《穷理查年鉴》摘录
《穷理查年鉴》作者本杰明·富兰克林,原版名称《Poor Richard’s Almanack》。
这是一种箴言集,因为都是写在日历本上,所以叫做年鉴(1933年~1958年)。书中虚构星相家理查.桑得斯。
本书最后给出的十三种美德,先睹为快:
【1】节制。食不过饱,饮酒不醉。
【2】少言。言必于人于己有益,避免无益的闲聊。
【3】秩序。物品各归其位,做事应有时限。
【4】决心。当做必做,决定之事,坚持不懈。
【5】节俭。于己于人有益方可花费,即毫不浪费。
【6】勤勉。花时间用于有益之事,不搞无谓之举。
【7】诚实。不虚伪骗人,思想要纯洁公正,说话要有根有据。
【8】公正。不做伤害他人之事,不忘履行对人有益且是自己应尽的义务。
【9】中庸。避免极端;要容忍别人对你应得的处罚。
【10】清洁。不容忍身体、衣服和住所的不清洁。
【11】镇静。勿因琐事心神不安,亦不为寻常事或不可避免的突发事件而惊慌失措。
【12】节欲。节制性欲,勿因纵欲过度伤身,切忌损害自己或他人的生活安宁与荣誉。
【13】谦虚。学习耶酥和苏格拉底。
How to get RICHES.
The Art of getting Riches consists very much in THRIFF.All Men are not equally qualified for getting Money,but it is in the Power of every one alike to practise this Virtue.
He that would be beforehand in the World,must be before-hand with his Business:It is not only ill Management,but discovers a slothful Disposition,to do that in the Afternoon,which should have been done in the Morning。
Useful Attainments in your Minority will procure Riches in Ma-turity,of which Writing and Accounts are not the meanest
Learning,whether Speculative or Practical,is,in Popular or Mixt Governments,the Natural Source cf Wealth and Honom。.
致富之道
致富之道很大程度在于节俭。并非所有人都能赚钱,但是实践这一美德时,每个人的能力又是相近的。
一个人要想任何事情都先行一步,超过别人,就要提前动手做。管理不善、有偷懒倾向、早上应该做的事情拖到下午,这都务让人处于不利地位。
年轻时多学习一些有益的东西,可以使人在成年后取得更大的成就,在需要学习的技能中,写作与记帐是不可忽视的。
无论是为了投机,还是为了实际运用,无论在政府里,还是在民众中,学习都是财富与信誉的自然源泉。
PRECEPT Ⅰ
In Things of moment,on thy seif depend,Nor trust too far thy Servant or thy Friend:With private Views,thy Friend may promisefair,And Servants veo seldown pme since.
规则一
眼前要处理的事情,要依靠自己,不要太相信仆人或朋友的话:出于私情,朋友总是许诺得很好;实践证明,仆人很少对主人忠诚。
PRECEPT Ⅱ.
What can be done,with Care perform to Day.Dangers thought-of will attend Delay:X our distant Prospects all precariousare,And Fortune is as fickle as shefair.
规则二:
谨慎从事,能完成的事情今天就完成,如果不考虑危险因素,有许多事情可能被长时间拖延。前景虽好不确定,运气就像女人一样捉摸不定。
PRECEPT Ⅲ.
Nor triviM loss, trivial Gain despise;Molehills,if often heaped,to Mountains rise:Weigh every smart expense,and nothing waste,Farthings 10ng saved,amount to Pounds at last.
规则三:
小损失与小收获都不要等闲视之,鼹鼠丘日积月累成大山;小花销也要认真衡量,不要无谓地浪费任何资源;节省许多小钢崩,长此以往将省出英磅。
正文
1933年:
(1) Great talk ,little doers.说话的巨人,行动的矮子。
(2)Relation without friendship,friendship without power,power without will,will without effect,effect without profit,and profit without virtue,are nor worth a farto.
是熟人但无友情,有友情但无权力,有权力但无主见,有主见但无效力,有效力但无收益,有收益但无美德,终究一文不值。
(3)The proff of gold is fire,the proof of woman,gold;the proof of man,a woman.
检验金子的是烈火,检验女人的是金子,检验男人的是女人。
(4)There is no enemy.
轻敌易致命。
1934年:
(1)You cannot pluck without fear of thorns,nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of horns.
摘漂亮玫瑰会怕刺,娶漂亮老婆易惹事。
(2)Be temperate in wine,in eating,girl,and sloth;or the Gout will seize you and plague you both.
吃少也要喝少,戒色还须勤奋,否则百病缠身,痛苦万分。
(3)All things are easy to industry,all things difficult to sloth.
勤奋眼中无难事,懒惰眼中无易事。
(4)Would you peruade,speak of interest,not of reason.
劝人要谈利益,不要空讲道理。
(5)An egg today is better than a hen tomorrow.
今天一个蛋胜过明天一只鸡。
1935年:
(1)Look before,and you will find yourself behind.
逆水行舟,不进则退。
(2)If pride leads van,beggary brings up the rear.
如果骄傲在前面领军,必有卑劣在后面压阵。
(3)Be slow in chusing a friend,slower in changing.
择友慢做决定,换友慢下决心。
(4)Humility makes great man twice honourable.
谦卑使使英雄更令人敬仰。
(5)Early to bed and early to rise,makes a man heslthy,wealthy and wise.
