揭秘财富的秘密：掌握快速成功的秘诀

发布时间：2024-10-17浏览：15

The Way to Wealth（致富之道）

by Benjamin Franklin（本杰明-富兰克林）

Courteous Reader,

I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for tho’ I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author of almanacs annually now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses; and no other author has taken the least notice of me, so that did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.

有礼貌的读者，

I concluded at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit; for they buy my works; and besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated, with, as Poor Richard says, at the end on’t; this gave me some satisfaction, as it showed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority; and I own, that to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity.

我最后得出的结论是，人们是我功绩的最好评判者；因为他们购买我的作品；此外，在我漫游时，在我不为人所知的地方，我经常听到人们重复我的这样或那样的格言，就像可怜的理查德说的那样，最后还加上一句；这让我感到有些满意，因为这不仅表明我的指示得到了重视，而且还发现人们对我的权威也有一些尊重；我承认，为了鼓励人们记住和重复这些睿智的句子，我有时非常认真地引用我自己的话。

Judge then how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at a vendue of merchant goods. The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times, and one of the company called to a plain clean old man, with white locks, “Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won’t these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to?” Father Abraham stood up, and replied, “If you’d have my advice, I’ll give it you in short, for a word to the wise is enough, and many words won’t fill a bushel, as Poor Richard says.” They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

那么，请判断一下，我要向你们讲述的一件事一定让我感到非常欣慰。最近，我在一个商人的货物销售处停下了马，那里聚集了很多人。还没到卖货的时间，他们正在谈论时局的不景气，其中一个人叫住了一个白发苍苍的老人："亚伯拉罕神父，请问你对时局有什么看法？这些沉重的赋税会不会毁了这个国家？我们怎么付得起呢？你建议我们怎么办？"亚伯拉罕神甫站了起来，回答说："如果你们想听我的建议，我就长话短说，因为一句话就够了，而很多话是装不满一蒲式耳的，就像可怜的理查德说的那样。"大家一起希望他说出自己的想法，他围着大家，说了以下几句话：

“Friends,” says he, and neighbors, “the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly, and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement. However let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says, in his almanac of 1733.”

"朋友们，"他和邻居们说，"税赋确实很重，如果我们只需缴纳政府规定的那些税赋，我们可能会更容易解脱；但我们还有许多其他的税赋，而且对我们中的一些人来说更为沉重。我们因懒惰而被征收两倍的税，因骄傲而被征收三倍的税，因愚蠢而被征收四倍的税。然而，让我们听从好的建议，也许会为我们做些什么；上帝会帮助那些自助的人，正如穷理查德在他 1733 年的年鉴中所说的那样"。

“It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service. But idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments or amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality, since, as he elsewhere tells us, lost time is never found again, and what we call time-enough, always proves little enough: let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy, as Poor Richard says; and he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night. While laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him, as we read in Poor Richard, who adds, drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

"如果一个政府要征收其人民十分之一的时间来为其服务，那将会被认为是一个艰难的政府。但是，如果我们把花在绝对懒惰或无所事事上的时间，与花在无所事事的工作或娱乐上的时间算在一起，懒惰对我们许多人征收的税要多得多。懒惰会带来疾病，绝对会缩短生命。懒惰就像铁锈，消耗得比劳动磨损得还快，而用过的钥匙却总是明亮的，就像穷理查德说的那样。但是，如果你热爱生命，那就不要挥霍时间，因为生命就是由时间构成的，正如穷理查德所说。我们花在睡眠上的时间比需要的多得多！我们忘记了，睡着的狐狸抓不到家禽，在坟墓里也睡不够，这是可怜的理查德说的。如果时间是所有东西中最宝贵的，那么浪费时间就一定是最大的挥霍，就像可怜的理查德说的那样，因为正如他在其他地方告诉我们的那样，失去的时间再也找不回来了，而我们所谓的时间足够，却总是被证明是不够的。懒惰使一切事情都变得困难，但却使一切事情都变得容易，就像可怜的理查德说的那样；晚起的人必须整天小跑，到了晚上也赶不上他的事情。懒惰的人走得太慢，贫穷很快就会追上他，正如我们在《可怜的理查德》一书中所读到的，他还说，要赶你的事，不要让它赶你的事；早睡早起，使人健康、富有和聪明。

“So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times. We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, as Poor Richard says, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains, without pains, then help hands, for I have no lands, or if I have, they are smartly taxed. And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, he that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate, nor the office, will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor Richard says, at the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff nor the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while despair encreaseth them, says Poor Richard. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, diligence is the mother of good luck, as Poor Richard says, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep, says Poor Dick. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow, which makes Poor Richard say, one today is worth two tomorrows; and farther, have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master, be ashamed to catch yourself idle, as Poor Dick says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your gracious king, be up by peep of day; let not the sun look down and say, inglorious here he lies. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that the cat in gloves catches no mice, as Poor Richard says. ’Tis true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak handed, but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects, for constant dropping wears away stones, and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks, as Poor Richard says in his almanac, the year I cannot just now remember.

