我可不想给一些性格坚强的人定什么规章,他们不论在天堂地狱,都会专注于自己的事业,他们甚至比最富者建筑得更宏伟,挥霍得更厉害,却不会因而贫团,我们 不知道他们是如何生活的,——如果确实像人们梦想着的,有这种人存在的话;
另外我也不给另一种人定出规章,他们是从事物的现状中得到鼓励,得到灵感,像情 人一样热烈地珍爱现实——我认为我自己也属于这种人的:
还有那些人,在任何情况下都能安居乐业,不管他们知不知道自己是否安居乐业,那些人,我也不是向他 们说话的。
我主要是向那些不满足的人说话,他们在应该可以改善生活的时候,却偏偏只是懒洋洋地诉说他们的命苦和他们那时代的悲惨。有些人对任何事情,都叫 苦连天,不可救药地诉不完的苦,因为据他们说,他们是尽了他们的职责的。
但我心目之中还有一种人,这种人看来阔绰、实际却是所有阶层中贫困得最可怕的,他 们固然已积蓄了一些闲钱,却不懂得如何利用它,也不懂得如何摆脱它,因此他们给自己铸造了一副金银的镣铐。 <转>
I do not mean to prescribe rules to strong and valiant natures, who will mind their own affairs whether in heaven or hell, and perchance build more magnificently and spend more lavishly than the richest, without ever impoverishing themselves, not knowing how they live---if, indeed,there are any such, as has been dreamed;
nor to those who find their encouragement and inspiration in precisely the present condition of things, and cherish it with the fondness and enthusiasm of lovers----and, to some extent, I reckon myself in this number;
I do not speak to those who are well employed, in whatever circumstances, and they know whether they are well employed or not,
-----but mainly to the mass of men who are discontented,and idly complaining of the hardness of their lot or of the times,when they might improve them.There are some who complain most energetically and inconsolably of any, because they are, as they say, doing their duty.
I also have in my mind that seemingly wealthy, but most terribly impoverished class of all, who have accumulated dross, but know not how to use it, or get rid of it, and thus have forged their own golden or silver fetters.<转>