Sometimes nations, like individuals, grow tired and long for their idealized youth – a recurrent phenomenon that historians call “declinism.” Whether one calls it that or a desire for a holiday from history, Japan and the UK today seem to be choosing a path that will only accelerate decline.
有时候，国家和个人一样会产生疲倦感，对理想的年轻时代艳羡不已，这就是历史学家所谓的周期性“衰落论”现象。叫它衰落论也好，想在历史长河中休会儿假也罢，日本和英国如今的选择只能让它们衰落得更快。