"那么，希望和期盼更好的时代意味着什么呢？如果我们振作起来，就能让时代变得更好。就像可怜的理查德说的那样，工业不需要愿望，靠希望活着的人将会死得很痛苦。我没有土地，即使有，也被巧妙地征税了。可怜的理查德也说过，有一门手艺的人就有一份产业，有一份职业的人就有一份有利可图的工作；但是，这门手艺必须勤奋工作，这份职业必须得到很好的遵守，否则，无论是产业还是工作，都不能使我们缴纳税款。如果我们勤劳，我们就永远不会挨饿；因为，正如穷理查德所说，在劳动人民的家里，饥饿望而不敢进。法警和巡警也不会进来，因为勤劳可以偿还债务，而绝望会加重债务。尽管你没有找到宝藏，也没有任何富有的亲戚给你留下遗产，但正如穷理查德所说，勤奋是好运之母，上帝把一切都赐给了勤奋。贫穷的迪克说，那就趁懒汉们熟睡时深耕细作，你就会有玉米可卖可留。趁今天还叫工作，因为你不知道明天你会受到多大的阻碍，这让可怜的理查德说，一个今天抵得上两个明天；再者，如果你明天还有事情要做，今天就去做吧。如果你是一个仆人，你会不会为一个好主人发现你无所事事而感到羞愧呢？那你就是你自己的主人了，就像可怜的迪克说的那样，要为发现自己无所事事而感到羞愧。为自己、为家庭、为国家、为仁慈的国王，有那么多事情要做的时候，天一亮就起床；不要让太阳往下看，说："他躺在这里，不光彩。使用工具时不要戴手套；记住，正如可怜的理查德所说，戴手套的猫抓不到老鼠。确实有很多事情要做，也许你的手很弱，但坚持下去，你会看到很大的效果，因为不断地扔石头会磨掉石头，通过勤奋和耐心，老鼠把缆绳吃成了两截；小小的一击就能让大橡树倒下，就像可怜的理查德在他的年鉴里说的，那一年我现在记不清了。

“Methinks I hear some of you say, must a man afford himself no leisure? I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as Poor Richard says, a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more comfort than labor? No, for as Poor Richard says, trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock. Whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect: fly pleasures, and they’ll follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift, and now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow, all which is well said by Poor Richard.

"我想我听到你们中的一些人说，一个人必须让自己没有闲暇吗？我要告诉你，我的朋友，就像可怜的理查德说的那样，如果你想获得闲暇，就好好利用你的时间；既然你一分钟都不确定，就不要浪费一小时。闲暇是做有用事情的时间；勤奋的人会得到这种闲暇，但懒惰的人永远得不到；因此，正如可怜的理查德所说，闲暇的生活和懒惰的生活是两回事。你以为懒惰比劳动更能给你带来舒适吗？不是的，因为正如可怜的理查德所说，麻烦来自懒惰，而痛苦的劳作来自不必要的安逸。许多没有劳动的人只靠智慧生活，但他们会因缺乏储备而崩溃。而勤劳却能带来舒适、富足和尊重：飞快地享受，它们也会跟着你飞快地享受。勤劳的纺纱工有一大堆活儿干，现在我有了一只羊和一头牛，大家都向我道早安，这都是穷理查德说的好话。

“But with our industry, we must likewise be steady, settled and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says,

I never saw an oft removed tree,

Nor yet an oft removed family,

That throve so well as those that settled be.

“And again, three removes is as bad as a fire, and again, keep the shop, and thy shop will

keep thee; and again, if you would have your business done, go; if not, send. And again,

He that by the plough would thrive,

Himself must either hold or drive.

"但是，在勤奋的同时，我们还必须稳重、踏实、谨慎，用自己的眼睛监督自己的事务，不要过于信任他人；因为，正如《穷理查德》所说：

我从未见过一棵常被移走的树、

也没见过搬家的家庭、

能像那些定居下来的人一样茁壮成长。

"再者，三次搬家就像一场火灾一样糟糕，再者，守住商店，你的商店就会

再有，如果你想做生意，就去，如果不想，就派人。还有

耕者有其田、

他自己必须扶犁或赶犁。

“And again, the eye of a master will do more work than both his hands; and again, want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge; and again, not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open. Trusting too much to others’ care is the ruin of many; for, as the almanac says, in the affairs of this world men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it; but a man’s own care is profitable; for, saith Poor Dick, learning is to the studious, and riches to the careful, as well as power to the bold, and Heaven to the virtuous. And farther, if you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. And again, he adviseth to circumspection and care, even in the smallest matters, because sometimes a little neglect may breed great mischief; adding, for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.

