赛义德指出东方主义两大母题 :东方是被打败的和危险的 ;但忽视了伏尔泰代表的第三个母题 :浪漫化东方 ,批评西方。伏尔泰对东方的了解虽然肤浅 ,但他的剧作宣扬宗教和文化宽容 ,挑战占统治地位的丑化东方人的观念 ,成就卓著。西方社会内部对自身文化的批判和对他者文化的向往也有一个重要的传统 ,这一点应该引起当代学者的注意 ,这样才能全面认识历史上跨文化交流的真实面貌。 Saeed pointed out two oriental motifs: the East is defeated and dangerous; yet it neglects the third motto of Voltaire: romanticizing the East and criticizing the West. Although Voltaire’s understanding of the East is superficial, his plays have made remarkable achievements in adulterating religious and cultural tolerance and challenging the dominating concept of smearing the Orientals. There is also an important tradition in Western society for criticizing one’s own culture and for the other’s culture, which should attract the attention of contemporary scholars so that we can fully understand the true face of cross-cultural exchanges in history.