早睡早起让你身体爽,钱包鼓,脑灵光。
(6)One mend-fault is worth two findfaults,but one findfault is better than two makefaults.
一次不错值得两次找错,但是一次找错胜过两次犯错。
1936年:
(1)He is no clown that drives the plow ,but he that doth clownish things.
耕田犁地不算大老粗,行为卑鄙才是真粗俗。
(2)Fish and visitors stink in 3 days.
鱼留三天发臭,客留三天讨嫌。
(3)Diligence is the mother of good luck.
勤勉是好运之母。
(4)Never praise your cyder,hou=rse,or bedfellow.
永远不要称赞你的苹果酒,好马或者老婆。
(5)Keep flax from fire,youth from gaming.
麻布要远离明火,年轻人要远离玩乐。
(6)God helps them that help themselves.
天助自助者。
(7)None preaches better than the ant,and she says nothing.
蚂蚁是最棒的牧师,它布道时一言不发。(行动胜于雄辩)
(8)He that would live in peace and at ease,most not speak all he knows,nor judge all he sees.
生活要想安稳和自在,知道的不全说出口,见到的不妄下评论。
1937年:
(1)The master piece of man,is to live to the purpose.
英雄壮志。
(2)Love and lordshiphate companions.
爱情和爵位讨厌与人分享。
(3)The nearest way to come at glory,is to do that for conscience witch we do for glory.
通向荣耀的捷径是:荣耀争取,良心无愧。
(4)He that can compose himself,is wiser than he that composes books.
临危不惧胜过才高八斗。
(5)Love,couth,and a smoke,can not will be hid.
爱情,咳嗽和抽烟,皆难掩藏。
(6)Well done is better than well said.
说的好不如做的好。
(7)Fine linnen,girls and gold so bright.chuse not to take by candle light.
好布料,靓女孩和美黄金,千万别拿烛光凑近去挑拣。
(8)There are no ugly lovers,nor handsome prisons.
世上没有丑陋的爱情,也没有漂亮的牢房。
(9)No better relation than a pruden and faithful friend.
千金易得,挚友难求。
(10)If you have time ,do not wait for time.
如果你想拥有时间,就别等待时间。
(11)The noblest questing in the world is what good may I do in it?
世界上最高尚的问题是:人活于世,能做什么好事?
1938年:
(1)There are three faithful friends,an old wife,an old dog and ready money.
人生有三挚友:老妻,老狗和现金。
(2)Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure;nothing more bondage than too much liberty.
最痛苦的莫过于极乐,最束缚人的莫过于太自由。(物极必反)
(3)Read much ,but not many books.
博览,但勿乱读。
(4)If you have wit and learing,add to it wisdom and modesty.
如果你有了聪明和学识,那就再添上智慧和谦逊吧。
(5)If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten,either write things worth reading,or do things worth the writing.
如果想青史留名,要么写下值得一读的书,要么做出值得一写的事。
(6)Keep you eyes wide open before marriage,half shut afterwards.
婚前睁大眼,婚后半闭眼。
(7)Since you are not sure of a minute,though not away an hour.
既然把握不了一分钟,就不要扔掉一个小时。
(8)Defer not their well-doing;be not like St.George,who is always a houseback,and never rides on.
行善要及时,别像乔治一样呆坐在马背上,却不前行。
(9)Wish not so much to live long as to live well.
不求活得长,但求活得好。
(10)If any man flatters me. I will flatter him again; though he were my best friend.
如果有人奉承我,我也奉承他,就算他是我做好的朋友。
(11)Drive the business;let not that dirve you.
做事务的主人,别做他的奴隶。
(12)Search others for their virthes,youself for you vices.
找别人的长处,挖自己的短处。
1939年:
(1)At a great pennyworth,pause a while.
财富从天而降,要好好想想。
(2)Trust youself,and another shall not betary you.
相信你自己,才不会被自我出卖。
(3)Historians relate,not so much what is done,as what they would heve belived.
历史学家讲述的不是发生了什么,而是他们相信发生了什么。
(4)Hear no ill of a friend,not speak any of an enemy.
朋友的坏话不要听,敌人的坏话不要说。
(5)Pay what you owe,and you will know what has you owe.
付出你拥有的,你才知道自己拥有什么。
(6)Be not niggardly od what costs your nothing,as courtesy,counsel,and countenance.
不必花钱的东西——礼貌,忠告和鼓励——要舍得给予。
(7)Proclaim not all your knowest,all you owest,all you hast,all you canst.
家财万贯不张扬,心知秘密不声张,肚里有才不乱唱。
(8)Sin is not hurtful because it is forbiddenbut it is forbidden because it is hurtful.Nor is a duty beneficial because it is commanded,but it is commanded,because it is beneficial.
罪恶不是因为禁止才有害,而是因为它有害才被禁止。同样,责任不是因为被要求才有益,而是因为有益才被要求。
1940年:
(1)A wolf eats foe but now and then,them thousands anr devour'd by men.
狼吃羊偶尔为之,人吃羊却不计其数。
(2)Promise may get your friends,but nonperformance will turn them into enemies.
承诺易交友,食言易成仇。
(3)In other men we faults can spy,and blame the mote that dims their eye;each little speck and blemish find;to our own stonger errors blind.
