美丽英文(散文卷)-第5章
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There are two Sorts of People in the World； who with equal Degrees of Health； ＆ Wealth； and the other forts of Life； bee； the one happy； and the other miserable。 This arises very much from the different Views in which they consider Things； Persons； and Events； and the Effect of those different Views upon their own Minds。
In whatever Situation Men can be placed； they may find Conveniencies ＆ Inconveniencies： In whatever pany； they may find Persons ＆ Conversation more or less pleasing。 At whatever Table； they may meet with Meats ＆ Drinks of better and worse Taste； Dishes better ＆ worse dress’d： In whatever Climate they will find good and bad Weather： Under whatever Government； they may find good ＆ bad Laws； and good ＆ bad Administration of those Laws。 In every Poem or Work of Genius they may see Faults and Beauties。 In almost every Face ＆ every Person； they may discover fine Features ＆ Defects； good ＆ bad Qualities。
Under these Circumstances； the two Sorts of People above mention’d fix their Attention； those who are to be happy； on the Conveniencies of Things； the pleasant Parts of Conversation； the well…dress’d Dishes； the Goodness of the Wines； the fine Weather； ＆ c。； and enjoy all with Chearfulness。 Those who are to be unhappy think ＆ speak only of the contraries。 Hence they are continually discontented themselves； and by their Remarks sour the Pleasures of Society； offend personally many People； and make themselves everywhere disagreeable。 If this Turn of Mind was founded in Nature； such unhappy Persons would be the more to be pitied。 But as the Disposition to criticize； ＆ be disgusted； is perhaps taken up originally by Imitation； and is unawares grown into a Habit； which tho’ at present strong may nevertheless be cured when those who have it are convinc’d of its bad Effects on their Felicity； I hope this little Admonition may be of Service to them； and put them on changing a Habit； which tho’in the Exercise it is chiefly an Act of Imagination yet has serious Consequences in Life； as it brings on real Griefs and Misfortunes。 For as many are offended by； ＆ nobody well loves this Sort of People； no one shows them more than the most mon civility and respect； and scarcely that； and this frequently puts them out of humour； and draws them into disputes and contentions。 If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank of fortune； nobody wishes them success； or will stir a step； or speak a word； to favour their pretensions。 If they incur public censure or disgrace； no one will defend or excuse； and many join to aggravate their misconduct； and tender them pletely odious。 If these people will not change this bad habit； and condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing； without fretting themselves and others about the contraries； it is good for others to avoid an acquaintance with them； which is always disagreeable； and sometimes very inconvenient； especially when one finds one’s self entangled in their quarrels。
*与丑腿（3）
