第3部分(第5/5 页)
美好的事物不屑一顾,一天到晚怨天尤人,那么大家还是少和他接触好,因为这种人很难相处,而且当你卷进他们的争吵中,你会有更大的麻烦。
我有一个哲学家老朋友,经历过很多人情世故,按照他的阅历,行为谨慎,尽量避免和这种人打交道。和其他哲学家一样,他也有一个显示气温的温度计和一个预报天气好坏的气压计;但世上没有人发明一种仪器可以预测人的这种坏习惯,因此,他就利用自己的两条腿来测验。他的一条腿长得很好看,另一条腿因为意外事故而成了畸形。如果陌生人初见他时,对他的丑腿比对他的美腿更专注,那么他就会有所疑虑。如果那人只谈论那条丑腿,而不注意他的好腿,那我的朋友就会很快决定不再与他深交。不是每个人都有这样一双腿作为测量仪器,但只要稍加留意,每个人都能看出点那种挑三拣四的人的劣迹,从而避免和这种人交往。所以,我奉劝那些爱挑剔、爱发牢骚、整天愁眉苦脸的人,如果想受人尊敬并且想自己找乐子的人,就不要总是盯着别人的丑腿看。
*与丑腿(2)
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这世上有两种人,他们拥有同样的健康、财富以及其他生活上的享受,但是,一种人快乐,另一种人却烦恼。这很大程度上来源于他们对事物观点的不同,比如对人和对事,因此产生了快乐和烦恼的分歧。
The Handsome and Deformed Leg
Benjamin Franklin
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;
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