在别人身上我们总能找到缺点,责备他们心有尘埃眼有清明;每找到别人的瑕疵,对自己的大缺陷愈加视而不见。
(4)When you speak to a man,look on his eyes;when he speaks to you ,look on his mouth.
对别人说话时,看他的眼睛;别人对你说活时,看他的嘴巴。
(5)Observe all men;yourself most.
研究所有人,更要研究你自己。
(6)Avoid dishonest gain:no price;can recompence the pangs of vice.
不义之财不可取,恶行令人痛苦,无药可找。
(8)When befriended,remember it;when you befriend,forgrt it.
别人助我,牢记不忘;我助别人,不记不想。
(9)Employ your timewell,if you meanest to gain leisure.
如果想拥有悠闲,好好利用时间。
(10)Neither praise nor dispraise,till seven Christmasses be over.
永远不奉承不损贬。
1941年:
(1)Be always ashamed to catch yourself idle.
发现自己懒惰时应感到羞愧。
(2)If you would keep your secret from an enemy,tell it not to a friend.
如果不想让敌人知道你的秘密,对朋友也要保密。
(3)Up,sluggard,and waste not life;in the grave will be sleeping enough.
生前不必久睡,死后自会长眠。
(4)Let no Pleasure tempt thee,no Profit allure thee,no Ambition corrupt thee,no Example sway thee,no Persuasion move thee,to do any thing which thou knowest to be Evil;So shalt thou always live jollily:for a good Conscience is a continual Christmas.
坚决不做坏事,哪怕快乐引诱你,利益吸引你,野心腐蚀你,先例误导你,劝说动摇你。如此,你才过的快乐,因为良心平安才是永远的圣诞节。
1942年:
(1)He that has a trade,has an estate.
有手艺的人能发财。
(2)Have you somewhat to do tomorrow;do it today.
今日事,今日毕。
(3)Money and good manners make the gentleman.
有钱又有礼,才是真绅士。
(4)He that speaks ill of the mare,will buy her.
出言不慎,必自食其果。
(5)You will be careful,if you are wise;How you touch men's religion,or creit,or eyes.
睿智的人会万分小心,知道如何开启信仰,信誉和心灵之窗。
(6)Against diseases here,the strongest fence,is the defensive virtue,abstinence.
防治百病,莫过于节制和禁欲。
(7)Money and man a mutual friendship show:man makes false money,money makes mn so.
钱和人互惠共生,人造假钱,钱生坏心。
(8)Keep out of the Sight of Feasts and Banquets as much as may be; for 'its more difficult to refrain good Cheer, when it's present,than from the Desire of it when it is away; the like you may observe in the Objects of all the other Senses.
尽量避开宴请和聚饮;欲望不在是易控制,好酒在眼前难收手,对其他感官也是同样的道理。
1943年:
(1)Ill company is like a dog who dirts those most,that he loves best.
坏伙伴就像条狗,喜欢谁就磨蹭谁,弄脏谁。
(2)In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise, the greatest may fall, and the lowest may rise; but insolent people that fall in disgrace, are wretched and nobody pities their case.
事业成功后仍需明智和谦虚,人生如海沉浮不定,谁能说清;傲慢的人一旦跌入低谷,落魄不堪也无人理睬。
(3)Content and riches seldom meet together,riches take you,contentment I had rather.
有钱鲜与知足为伍,你有钱,而我知足。
(4)A little well-gotten will do us more good,than lordships and scepters by rapine and blood.
小小的心愿一旦得到满足,胜过靠劫掠和流血抢来的爵位和宝座。
(5)Let all men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: men freely ford that see the shallows.
让所有人知道你,但不要让人把你看透;水浅被脚踏过,心浅遭人欺负。
(6)Experience keep a dear school,yet fools will learn in no other.
经历是一所宝贵的学校,而傻瓜什么也学不到。
1944年:
(1)What you would seem to be, be really.
想干什么,就努力去干什么。
(2)Industry,perseverance,and frugality,make fortune yield.
勤劳,坚毅,和节俭能生财。
(3)Hear reasin,or she will make you feel her.
听理智的话,免得她逼你这样做。
(4)Keep you from the opportunity,and god will keep you from the sin.
避开诱惑,上帝便会让你避开罪恶。
(5)A true friend is the best possession.
人生难得一挚友。
(6)Fear god,and your enemies will fear you.
惧怕上帝,你的敌人才会惧怕你。
1945年:
(1)Beware of little expence,a small leak will sink a great ship.
当心小恩惠,一条小裂缝能沉一艘巨轮。
(2)Idleness is the greatest prodigality.
懒散是最大的挥霍。
(3)One man may be more cunning than another, but not more cunning than everybody else.
你可以比一个人聪明,却不可能比所有人聪明。
(4)Every man has assurance enough to boast of his honesty,few of their understanding.
人人都可以吹嘘自己诚实,但没有几个人可以吹嘘自己聪明。
(5)An ounce of wit that is bourht,is worth a pound that is taught.
从教训中学来的一丁点知识,胜过书本教出来的一大堆知识。
1946年:
(1)Silks and sattins put out the kitchen fire.
绸缎绫罗可以扑灭厨房的火。
(2)It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to deceive himself.
自欺欺人乃是世上最易之事。
(3)The generous mind least regards money,and yet most feels the want of it.
慷慨之心最不在乎钱,也最怕没钱。
(4)Do you love life?then do not squander time;for that is the stuff life is made of.
