Two Types of People
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degrees of health and wealth and the other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes miserable. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, and events, and the resulting effects upon their minds.
The people who are to be happy fix their attention on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conversation,the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of the wines, the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things.Therefore, they are continually discontented. By their remarks, they sour the pleasures of society, offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind were founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be more to be pitied. The tendency to criticize and be disgusted is perhaps taken up originally by imitation. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their interests and tastes.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of imagination, it has serious consequences in life, since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others, nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect, and scarcely that. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success. If they bring on themselves public disagreement, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their misconduct. These people should change this bad habit and condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them.
兩種人
世上有兩種人。盡管他們同樣健康、富有,同樣享受生活的樂趣,但一種人快樂而另一種人卻悲傷。這主要是源自他們對事物、人物和事件的不同看法以及由此對他們產(chǎn)生的不同影響。
快樂的人把他們的注意力集中于事物的便利,談話的愉悅感,美味佳肴,香醇的莢酒,晴好的天氣。他們享受一切快樂的事。不快樂的人所想所做卻恰恰相反,因此,他們總是不滿足。由于其言辭不當(dāng),他們破壞了交往中的快樂氣氛,傷害了許多人并使自己到處處于孤立的境地。若這種心態(tài)是與生俱來的,則不快樂的人更可悲。他們傾向于批評他人,厭惡他人,這可能最初是從別人那兒模仿得來的。逐漸地在不知不覺中就養(yǎng)成了一種習(xí)慣。這種壞習(xí)慣可能很頑固,但若有此習(xí)慣的人相信這種習(xí)慣對他們的興趣和品味有不良影響時,這種習(xí)慣也可能被克服。
雖然,事實(shí)上,這主要是一種想象行為,但它會給生活帶來嚴(yán)重的后果,因為它會給人帶來深深地痛苦和壞運(yùn)氣。那些人傷害許多人,沒有人喜歡他們,沒有人會以最基本的禮貌和尊重來對待他們,幾乎沒有。這使得他們脾氣很壞,不斷爭吵。如果他們想要升職或聚斂財富,沒有人會預(yù)祝他們成功;如果他們招致大眾的批評,沒有人會出來為他們辯護(hù)或原諒他們;相反,很多人也會加入大眾之中批評他們的錯誤行為。這些人應(yīng)改一改他們的壞習(xí)慣,放下架子,該高興時就高興,不必為自己和他人無謂地?fù)?dān)心。如果他們不改的話,其他人最好別與他們有任何聯(lián)系。