"同样，一个主人的眼睛比他的双手做得更多；同样，缺乏关心比缺乏知识对我们造成的伤害更大；同样，不监督工人就等于让他们敞开你的钱包。太相信别人的照顾会毁了很多人；因为，正如年鉴所说，在这个世界上，人们不是因信仰而得救，而是因缺乏信仰而得救；但一个人自己的照顾是有益的；因为，可怜的迪克说，好学的人有学问，细心的人有财富，有胆识的人有力量，有品德的人有天堂。此外，如果你想有一个忠实的仆人，一个你喜欢的仆人，那就为你自己服务吧。他还说，因为没有钉子，鞋丢了；因为没有鞋，马丢了；因为没有马，骑手丢了，被敌人追上杀了，这都是因为没有注意马蹄铁的钉子。

“So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one’s own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will, as Poor Richard says; and,

Many estates are spent in the getting,

Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.

If you would be wealthy, says he, in another almanac, think of saving as well as of getting: the Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes. Away then with your expensive follies, and you will not have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for, as Poor Dick says,

Women and wine, game and deceit,

Make the wealth small, and the wants great.

"朋友们，实业和对自己事业的关注就是这么多；但是，如果我们想让我们的实业更加成功，就必须加上节俭。一个人如果不懂得开源节流，可能一辈子都在磨刀石上度过，到头来却死得一文不值。正如可怜的理查德所说，肥水不流外人田、

许多财产都是花在获取上的、

因为女人为了喝茶放弃了纺纱和编织、

男人们为了打拳放弃了凿岩和劈柴。

他在另一本年鉴中说，如果你想致富，就得既想得到，也想节省：印度洋并没有让西班牙富裕起来，因为她的支出大于收入。那就去掉你们那些昂贵的愚蠢行为吧，你们就不会有那么多理由抱怨艰难的岁月、沉重的税收和负担沉重的家庭了；因为，正如可怜的迪克所说：

女人和美酒，游戏和欺骗、

让财富变得渺小，让需求变得巨大。

And farther, what maintains one vice, would bring up two children. You may think perhaps that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great Matter; but remember what Poor Richard says, many a little makes a mickle, and farther, beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship, and again, who dainties love, shall beggars prove, and moreover, fools make Feasts, and wise men eat them.

再者，维持一个人的恶习，就能养育两个孩子。也许你会认为，偶尔喝一点茶或酒，吃得贵一点，穿得好一点，偶尔娱乐一下，没什么大不了的；但请记住可怜的理查德说过的话：积少成多；再者，小心小开支；小漏会沉大船；还有，谁爱美食，谁就会成为乞丐；此外，愚者设宴，智者吃宴。

“Here you are all got together at this vendue of fineries and knicknacks. You call them goods, but if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some of you.You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says, buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And again, at a great pennyworth pause a while: he means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitning thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again, Poor Richard says, ’tis foolish to lay our money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practised every day at vendues, for want of minding the almanac. Wise men, as Poor Dick says, learn by others’ harms, fools scarcely by their own, but, felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families; silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, as Poor Richard says, put out the kitchen fire. These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniencies, and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them. The artificial wants of mankind thus become more numerous than the natural; and, as Poor Dick says, for one poor person, there are an hundred indigent. By these, and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who through industry and frugality have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly, that a ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small estate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think ’tis day, and will never be night; that a little to be spent out of so much, is not worth minding; (a child and a fool, as Poor Richard says, imagine twenty shillings and twenty years can never be spent) but, always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom; then, as Poor Dick says, when the well’s dry, they know the worth of water. But this they might have known before, if they had taken his advice; if you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some, for, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing, and indeed so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again. Poor Dick farther advises, and says,