An old philosophical friend of mine was grown； form experience； very cautious in this particular； and carefully avoided any intimacy with such people。 He had； like other philosophers； a thermometer to show him the heat of the weather； and a barometer to mark when it was likely to prove good or bad； but； there being no instrument invented to discover； at first sight； this unpleasing disposition in a person； he for that purpose made use of his legs； one of which was remarkably handsome； the other； by some accident； crooked and deformed。 If a Stranger； at the first interview； regarded his ugly Leg more than his handsome one； he doubted him。 If he spoke of it； ＆ took no notice of the handsome Leg； that was sufficient to determine my Philosopher to have no further Acquaintance with him。 Every body has not this two…legged Instrument； but every one with a little Attention； may observe Signs of that carping； fault…finding Disposition； ＆ take the same Resolution of avoiding the Acquaintance of those infected with it。 I therefore advise those critical； querulous； discontented； unhappy People； that if they wish to be respected and beloved by others； ＆ happy in themselves they should leave off looking at the ugly Leg。
如果我休息，我就生锈
＇美国＇奥里森·马登
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奥里森·马登（1848—1924），美国著名的成功学家；其创办的《成功》杂志在美国无人不晓，这一杂志通过创造性地传播成功学改变了无数美国人的命运。他被公认为美国成功学的奠基人和最伟大的成功励志导师。
在一把旧锁上发现了一则重要的铭文——如果我休息，我就生锈。对于那些为懒散而苦恼的人来说，这将是至理名言。甚至勤奋工作的人也可以此为警示，如果一个人有才而不用，就像废弃钥匙上的铁，很快就会生锈，最终不能适应工作。
那些想取得像伟人那样的成就，并成为伟人的人，必须不断地使用自身才能得以提升自身，以便使知识的大门、人类为之奋斗的每个领域——专业、科学、艺术、文学、农业的大门——不会被锁上。
勤奋是开启成功宝库的钥匙。如果休·米勒白天在伐木场劳作后，晚上停下来休息消遣的话，就不会成为名垂青史的地理学家。著名的数学家爱德蒙·斯通，如果闲暇时无所事事，就不会出版数学词典，也不会发现开启数学大门的钥匙。如果苏格兰青年霍格森，在山坡上放羊时让他那繁忙的大脑处于休眠状态，而不是花费心思计算星星的位置，他将不会成为著名的天文学家。
劳动改变一切——不是断断续续、变化无常的或者方向偏差的劳动，而是忠诚的、不懈的、方向正确的日夜劳动。正如，要想获得自由，必须时刻警惕；而要想获得永久的成功，则必须坚持不懈地工作。
If I Rest； I Rust
Orison Marden
The significant inscription found on an old key—“If I rest； I rust”—would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest taint of idleness。 Even the industrious might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that； if one allows his faculties to rest； like the iron in the unused key； they will soon show signs of rust； and； ultimately； cannot do the work required of them。
Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use； so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge； the gates that guard the entrances to the professions； to science； art； literature； agriculture—every department of human endeavor。
Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement。 If Hugh Miller； after toiling all day in a quarry； had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation he would never have bee a famous geologist。 The celebrated mathematician； Edmund Stone； would never have published a mathematical dictionary； never have found the key to science of mathematics； if he had given his spare moments to idleness。 Had the little Scotch lad； Ferguson； allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside； instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads； he would never have bee a famous astronomer。
Labor vanquished all—not inconstant； spasmodic； or ill…directed labor； but faithful； unremitting； daily effort toward a well…directed purpose。 Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty； so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success。
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论自私者的聪明
＇英国＇弗兰西斯·培根
蚂蚁本是聪明灵巧的小动物，却也是果园菜圃里的害虫。因而十分自恋的人确有可能会损害公众。用理智将自爱与爱人区分开吧！忠实于己，不要欺骗别人；尤其不要欺君叛国。人类行为卑劣的中心，就是自我。正如地球，它只以自我为中心。而与日月五行亲近的东西，也就有其他的中心，并从中得利。凡事从自我出发，君主这样做倒是可以容忍，因为君主是一己之主，且他们的祸福关系着公众的福祉。但臣仆之于君主，人民之于国家也是这样的话，就罪过之极了，因为任何事一经此种人的手，他都要为一己之私服务，经常背离君主、君国的目标行事。所以君王、国家从来都不会挑选有这种弊病的奴仆，除非他们认为所需要的服务无关紧要。更糟的是，当比例失调时，奴仆利益优先于主人，已经有失体统了；而如果奴仆的微薄私利牵制影响了主人的利益，就更是无法无天了。然而，卑劣的军官、会计、使者和将军等贪官污吏之事，使球偏离轨道，他们为了自己的微利，出于妒忌，将主人的宏绩伟业毁于一旦。多数情况下，这种人所获的好处无济于他们的幸运，可为了那微利所做出的出卖行为带来的灾害却与主人的洪福差不多。自私者会为了烤熟鸡蛋而放火烧屋，这当然是他们的本性使然。然而，这些家伙往往能取信于主人，因为他们所擅长的就是溜须拍马、谋求私利，不论是为了讨好主人，还是为了谋取私利，他们都会把正义之事的利益抛弃。
自私者的聪明�
