ much from these. Genius in them is sterling common senses ; and their object was not the gratification of the mind in some strong predilection for a favorite employment, but rather the attainment of those intellectual habits and resources, which might prepare them for usefulness, and give them influence and eminence among their fellow men. [Samuel P. Newman, "Address Delivered Before the Benevolent Society of Bowdoin College, Tuesday Evening, Sept. 5, 1826"]

我在这里使用的这个表达，可能是我们国家特有的；因为它指的是一种在世界其他地方找不到的男性群体。确实，在欧洲也有一些人，他们因为对某种特定职业的热爱或天赋，凭借自己的坚持不懈，最终在自己喜欢的领域取得了卓越成就。但我们国家的自我成就者与这些人有很大不同。在他们身上，天赋更多的是一种实用的常识；他们的目标不是单纯追求某种职业的乐趣，而是培养那些能够使他们更有用、更有影响力，并在同伴中脱颖而出的知识和能力。[塞缪尔·P·纽曼，《在鲍登学院慈善协会的演讲，1826年9月5日星期二晚》]