"你们都聚集在这里，参加这次精品和小玩意儿的拍卖会。你们称它们为商品，但如果你们不小心，它们就会对你们中的一些人造成伤害。你们期望它们会被廉价出售，也许它们的价格会低于它们的成本；但如果你们不需要它们，它们对你们来说就一定是昂贵的。记住穷理查德的话，买你不需要的东西，不久你就会卖掉你的必需品。他的意思是，也许便宜只是表面的，而不是真实的；或者说，讨价还价会使你的生意拮据，弊大于利。因为在另一处，他说，许多人因为买了好便士而身败名裂。可怜的理查德还说，把我们的钱放在购买悔过书上是愚蠢的；然而，由于不注意年鉴，人们每天都在进行这种愚蠢的交易。聪明人，就像可怜的迪克说的那样，从别人的伤害中吸取教训，傻瓜几乎不从自己的伤害中吸取教训，而是，felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum。许多人为了背上的华丽装饰，饿着肚子走了，让家人半饥半饱；丝绸和绸缎、大红和天鹅绒，正如可怜的理查德所说，会扑灭厨房里的火。这些都不是生活必需品；它们几乎不能被称为便利，但仅仅因为它们看起来漂亮，就有多少人想要拥有它们。人类的人为需求因此变得比自然需求更多，正如可怜的迪克所说，一个穷人就有一百个穷人。由于这些和其他奢侈行为，上流社会的人变得穷困潦倒，被迫向那些他们以前鄙视的人借钱，而这些人却通过勤劳和节俭保持了自己的地位；在这种情况下，正如穷理查德所说，一个双腿跪地的耕夫比一个双膝跪地的绅士地位要高，这一点显而易见。也许他们得到的财产不多，但他们不知道如何得到这些财产；他们认为现在是白天，永远不会是黑夜；从这么多财产中拿出一点来花，不值得在意；（正如穷理查德所说，一个孩子和一个傻瓜会想象二十先令和二十年永远花不完）但是，他们总是从饭桶里拿出来，却从不放进去，很快就见底了；然后，正如穷迪克所说，当井干了的时候，他们才知道水的价值。如果你们想知道钱的价值，就去借点钱来，因为借钱的人都会很难过，而借钱给这种人的人，当他再去取钱的时候，也会很难过。可怜的迪克进一步建议说：

Fond pride of dress, is sure a very curse;

E’er fancy you consult, consult your purse.

And again, pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing you must buy ten more, that your appearance maybe all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, ’tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. And ’tis as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.

Great estates may venture more,

But little boats should keep near shore.

’Tis however a folly soon punished; for pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt, as Poor Richard says. And in another place, pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. And after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health; or ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person, it creates envy, it hastens misfortune.

What is a butterfly? At best

He’s but a caterpillar dressed.

The gaudy fop’s his picture just,

as Poor Richard says.

对衣着引以为傲，肯定是一种非常严重的诅咒；

无论你有什么幻想，都要看看你的钱包。

再说，骄傲和匮乏一样，都是响当当的乞丐，而且更加淫荡。当你买了一件好东西后，你必须再买十件，这样你的外表也许就都是一样的了；但是可怜的迪克说，抑制第一个欲望比满足后面的欲望要容易得多。穷人效仿富人，就像青蛙为了和牛平起平坐而膨胀一样，都是真正的愚蠢。

大财团可以更大胆、

但小船应该靠近海岸。

然而，这种愚蠢的行为很快就会受到惩罚；因为正如可怜的理查德所说，傲慢吃的是虚荣，喝的是蔑视。在另一个地方，傲慢与富足共进早餐，与贫穷共进晚餐，与恶名共进晚餐。说到底，为了外表的骄傲，人们冒了那么大的风险，吃了那么多的苦头，又有什么用呢？它不能促进健康，也不能减轻痛苦；它不能增加人的优点，它制造嫉妒，它加速不幸。

蝴蝶是什么？充其量

充其量不过是一只毛毛虫。

艳丽的纨绔子弟就是他的写照、

正如可怜的理查德所说

“But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this vendue, six months’ credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him, you will make poor pitiful sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose you veracity, and sink into base downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. And again to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt’s back. Whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: ’tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright, as Poor Richard truly says. What would you think of that Prince, or that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or a gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say, that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor has authority at his pleasure to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or to sell you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him! When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but creditors, Poor Richard tells us, have better memories than debtors, and in another place says, creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it. Or if you bear your debt in mind, the term which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extreamly short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as shoulders. Those have a short Lent, saith Poor Richard, who owe money to be paid at Easter. Then since, as he says, the borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor, disdain the chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free. At present, perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but,

