They have contradictions, they uphold principles that are incommensurable with each other -- whatever it is -- and yet these ideals give meaning and purpose to our lives as cultures and as individuals.
矛盾是存在的， 它支持着互相之前不具有可比性的原则， 不管它是什么，这些理想在我们的生活里表达出了 我们身为个人和文化的涵义和目的。