就在温州发生动车追尾事故造成惨剧的那一天,在《联合早报》上读到署名廖荣君的文章,题目是“蝴蝶效应”,文章提到了一首西方民谣:
丢失一个钉子,坏了一只蹄铁;
坏了一只蹄铁,折了一匹战马;
折了一匹战马,伤了一位骑士;
伤了一位骑士,输了一场战斗;
输了一场战斗,亡了一个帝国。
在Google上输入nail, horse, battle这样几个关键词,马上就找到这首民谣的英文版:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.