第14章致富之道(1)
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本杰明·富兰克林BenjaminFranklin
本杰明·富兰克林(1706—1790),18世纪美国最伟大的科学家、著名的政治家和文学家。他生于波士顿,幼年家境贫穷,一生只受过两年正式教育。1726年,他出版了《穷查理历书》,当时被译成12种文字,畅销欧美各国,也奠定了他在文学上的地位。独立战争爆发后,他参加了第二届大陆会议和《独立宣言》的起草工作。
Pragf
&hefollowiwidfillintheblanksriatewords。
2。Iftimebeofallthi________,wastibe,asPoorRichardsays,thegreatest________;since,asheelsewheretellsus,losttimeisneverfoundagain;aimeenough,alroveslittleenough。
3。Whereasindustrygivesfort,ay,a:fly________,andthey’llfollowyou;The________________hasalargeshift;andnoandacow,everybodybidsme____________;allofwhichisoorRichard。
CourteousReader,
Ihaveheardthatnothihreatpleasure,astofindhisworksrespectfullyquotedbyotherlearhors。ThispleasureIhaveseldomehoughIhavebeen,ifImaysayitwithoutvaauthorofalmanauallynowafullquarterofatury,mybrotherauthorsinthesameway,forwhatreasonIknownot,haveeverbeenverysparingintheirapplause,ahorhastakeie,sothatdidnsproduesolidpuddideficyofpraisewouldhavequitedise。
Icludedatlength,thatthepeoplewerethebestjudgesofmymerit;fortheybuymyworks;andbesides,inmyrambles,ersonallyknowlyheardoherofmyadagesrepeatedoorRichardsays”attheendon’t;thisgavemesomesatisfa,asitshowednotonlythatmyinstruswereregarded,butdiscoveredlikewisesomerespeyauthority;andIown,thattethepraberihosewisesentences,Ihavesometimesquotedmyselfwithgreatgravity。
&hen,howmuchImusthavebeengratifiedbyaIamgoioyou。Istoppedmyhorselatelywhereagreatnumberofpeoplewerecollectedatavegoods。Thehourofsalenotbeiheyweregonthebadhetimesahepaoaplainan,withwhitelocks,“Pray,FatherAbraham,whatthinkyouofthetimes?Woaxesquiteruiry?Howshallwebeeverabletopaythem?Whatwouldyouadviseusto?”FatherAbrahamstoodup,andreplied,“Ifyou’dhavemyadvice,I’llgiveittoyouinshort,forawordtothewiseisenough,andmanywordswon’tfillabushel,asPoorRichardsays。”Theyjoinedindesiringhimtospeakhismind,andgatheringroundhim,heproceededasfollows:
“Friends,”sayshe,“andneighbors,thetaxesareindeedveryheavy,andifthoselaidonbythegoverheonlyoopay,wemightmoreeasilydischargethem;butwehavemanyothers,andmuchmrievoustosomeofus。Wearetaxedtwiceasmuchbyouridleimesasmuchbyourpride,andfourtimesasmuchbyourfolly;andfromthesetaxestheissioeaseordeliverusbyallowinga。However,letushearkentogoodadviaybedodhelpsthemthathelpthemselves,asPoorRichardsays,inhisAlmanackof1733。”
“Itwouldbethoughtahardgovershouldtaxitspeopleooftheirtime,tobeemployedinitsservice。Butidleaxesmanyofusmuchmore,ifwereallthatisspentih,ofnothing,withthatwhitis,oramusements,thatamounttonothing。Slondiseases,absolutelyshorteh,likerust,esfasterthanlaborwears;whiletheusedkeyisalwaysbright,asPoorRichardsays。Butdostthoulovelife,thendonotsquahat’sthestufflifeismadeof,asPoorRichardsays。Howmuchmorethanisnecessarydowespetingthatthesleepingfoxopoultryandthattherewillbesleepingenoughinthegrave,asPoorRichardsays。”
“Iftimebeofallthiprecious,wastibe,asPoorRichardsays,thegreatestprodigality;since,asheelsewheretellsus,losttimeisneverfoundagain;aimeenough,alroveslittleehenupandbedoing,anddoingtothepurpose;sobydiligenceshallwedomorewithlessperplexity。Slothmakesallthingsdifficult,butindustryalleasy,asPoorRichardsays;arisethlatemusttrotallday,andshallscarceovertakehisbusinight;whilelaziravelssosloovertysooakeshim,asoorRichard,whoadds,drivethybusihatdrivethee,aobed,aorise,makesamahy,wealthyandwise。”