你热爱生命吗?那么别浪费时间,因为时间是生命之本。
(5)Want of care does us more damage than want of konwledge.
粗心比无知更为有害。
(6)A life of exqusite ,and a life of laziness,are two things.
休闲的生活和懒惰的生活是两件事。
1947年:
(1)Strive to be the greatest Man in your Country,and you maybe disappointed;Strive to be the best,and you may Succeed:Hemay well win the race that runs by himself.
努力成为伟人,可能以失望而告终。想做高尚的人,你可能能成功。与自己赛跑的人容易成功。
(2)None know the unfortunate.and the fortunate do not knowthemselves.
倒霉的人没人了解,走运的人不了解自己。
(3)Therea time to wink as well as to see.
看世事有时候要眨眼假装看不见,有时候要睁眼看清楚。
(4)A good Example is the best sermon.
好榜样是最有说服力的布道。
(5)Write Injuries in Dust.Benefits in Marble.
把伤害写在尘土里,把恩惠写在大理石上。
(6)A Slip of the Foot you may soon recover:But a Slip of theTongue you may never get over.
脚失足可改正,话说错就永远没有机会改正了。
(7)Time enough,always proves little enough.
说时间够了,其实时间永远不够。
(8)He that cannot bear with other People,s Passions,cannotgovem his own.
不能容忍别人的激情的人,也不能驾驭自己的激情。
1948年:
(1)Life with Fools consists in Drinking;With the wise Man Livingg thinking.
傻瓜的生活泡在酒里,聪明人生活在思考中。
(2)Liberalitr is not giving much but giving wisely.
不要一次给予太多宽容,但给的恰到好处。
(3)Sus ficion may be no Fault,but shewing it may be a great0ne.
多疑不是错误,但是把疑心表现出来就是一个大错误。
(4)Pardoning the Bad,is injuring the Good.
原谅恶便是伤害善。
(5)When you are good to others,you are best to yourself.
你对别人好,就是对你自己好。
(6)He is not well-bred.that cannot bear Breeding in others.
不能容忍别人没有教养的行为的人就是没有教养的人。
(7)in Christmas feasting pray take care;Let not your table be a Snare;but with the Poor GodBounty share.
圣诞欢宴上请留心,别让您的餐桌成为陷阱,请和穷人一起分享上帝的恩情。
1749年:
(1)Wise Men learn by others harms;Fools by their own.
聪明人吸取别人错误的教训,傻瓜只能从自己身上吸取教训。
(2)The end of Passion is the beginning of Repentance.
激情过后,后悔开始。
(3)Words may shew a mang Wit。but Actions his Meaning
语言可以展示一个人的智慧,行动展示一个人的意图。
(4)If Passion drives,let Reason hold the Reins.
如果激情肆意横行,就让理智来驾驭它吧。
(5)Tis a well spent penny that saves a groat.
节省l便士,就会有l格鲁特。(4便士=1格鲁特)
(6)Many Foxes grow grey,but few grow good.
许多狐狸毛变老,但是没有狐狸因此而变好。
(7)Neither trust,nor contend,nor lay wagers,nor lend;And youll have peace to your Lives end.
不轻信也不与人争执,不下赌注,也不借债。这样,你才能一生安宁。
(8)Drink does not drown Care,but waters it,and makes it grow faster.
酒不能消愁,只能浇愁,而且使愁上加愁。
(9)Who dainties 10ve,shall Beggars prove.
挑剔爱情,爱情也挑剔你。
(10)Hast thou not yet propos fl some certain end,To which thylife,thy every act may tend?Hast thou no mark at which to bendthy bow?or like a boy pursu"st the carrion Crow with pellets andwith stones,from tree to tree,a fruitless toil,and liv§t extempore?Wateh the disease in time:For when,within The dropsy rages,and extends the skin.In vain for helebore the patient cries,And seesthe doctor.but too late is wise:Too late for cure,he proffers halfhis wealth:Ten thousand doctors cannot give him health.Learn,wretches.1earn the motions of the mind,Why you were mad,forwhat you were design"d,And the great moral end of human kind.Study thy serf;what rank or what degree.The wise creator has ordaina for thee:And all the offices of that estate,Perform,and withthy prudence guide thy fate.
你有没有确定人生目标,并为此努力奋斗?你难道没有找到射箭的靶心?你是不是像一个孩子,手里拿着小石子和玻璃球,为追赶一只乌鸦,从一棵树跑到另一棵树?你徒劳地生活,你活到今天,忘了明天,只是随遇而安吗?你有没有看到患了水肿的人,身体肿胀,皮肤瘙痒,痛苦地喊着要药物,还想让医生来治疗,但是,病入膏肓没办法。他情愿拿出一半财富治好病,但是一千个医生也不能给他健康。可怜人,你要知道自己在想什么。为什么你对别人为你设计的人生很痴迷?你要认真仔细地审视自己,你在哪一个层次,你有什么能力,你要知道上帝赐予你的是什么。根据自己的能力干事业,勤劳谨慎伴你一生。
(11)Having been poor is no shame,but being ashamed of it is.
贫穷不是耻辱,如果因为贫穷而自己感觉耻辱,这才是真正的耻辱。
(12)The wise Man draws more Advantage from his Enemies.than the Fool from his Friends.
