书城哲学穷理查智慧书
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第21章 1753年

尊敬的读者:

这是我第二十次用这种方式与您对话,一直以来,大家都相当认同我的劳动成果,这让我深感荣幸。其中最让我高兴的一点是,我对天气的预测让大家很满意。的确如此,我都是经过非常认真的计算之后,才做出这些预测。我甚至敢大胆断言,在我们这个小星球的任一角落,没有哪次风霜雨雪不是准时到来的(考虑到我们所研究的星星可是在千里之外,这样的准确度您应该能接受)我说的是在这个星球上;关于别的方面,我只能确保年历在北方殖民地范围内管用,而最重要的天气这一块,由于广受关注,因此我将扩大它的应用范围,包括进南北半球,从哈德逊湾到合恩角的广大区域。

这本历书仍然沿用我的老方法,以符合议会法案中的新条例,这点我在上一本书中已经说过了。新条例是对第一个条例的修订,对我们没有任何影响,只是为了规范一些英国的商业活动,做好万全准备。我只是在每个月份的第二页增加了一栏,用以对比新旧两版年历,这应该能经常派上用场。那么,就此打住(相信您也希望序言写短一点,以便给更有用的内容留出空间吧)

您的朋友和仆人,

R.桑德斯支付利息违背了某些人的原则,支付本金却会伤害另一些人的利益。

"Tis against some Mens Principle to pay Interest, and seems against others Interest to pay the Principal.

哲学家和纨绔子弟常常改变流行的风向。

Philosophy as well as Foppery often changes Fashion.

树立过于完美的榜样是一种中伤,很难得到原谅。

Setting too good an Example is a Kind of Slander seldom forgiven.

说大话的人未必是傻瓜,但相信他的人一定是。

A great Talker may be no Fool, but he is one that relies on him.

如果不听理性的劝导,她会赏你结实的耳光。不遵从理智,终会吃大亏。

When Reason preaches, if you won"t hear her she"ll box your Ears.

闲暇时光应该充分利用。

It is not Leisure that is not used.

当官不为民做主,民不聊生善难行。

The Goodwill of the Governed will be starv"d, if not fed by the good Deeds of the Governors.绘画和争斗最好远观。

Paintings and Fightings are best seen at a distance.

若想收获赞扬,必须播下种子:说善言,行善事。

If you would reap Praise you must sow the Seeds,

Gentle Words and useful Deeds.

无知使人加入帮派,羞耻让人难以脱身。

Ignorance leads Men into a Party, and Shame keeps them from getting out again.

欲速则不达。

Haste makes Waste.

许多人为宗教争得面红耳赤,却从来不实践信仰。宗教从来不缺争论,却乏人实践。

Many have quarrel"d about Religion, that never practis"d it.

从天而降的权力易让人傲慢,突如其来的自由易让人放纵;良好行为需要循序渐进地培养。

Sudden Power is apt to be insolent, Sudden Liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually.

对世界了解越多,爱得越少。

He that best understands the World, least likes it.

没有无缘由的怒火,但少有在理的缘由。

Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One.

认为金钱无所不能的人,很可能会为了钱无所不为。

He that is of Opinion Money will do every Thing, may well be suspected of doing every Thing for Money.

伤口能愈合,恶名难去除。

An ill Wound, but not an ill Name, may be healed.

时运不济时,没人知道你是谁;时来运转时,你却忘了自己是谁。

When out of Favour, none know thee; when in, thou dost not know thyself.

盛赞不如薄赏。

A lean Award is better than a fat Judgment.

上帝、父母和导师,永远无以回报。

God, Parents, and Instructors, can never be requited.

不计算成本就建屋,这是愚蠢之举;算了成本再建屋,又会估计不足。

He that builds before he counts the Cost, acts foolishly; and he that counts before he builds, finds he did not count wisely.

做买卖有耐心,珍贵胜似千金。

Patience in Market, is worth Pounds in a Year.遇险才祈祷,临时抱佛脚。

Danger is Sauce for Prayers.

罐里没蜜糖,嘴却要更甜。

If you have no Honey in your Pot, have some in your Mouth.

一双善于聆听的耳朵胜过一百张能说会道的嘴。

A Pair of good Ears will drain dry an hundred Tongues.

侍奉上帝就是行善于人,但祈祷更简单易行,因此大家都乐于去做。

Serving God is Doing Good to Man, but Praying is thought an easier Service, and therefore more generally chosen.

如想富贵发达,没什么比抱负更寒酸了。

Nothing humbler than Ambition, when it is about to climb.

人不知足,难以安乐。

The discontented Man finds no easy Chair.

美德和一门手艺是给孩子最佳的馈赠。

Virtue and a Trade, are a Child"s best Portion.

最想要的礼物不会白得,而要付出。

Gifts much expected, are paid, not given.

如何防范房屋被闪电袭击?

How to secure Houses, &c. from LIGHTNING?

上帝向人类开恩,让他们找到了保护自己的房屋和其他建筑物免遭雷电袭击的方法。方法如下:准备一条小铁棍(可以用制钉匠用的那种铁棒)要够长。一头插入潮湿的地面,深入大约三到四英尺,另一头要高出建筑物六到八英尺。铁棍上端缠上和毛线针一样粗细的黄铜丝,大约一英尺长,顶端要削尖。铁棍可以用钉子固定在房子上,如果房子或者谷仓太长,需在两头都安上铁棍,并在屋脊上用一条铁丝将两根棍子连接起来。经过这般布置,房屋便不会遭闪电破坏了。铁棍的尖端会吸引闪电,使电流通过金属传入地下,不会伤害任何东西。船只防闪电,方法也一样,在桅杆顶部固定一条削尖的铁棍,并从铁棍下端垂下一根铁丝,绕过横桅索,伸进水里。这样一来,船只在闪电面前也可安然无恙。