-
富兰克林（
1706-1790
）
Since Man is but of a very
limited Power in his own Person, and
consequently can effect no great Matter
merely by his own personal
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
alone to act singly and upon
his own
Bottom; and while that is the Sphere of his
Activity, all
that he can do must needs
be contemptible.
一个人的力量是非常有限，因而仅凭个人能力做不
了什么大事，但人生在社会中，
他可以能通过与他人的合作而
有所作为。一个人只有先获得别人的信任，才能获
得别人的的
主动帮助。而一个人总是要看准了别人对自己的真诚，才会信任别人，
而一个伪君子一旦露了馅，终将一事无成。他无法获得信任。也就无法获得帮助，
只好孤军奋战。即使他事有所成，就他的不良动机而言，也该受到谴责。
The proof 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。
The idle Man is the Devil's
Hireling:whose Livery is Rags,whose
Diet and Wages are Famine and Diseases.
懒汉是魔鬼的差使：穿得是破衣烂衫，吃得是忍饥挨饿，报酬是疾病缠身。
Proud Modern Learning
despises the ancient:School-men are now
laught at by School-boys.
骄傲的现代学者瞧不起古人，结果大学者反被小学生嘲笑。
The Way to see by Faith,is
to shut the Eye of Reason:The Morning
Daylight appears plainer when you put
out your Candle.
理解信仰的方法是闭上理性的双眼：只有熄灭蜡烛
，晨光才更明亮。
Silence
is not always a Sign of Babbling is ever
a Mark of Folly.
沉默不一定是智慧的象征，但唠叨却总是愚蠢的表现。
Pride breakfasted with
Plenty, dined with Poverty, supped
with
Infamy.
骄傲早餐用财富，中午吃贫穷，晚饭啃丢脸。
In studying Law or Physick,
or any other Art or Science, by
which
you propose to get your Livelihood, though you
find it at first
hard, difficult and
unpleasing, use Diligence, Patience and
Perseverance; the Irksomness of your
Task will thus diminish daily,
and your
Labour shall finally be crowned with Success. You
shall go
beyond all your Competitors
who are careless, idle or superficial in
their Acquisitions, and be at the Head
of your Profession. --
Ability will
command Business, Business Wealth; and Wealth an
easy and honourable Retirement when Age
shall require it.
为谋生而攻读法律或物理，学习其它技术或科学
时，一开始你或许觉得艰难，心烦
，但只要勤奋，耐心和坚持
，学习的烦躁会一天天减少，你的努力终将使你戴上成
功的桂
冠，你将大超过那些在学习中马虎，偷懒或浮躁的竞争者，成为你那一行的
权威
---
才干获得工作，工作招来财富，日暮之
年便能过上由财富换来的休闲而体
面的生活。
Singularity in the right, hath ruined
many: Happy those who are
convinced of
the general Opinion.
自以为是，会坏很多事，兼听则明。
A Change of Fortune hurts a wise Man no
more than a Change of
the Moon.
对智者而言，人生沉浮不过月亮之阴晴圆缺，无甚大碍。
Be civil to
all; serviceable to many; familiar with few;
Friend to one; Enemy to none.
对所有人有礼，为很多人服务，与几个人相识，和同志道人交友，不与任何人为敌。
Laws too gentle are seldom
obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.
法律太温和，没有人在乎，太严苛，无法实施。
A wise Man will desire no
more, than what he may get justly,
use
soberly, distribute chearfully, and leave
contentedly.
The diligent Spinner has a
large Shift.
明智的人除了正当收获，适当花销。快乐分享，满意离去之
外，别无所求。
Laziness
travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes
him.
懒惰走路太慢，贫穷很快就赶上它。
Saying and Doing
，
have quarrel'd and parted.
说和做不一致，只好各走各的路。
Tell me my Faults and mend your own.
指出我的错误，改正你自己的缺点。
A Man without a Wife, is but half a
Man.
没有妻子的男人，只是半个男人
A house without woman &
Fire-light, is like a body without soul or
sprite.