聪明的人从敌人那里学到的知识比从朋友那里学到知识多得多。
(13)Declaiming against Pride,is not always a Sign of Humility
谴责骄傲自满,并不总是一种谦卑的表现。
(14)Neglect kills Injuries,Revenge increases them?
忘记别人的伤害吧,耿耿于怀,反而增加痛苦与伤害。
(15)Great good-nature,without prudence,is a great misfortune.
天赋极高但狂妄鲁莽,是人生大不幸。
(16)
1750年:
(1)There are three Things extreamly ham,Steel,a Diame-ndand to know oneg self.
有三种东西很坚硬:钢铁、钻石以及自知之明。
(2)Heis a Governor that governs his Passions。and he a Servant that serves them.
控制自己的激情,就成了自己的主人;为激情服务,就成了自己的
(3)Pay what you owe,and what you ie worth you ll know.
付出你所拥有的,你才知道自己拥有什么。
(4)Many a Man thinks he is buying Pleasure,when he is really selling himself a Slave to it.
许多人以为自己拥有快乐,殊不知自己已成快乐的奴隶。
(5)Tis hard(but g10rious)to be poor and honest:An emptySack can hardly stand upright;but if it does,tis a stout one!
贫穷但诚实,也很荣光,空口袋难站直,一直硬邦邦。
(6)He that can bear a Reproof,and mend by it,if he is not wise,is in a fair way of being so.
一个能容忍别人的指责并且能纠正错误的人,就是一个聪明人
(7)You nmy be too cunning for One.bu[not for All。
你或许聪明过一个人,但不会聪明过所有人。
(8)Fhe Modesty is a Virtue.Bashfulness is a Vice.
谦虚是美德,忸怩却是缺点。
(9)What signifies knowing the Names,if you know not the Na-tures of Things.
如果你不知道事物本质,仅仅知道名字又有什么用呢?
(10)Tis a Shame that your Family is an Honour to you!Youought to be an Honour to your Family.
栖家鬼之荫让人脸红,为家争光才是光荣。
(11)Glass,China,and Reputation,are easily crack ,and never well mended.
玻璃、瓷器与名声,容易摔碎不易修补。
1751年:
(1)With the Years beyond the Flood:It is the Signal that de-mands Dispatch;How much is to be done?Be wise Today,lis Madness to defer;Next day the fatal Precedent will plead;Thus on,till Wisdom is pushfl out of Life:Procrastination is the Thief of Time,Year after Year it steals till all are fled,And to the Mercies of a Moment leaves The vast Concerns of an eternal Scene.If not so frequent,would not this be strange?That lis so frequent,this is stranger still.
当新的一年来临,我们又要启程赶路了。我们要做多少事一情呢?今日事今日毕,不要把今天要做的事情拖到明天,这样做才是明智的人。到了第二天,同样的借口又来了。今日的事情可以推迟到明天,这种借1:7天天用,直到死去。拖延是时间的窃贼,年复一年,它吞噬着生命的时光,直到最后,当人将要死去的时候,才会驻留片刻。这一幕经常出现,已经没什么离奇之处
(2)Most People return small Favours.acknowledge middlingones,and:repay great ones with Ingratitude.
许多人小恩知回报,中恩知感激,大恩不仅不报,还要恩将仇报。
(3)Youth is pert and positive,Age modest and doubting:So Ears of Corn when young and light,stand bolt upright,but hang their Heads when weighty,full,and ripe.
青年鲁莽自信,年老谦卑多疑。玉米穗嫩的时候颜色润泽 直立,果实丰盈沉甸甸之后,却耷拉下脑袋。
(4)Friendship increases by visiting Friends,but by visiting seldom.
不经常拜访朋友,而偶尔拜访朋友,才能加深友谊。
(5)If word Goods cannot save me from Death.they ought nol to hinder me of Ieternal Life.
如果世间的财富不能让我幸免于死,财富与物质也不能凹.止我获得永生。
(6)Tis grIeat Confidence in a Friend to tell hjITI your Fauhgreater to te,ll him his.
告诉朋友你的错误,这是你对朋友的最大信任:但是比这更大的信任是告诉朋友他的错误。
(7)The Wise and Brave,1ares owll that he was wlong.
聪明与勇敢的人敢于承认自己的锚u误。
(8)Who judges best of a Man,his Enemies or himseff?
谁对一个人的判断最准确?是他自己还是他的敌人。
1752年:
(1)For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost;for want of a Shoe,theHorse is lost;for want of a Horse the Rider is lost.
因为没有钉子,失去一只马掌;因为没有马掌,失去一匹好马;因为没有一匹好马,失去一个好骑兵。
(2)The busy Man has few idle Visitors:to the boiling Pot theFlies come not.
忙碌的人很少有闲客来访;沸腾的锅里不会落入苍蝇。
(3)Tis more noble to forgive,and mote manly to despise,thanto revenge an Injury.
原谅是崇高的,蔑视是勇敢的,报复是受伤害的。
(4)The Prodigal generally does more Injustice than the Covet.OUS.
浪费比贪婪犯的罪更大。
(5)A Brother may not be a Friend,but a Friend will always bea Brother.
兄弟可能成不了朋友,朋友却可以成为兄弟。
(6)Great Merit is coy,as well as great Pride.
真正的美德与骄傲都是腼腆的,都不事张扬。
(7)The Brave and the Wise can both pity and excuse:whenCowards and fools shew DO Mercy.