"但是，为了这些多余的东西而负债累累，那该有多疯狂啊！根据这次借贷的条件，我们可以得到六个月的贷款；这也许促使我们中的一些人参加了这次借贷，因为我们拿不出现成的钱，希望现在没有钱也能过得很好。但是，啊，想想你欠债的时候是怎么做的，你把自己的自由交给了别人。如果你一时还不上钱，你就会羞于见债主；当你和他说话时，你就会惶恐不安，你就会偷偷摸摸地找一些可怜的借口，渐渐地，你就会失去诚信，陷入彻头彻尾的谎言之中；因为，正如可怜的理查德所说，第二种恶习是撒谎，第一种恶习是欠债。同样的道理，谎言是债务的后盾。一个生而自由的英国人不应该羞于或害怕见到任何一个活着的人，也不应该与任何一个活着的人说话。但是，贫穷往往会使一个人丧失所有的精神和美德：正如可怜的理查德所言，一个空袋子是很难直立起来的。如果王子或政府颁布法令，禁止你穿得像绅士或淑女，否则将处以监禁或奴役，你会怎么想？你难道不会说，你是自由的，有权穿自己喜欢的衣服，这样的法令侵犯了你的特权，这样的政府是专制的吗？然而，当你为这样的着装而负债累累时，你就要把自己置于这种暴政之下了！你的债主有权随意剥夺你的自由，将你终身监禁，或者把你卖给仆人，如果你没有能力偿还他的话！穷理查德告诉我们，债权人的记性比债务人好，他还说，债权人是一个迷信的教派，非常遵守固定的日期和时间。你还没意识到，日子就到了，你还没准备好还债，债主就提出了要求。或者，如果你牢记你的债务，起初看似漫长的期限，随着时间的推移，就会显得异常短暂。时间就像在他的脚跟和肩膀上插上了翅膀。可怜的理查德说，那些欠债要在复活节还的人，斋期就会很短。那么，既然如他所说，借款人是放贷人的奴隶，债务人是债权人的奴隶，那么就蔑视这条锁链，维护你的自由，保持你的独立：勤劳而自由，节俭而自由。目前，也许你会认为自己的境况欣欣向荣，你可以忍受一点奢侈而不受伤害；但是，.....、

For age and want, save while you may;

No morning sun lasts a whole day,

as Poor Richard says. Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain; and ’tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says. So rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

Get what you can, and what you get hold;’

Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold,

as Poor Richard says. And when you have got the philosopher’s stone, sure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.

对于年龄和需求，要趁早储蓄；

清晨的阳光不会持续一整天、

正如可怜的理查德所说。收益可能是暂时的、不确定的，但只要你活着，支出就是持续的、确定的；正如穷理查德所说，建两个烟囱比保持一个烟囱的燃料要容易得多。所以，宁可不吃晚餐上床睡觉，也不要欠债而起。

量力而行，量入为出。

这块石头能让你点石成金、

正如可怜的理查德所说。当你得到了这块哲人之石，你就不会再抱怨时运不济或纳税困难了。

“This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things, for they may all be blasted without the blessing of heaven; and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

"我的朋友们，这一教义是理性和智慧；但毕竟，不要过于依赖你们自己的勤劳、节俭和谨慎，尽管这些都是很好的东西，因为如果没有上天的赐福，它们都可能毁于一旦；因此，要谦卑地祈求上天的赐福，不要对那些目前似乎需要上天赐福的人不怀好意，而要安慰和帮助他们。请记住，约伯曾遭受苦难，后来却获得了富足。

“And now to conclude, experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that, for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct, as Poor Richard says: however, remember this, they that won’t be counseled, can’t be helped, as Poor Richard says: and farther, that if you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your knuckles.”

"现在总结一下，经验是一所好学校，但傻瓜不会在其他学校学习，也很少在这所学校学习，因为我们确实可以给出建议，但我们不能给出行为，就像可怜的理查德说的：然而，请记住这一点，他们不愿意接受劝告，就无法得到帮助，就像可怜的理查德说的：更进一步说，如果你不愿意听道理，她一定会敲打你的指关节"。

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions, and their own fear of taxes. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on those topics during the course of five-and-twenty years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else, but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me, but rather the gleanings I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and though I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,

Richard Saunders.

July 7, 1757.

就这样，老先生结束了他的演讲。人们听了之后，赞同他的学说，并立即反其道而行之，就像在听普通布道一样；因为商铺开张了，他们开始大肆购买，尽管他一再告诫，他们自己也害怕纳税。我发现这位好心人对我的历书研究得很透彻，消化了我在五十年间关于这些话题的所有内容。他经常提到我，换了别人肯定会感到厌烦，但我的虚荣心却为此感到非常高兴，尽管我意识到，他归功于我的智慧中没有十分之一是我自己的，而是我从各个时代和国家的经验中总结出来的。不过，我还是决定听完后会更好；虽然我一开始决定买件新衣服，但我还是决定把旧衣服再穿一段时间。读者，如果你也愿意这样做，你的收益将和我的一样大。我将一如既往地为你服务、

理查德-桑德斯

1757年7月7日