Three
things are men most liable to be cheated in, a
Horse, a
Wig, and a Wife.
A little House well fill'd, a little
Field well till'd, and a
little Wife
well will'd, are great Riches.
小屋子物口充盈，
小田地精心耕耘，小妻子非常可人，拥有这些便是大富人。
A good Wife lost is God's gift lost.
The good or ill
hap of a good or ill life,
is the good
or ill choice of a good or ill wife.
选得好妻子，日子好舒适，
娶得糟老婆，日子好难过。
（中国俗语：娶坏老婆一世穷，做坏田来一年穷）
You cannot pluck roses
without fear of thorns,
Nor enjoy a
fair wife without danger of horns.
你不能不怕采集漂亮带刺的玫瑰
也不能娶漂亮妻子不惹事
（不摘带刺的玫瑰，不娶漂亮的老婆）
He that has not got a Wife,
is not yet a compleat Man.
不结婚的男人只是半个男人。
One good Husband is worth two good
Wives;
for the scarcer things are the
more they're valued.
一个好丈夫抵上两个好妻子，物以稀为贵。
There are three faithful
friends, an old wife, an old dog, and
ready money.
人有三挚友：老妻，老狗和现钞。
A good Wife & Health,
is a Man's best Wealth.
好妻子好身体
财富全在这里。
Keep your eyes wide open before
marriage, half shut afterwards.
婚前睁大眼，婚后半闭眼。
He that takes a wife, takes care.
If you want a neat wife,
chuse her on a Saturday.
要想找好妻子，星期六去找她。
（择妻要看平日勿看节日）
Where there's Marriage without Love,
there will be Love without
Marriage.
有无爱的婚姻，必有无婚姻的爱。
Good wives and good
plantations are made by good husbands.
好丈夫造就好妻子和好庄稼。
Speak little, do much.
少说话，多做事。
If you would be loved, love and be
loveable.
要想被人爱，得先爱人和成为可爱之人。
Ask and have, is sometimes
dear buying.
索求和占有，有时是一笔花钱的买卖。
Where there is Hunger, Law
is not regarded; and where Law is
not
regarded, there will be Hunger.
有饥饿的地方，法律没人理；法律没人理的地方，会有饥饿。
Two dry Sticks will burn a
green One.
两个干柴也能燃烧得旺盛
The honest Man takes Pains,
and then enjoys Pleasures; the
Knave
takes Pleasure, and then suffers Pains.
诚实先苦后甜，欺诈则先甜后苦。
Necessity has no Law; Why? Because 'tis
not to be had
without Money.
人穷不讲法律？为什么？因为先有温饱才有法律。
The Wolf sheds
his Coat once a Year, his Disposition never.
狼一年换一次皮，本性却永远不改。
_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.
什么人明智？乐于兼听的人。
什么人有力量？不易冲动的人。
什么人富有？知足常乐的人。
那么这个富人是谁？没有人。
A full Belly brings forth every Evil.
人饱思邪欲。
Being ignorant is not so much a Shame,
as being unwilling to
learn.
无知不算丑，懒学才羞。
Be at War with your Vices, at Peace
with your Neighbours, and
let every
New-Year find you a better Man.
和你的缺点作战，和你的邻居善处，每过一年都变得更好。
The Day is short, the Work
great, the Workmen lazy, the Wages
high, the Master urgeth; Up, then, and
be doing.
In
the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by
Faith, but
by the Want of it.
在这个世界上，人之所以得救，不是靠信仰，而是靠没有信仰。
Friendship_ cannot live
with _Ceremony_, nor without Civility.
友谊无需客套，但要礼貌。
The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in
better Language than
the unlearned; but
still 'tis Nonsense.
有学问的傻瓜比无知的人更会用漂亮话掩
饰自己的无知，但还是胡说八道。
Where Sense is wanting, every thing is
wanting.
缺乏判断力，就什么都缺少。
Learning to the Studious;
Riches to the Careful; Power to the