勇敢的人与聪明的人都有怜悯之心,也能原谅别人,而懦夫与傻瓜绝不心慈手软。
(8)Ceremony is not Civility;nor Civility Ceremony.
有礼节不一定有礼貌;有礼貌不一定有礼节。
(9)Praise to the undeserving。is severe Satyr.
不应该赞扬的却赞扬,这是极度残暴不公的行为。
(10)Success has ruintl many a Man.
成功毁掉了许多人。
1753年:
(1)When Reason preaches,if you wonl hear her shell box your Ears.
如果理智向你布道,你执意不听,它会在将来扇你一耳光。
(2)it is not Leisnre that is not used.
闲暇时光.应该好好利用。
(3)If you would reap Praise you must SOW the Seeds,Gentle Words and useful Deeds.
如果你想得到别人的夸奖,就先播下赞美别人的种子吧。
(4)Sudden Power is apt to be insolent,Sudden Liberty saucy;that behaves best which has grown gradually.
突然赐予的权力会让人变得傲慢自大,突然赐予的自由会让人鲁莽无礼。最好的办法是一点一点地赐予。
(5)He that is of Opinion Money will do every Thing,may well be suspected of doing every Thing for Money
认为金钱万能的人,很可能会一切为了金钱。
(6)When out of Favour,none know thee;when in,thou dost not know thyself.
失意时,没人认识你;得意时,你不认识你自己。
(7)God,Parents,and Instructors,can never be requited.
你无论如何报答,也报答不尽上帝、母亲与老师的恩情。
(8)Virtue and a Trade,are a Child台best Portion.
孩子要学习的两大优点是:拥有美德,精通一技之长。
(9)Gifts much expected,are paid,not given.
渴望得到的礼物不会白的,要付出。
1754年:
(1)ne first Degree of Folly.is to conceit one's self wise;thesecond to profess it;the third to despise Counsel.
最大的愚蠢是欺骗自己,把自己伪装成聪明人。
(2)Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes,lest they lead you aweary Dance after them.
剪掉母鸡和希望的翅膀,脚踏实地。
(3)In the Mfairs of this World Men are saved,not by Faith,but by the Want of it.
在这个纷繁芜杂的世界上,人不是因为有信仰才得到拯救,而是因为渴望得到信仰才得到拯救。
(4)Friendship cannot live with Ceremony,nor without Civility
友谊无需客套,但要礼貌。
(5)Dont think so much of your own Cunning,as to forget otherMens:A cunning Man is over match'S by a cunning Man and aHalf.
不要因为自己诡计多端就忘记别人也会使用同样的伎俩:个奸诈的人往往被许多奸诈的人盯着。
(6)He that doth what he should not.shall feel what he would not.
做了不该做的事情,就有了不想有的感觉。
(7)Love your Neighbour;Yet dont pull down your Hedge
爱你的邻居,但不要拆了中间的篱笆墙。
(8)Friends are the true sceptres of princes.
拥有朋友,君王就有了真正的拐杖。
(9)For age and want save while you may;no moring sun lats a whole day.
一生难免穷老,未雨绸缪。早晨的太阳,迟早要落下。
(10)Learing to the studious;riches to the careful;power to the bole;heaven to the virtuous.
勤奋增学识,谨慎能致富,胆大有官当,行善上天堂。
1755年:
(1)Speak little.do much.
少说话,多做事。
(2)If you would be 10ved.10ve and be 10veable.
如果你想被爱,就要爱人,并且要成为可爱的人。
(3)Think of three Things,where you came,where you are going,and to whom you must account
要时刻想着三件事:你从哪里来?你去何方?你将与谁打交道?
(4)The Wolf sheds his Coat once a Year,his Disposition nev er.
狼一年换一次毛,可是它的秉性永远不会变。
(5)Who is wise?He that learns from every one.
Who is powerful?He that governs his Passions
Who is rich?He that is content.
Who is that?Nobody.
谁最聪明?那些能从每一个人身上学到东西的人。
谁最有权威?那些能控制自己情绪的人。
谁最富有?那些知足的人。
谁拥有以上四种优点?没有一个人。
(6)God gives all Things to Industry.
上帝把一切赐予勤劳的人。
(7)Neglect mending a small Fault.and。twill soon be a great one.
小错不纠正,日久铸成大错。
(8)Diligence overcomes Difficulties.SIoth makes them.
勤劳克服困难,懒惰制造困难。
(9)A long Life may not be good enough,but a good Life is long enough.
活得长并不一定活得好,活得好胜过活得长。
(10)Be at War with your Vices,at Peace with your Neighbours,and let every New Year find you a better Man.
与你的缺点作斗争,与你的邻居和睦相处,让自己一年比一年有提高。
1756年:
(1)A Change of Fortune hurts a wise Man no more than a Change of the Moon.
就像月亮的盈亏不能影响一个聪明人一样,命运的变换也不能影响他。
(2)Does Mischief,Misconduct,&Warrings displease ye.Think thereg a Providence,twill make ye easy.
恶作剧与出轨的行为只能让你陷入纠纷之中,使你垂头沮丧。想一想有苍天高高在上,你就会感觉如释重负。,
(3)love your Enemies,for they tell you your Faults.
热爱你的敌人,因为他们指出你的错误。
(4)Be civil to all;serviceable to many;familiar with.few:Friend to one;Enemy to none.
