爱伦的贡献在于，他拿出“我们并不是机器人，所以能控制自己的思想”这一公认的假设，并揭示了其错误所在。
【参考译文】
Allen’s contribution was to take an assumption we all share-that because we are not robots we therefore control our thoughts-and reveal its erroneous nature.
因为我们大都相信意识是独立于物质存在的，所以我们认为能够将思想隐藏、并使之失去效力;这使得我们能够这样想却那样做。
【参考译文】
Because most of us believe that mind is separate from matter, we think that thoughts can be hidden and made powerless; this allows us to think one way and act another.
但爱伦认为，潜意识和意识产生的作用一样大。
【参考译文】
However, Allen believed that the unconscious mind generates as much action
as the conscious mind.
而且，尽管我们或许可以单凭意识来维系“控制”这种错觉，现实中我们还是不断要面对一个问题：“我为什么不能让自己做这个或实现那个?”
【参考译文】
And while we may be able to sustain the illusion of control through the conscious mind alone, in reality we are continually faced with a question: “Why cannot I make myself do this or achieve that?