对所有的人彬彬有礼,对多数人有所帮助,对少数人有所了解,不与任何人树敌。
(5)Trouble springs from Idleness;Toil from Ease?
闲散制造事端;安逸产生劳苦。
(6)A wise Man will desire no more,than what he may get justly,use soberly,distribute chearfully,and leave contentedly
一个明智的人懂得知足,他只是取得应得的,节俭地使用拥有的,谨慎地给予,满足地离去。
(7)To morrow,every Fault is to be amended;but that To morrow never comes.
明天,要把所有的错误都纠正,可是为什么明天永远都在明天。
(8)Plough deep,while Sluggards sleep;And you shall have Corn,to sell and to keep.
农夫卖力耕地时,懒汉家里睡大觉。农夫春天播种,秋天牧获,粮食交易可换钱,剩下的贮藏起来备饥荒。
(9)Laziness travels so slowly,that Poveay soon overtaktjs him.
懒惰走的速度太慢,贫穷很快将它赶上。
(10)To be proud of Knowledge,is to be blind with Light:to be proud of Viaue,is to poison yourseff with the Antidote.
如果因为有知识就骄傲自满,就像在阳光下而变瞎;如果因为有美德就洋洋得意,就像吃下一剂毒药。
(11)Get what you can,and what you get,hold:Tis the Stonethat will turn all your Lead into Gold.
有能力得到,就尽力而为;一旦得到,就好好珍惜。
(12)An honest Man will receive neither Money nor Praise.thatis not his Due.
诚实的人不接受不义之财,也不接受不应该得到的称赞。
(13)Tell me my Faults,and mend your own.
告诉我我的缺点,纠正你自己的缺点。
(14)What shall it profit a Man,if he gain the whole Worid.and10se his own Soul?Without some Care in this Matter,tho"thou mavcome to count thy Thousands,thou wilt possibly still appear poorin tlle Eves of the Discerning,even here,and be really so for ever hereafter.
如果一个人获得了整个世界,却失去了他的灵魂,这对他又有什么用呢?如果不注意自己的品德修养,即使你赚了一千英磅。在聪明人的眼睛里,你还是一贫如洗。
1757年:
(1)Many a Mang own Tongue gives Evidence against his Under-standing.
舌头会出卖你自己。话说得越多,露的马脚越大。
(2)Tis easier to build two Chimneys,than maintain one in Fuel.
建两个烟囱容易,让两个烟囱都冒烟困难。(成家容易养家难)
(3)Men take more pains to mask than mend.
人们在伪装自己上下的功夫比改正自己错误上下的功夫要多得多。
(4)One day is worth two morrows
一个今天胜过两个明天。
(5)Since Man is but of a very limited Power in his own Person,and consequently can effect no great Matter merely by his own per-sonal Strength,but as he acts in Society and Conjunction with others;and since no Man can engage the active Assistance of others,without first engaging their Trust;And moreover,since Men will trust no further than they judge one,for his Sincerity,fit to be trusted;it follows,that a discovered Dissembler can atchieve nothing great or considerable.For not being able to gain Mens Trust,he cannot gain their Concurrence;and so is left a10ne to act singly and upon his own Bottom;and while that is the Sphere of his Activity,that entire he Call do must needs be contemptible.
一个人单干的话,能力就有限度,依靠自己单独打拼不会取得什么大成就。如果在社会中依靠与其他人联合成就事业的话,就需要别人的鼎力帮助,别人如何才能尽力帮助你呢?这就需要信任。人只能根据其对他人的主观判断给予相应的信任。所以一个伪善的人不可能取得很大的成就或业绩。如果不能得到别人的信任。就不可能让别人与自己齐心协力做某一项事业。如果不能协力做事,只依靠自己,结果还是不能成就大事业。人在做事的时候可以随心所欲,但是他的行为必须与其他人协调一致。
(6)Dally not With other Folks Women or Money.
不要乱碰别人的钱财与女人。
(7)Work as if you Were to live Years,Pray as if wereto die To morrorw.
工作起来好像你要活一百岁,祈祷之时好你要死马上去。
(8)Excess of Wit may oftentimes beguile:Jests are not alwayspardoned by a Smile.Men may disguise their Malice at the Heart,And seem at ease th07painfl with inward Smart.Mistaken,we think a11 such Wounds of course Reflection cures;alas!it makes them worse.
过度的聪明就是欺骗。玩笑不会因为一个微笑而得到原谅。有的人将厌恶藏在心里,表面上表现得轻松自然,但是你已经使他们内心疼痛。我们渴望伤口很快愈合,但是伤势越来越重。
(9)Like some grave Matron of a noble Line,With awful Beautv does Religion shine.Just Sense should teach US to revere the Danle.Nor,by imprudent Jests,to spot her Fame.In common Life vou ll own this Reas hing right,rnlat none but Fools in gross Abube de.1ight:Then use it here nor think the Caution vain;To be polite,Men need not be profane.
宗教像一位出身名门的贵妇人,庄重典雅让人肃然起敬。恶意的戏弄也不会对她产生任何污点,在生活中,你会明白.只有傻瓜才乐于挪榆捉弄。不要戏弄别人的信仰,这是有益的忠告
(10)Pride breakfasted with Plenty,dined with Poverty,supped with Infamy.
骄傲享用丰盛的早餐,吞下贫穷的午餐,咽下耻辱的晚餐。
(11)Retirement does not always secure Virtue;lot was uprightin the City,wicked in the Mountain.
撒手不于并不能保证你有坚不可摧的美德。在城市里。正义昂首阔步;在边远的山林里,邪恶四处滋生。
(12)Idleness is the Dead Sea,that swal10ws all Virtues:Be active in Business,that Temptation may miss her Aim:The Bird that sits,is easily shot.
闲懒是一片死海,吞没所有的美德,积极工作,诱惑便伤不到你,呆住的鸟儿易射中。
(13)Tillbylong Practice,to Perfection brought,With easy Sleight their former Task they wrought.Swift from their Arm the unerring Pebble flew, And high in Air,the flutting Victim slew.So in each Art Men rise but by Degrees,And Months of Labour lead to Years of Ease.
他固定一个目标,就开始训练,开始的时候总是投石不准,石头总是偏离目标方向,但是他坚持不懈一直训练,现在能:拿起卵石就命中目标,轻松自如无人能比。只要好好干,行行出状元。天天苦练日后自会娴熟。
(14)Great-Alms-giving,lessens no Man Living.
救济别人不会使自己生活受影响。
(15)The royal Crown cures not the Head-ach.
皇冠治不了头痛病。
(16)Singularity in the right,hath mined many:Happy those whoare convinced of the general Opinion.
自以为是,会坏很多事,兼听则明。
(17)Some antient Phi10sophers have said.that Happiness de-pends more on the inward Disposition of Mind than on outward Cir-cumstances;and that he who cannot be happy in any State,can beso in no State.To be happy,they tell US we must be content.Right.But they do not teach how we may become content.Poor Richard shall give you ashort good Rule for that.To be content,look backward on those who possess less than you,not forward onthose who possess more.If this does not make you content,you don t deserve to be happy.
许多古代哲学家说,人的幸福来自于人的内心世界,而不是外在的物质世界。如果一个人在一个地方感觉不满足,在任何 一个地方都不会感觉到满足。哲学家告诉我们,要想幸福,就要知足。但是,遗憾的是,他们并没有告诉我们如何做才能知足常乐。穷理查这里给大家一些知足之道。要想知足,回头想想那些不如你富有的人,不要向前看那些比你富有的人。如果这样也不能让你知足的话,你就不值得获得满足感。
(18)Proportion your Charity to the Strength of your Estate,or God will proportion your Estate to the Weakness of your Charity.
财多要行善,否则上帝会依你行善之少剥夺你的财富。
(19)When other Sins grow old by Time,Then Avarice is in its prime,Yet feed the Poor at Christmas time.
所有的罪恶随时间而苍老,唯有贪婪正当年华。
1758年:
(1)One Nestor is worth two Ajaxes。
特洛伊战争中希腊的贤明长老内斯特,比鲁莽骁勇的阿基里斯更有价值。(两个勇夫抵不过一个谋士)
(2)When Knaves betray each other,one can scarce be blamed,or the other pitied.
当无赖相互背叛时,他们当中的任何一个人都不值得人批评教育,也不值得人同情。
(3)He that carries a small Crime easily,will carry it on when itcomes to be an ox。
如果一个人小偷小摸很在行,见了大牛也会牵走。
(4)Happy Tom Crump,never sees his own Hump.
汤姆经常笑话别人,但是从来没有注意到自己的驼背。
(5)Fools need Advice most,but wise Men only are the betterfor it.
傻瓜最需要建议,但是自作聪明的人更需要。
(6)Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom,but Babbling is evera Mark of FoHy.
沉默并不总是一种聪明的象征,但是喋喋不休永远是愚蠢的表现。
(7)Great Modesty often hides great Merit.
伟大的谦虚往往隐藏着伟大的美德。
(8)You may delay,but Time will not.
你可能会迟到,但是,时间永远不会迟到。
(9)Virtue may not always make a Face handsome,but Vice willcertainly make it ugly.
美德不会总让一个人的脸更漂亮,但是丑行肯定会让一个人的脸变丑陋。
(10)Prodigality of Time,pr二-3&mes Poverty of Mind as well as ofEstate.
浪费时间的人不仅浪费财产,而且使人的心灵贫穷。
(11)Content is the Philosopher's Stone,that turns all it touchesinto Gold.
满足是点金石,能把所碰到的任何东西变得有价值。
(12)The Way to see by Faith,is to shut the Eye of Reason:The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candie.
闭上你理智的眼睛,你才能看到信仰;熄灭燃烧的蜡烛,你才看到早晨的阳光来临。
(13)Spare and have is better than spend and crave.
节省下来,总比花费掉再渴望得到好。
(14)Good-Will,like the Wind,f10werth where it listeth.
善意,就像春风一样,当它吹过的地方,鲜花就会开放。
(15)Men often mistake themselves,seldom forget themselves.
人们往往错误地对待自己,但是很少忘记自己。
(16)The idle Man is the Devilg Hireling;Whose Livery isRags,whose Diet and Wages are Famine and Diseasesg.
偷懒的人是魔鬼的仆人,魔鬼给他穿的是乞丐服装。
(17)Rob not God.nor the Poor,lest thou ruin thyself;the Eagle snatcht a Coal from the Altar,but it fired her Nest.
不要抢劫上帝,也不要抢劫穷人,要不然,就是自找毁灭。