I never cease to marvel at how some people； working with the same number of hours we all have； seem to get so much more done。 How do they do it？
For one thing； they； don’t squander3 the bits and pieces of time that punctuate our days。 Rather than wasting energy getting irritated waiting for a phone call or a repair person； they capture those moments creatively。 They keep tools handy—a pen； a book； a pair of scissors4； a needle； whatever。
Clement C。 Moore was a teacher of classical languages。 In the course of his career； he published a Hebrew dictionary and was a major benefactor of the General Theological Seminary in New York City。
But it is not for the seminary or his dictionary that he is remembered。 It is for a set of verses dashed off in 1822 in an hour of yuletide inspiration—verses that he stuffed away as if of no importance。
The magic lines begin： “It was the night before Christmas； when all through the house。。。” They never brought Moore a penny； but they did bring him immortality5。
Such constructive use of time is available to us all。 A Seattle businessman carries a briefcase in which he has paper and envelopes for penning letters。 In odd moments he keeps countless friendships alive。
A woman I know memorized the sermon on the Mount while muting。 A bedspread in our home was quilted by my mother…in…law who； though extremely busy； found minutes to prepare a beautiful gift full of memories for her family。
Remember； most time is wasted in minutes； not hours。 The average person diddles away enough minutes in ten years to have earned a college degree。
Thinking of this reminds me of a verse from my childhood by Julia Fletcher Carney：
Little drops of water；
Little grains of sand；
Make the mighty6 ocean；
And the pleasant land。
Do you recall the next four lines？
So the little minutes；
Humble though they be；
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity。
。 想看书来
交友论（1）
佚名
1． 要像对待自己一样对待朋友，因为朋友即为另一个我。
2． 尽管朋友和我各有一个身体，然而心与心却是相通的。
3． 顺境中难辨朋友的真伪。逆境里，友谊的本质则尽收眼底：真朋友接近你，假朋友疏远你。
4。 交友前，要仔细考察；交友之后，则要委以信任。
5。 友谊和仇恨就像音乐与噪音，其区分的标准在于它们是否和谐。和谐是友谊的根基。有了和谐，小事业能够成长壮大；争执吵闹，大事业也会土崩瓦解。
6． 困境中，我们希望看到朋友的脸庞。然而无论是忧愁还是欢乐，我们都需要朋友。忧愁时，朋友为我们减轻悲痛；欢乐时，朋友则让快乐加倍。
7． 可以同我一起分享内心感受的人，才是我的知心好友。
8． 只有建立在共同的兴趣和道德上的友谊，才能万古长存。
9． 真正的朋友并非总是认同你的观点，同样，也不是总否定你。合理的，他会赞同；不合理的，他会反对。朋友的责任就是坦言相告。
10。 追逐快乐多于追求道义的友谊是不会长存的。
11。 密友过多，即为没有密友。
12． 朋友的职责不能超越道义的尺度。
13。 有朋友相助，事业才会成功。
14． 假如一个人的朋友像林中的树木一样数不胜数，他一定有着高尚的品德；假如一个人的朋友像晨星一样少而又少，他的道德水平一定匮乏至极。
15。 和君子交友困难，与小人交友容易。难以结交的朋友不容易拆散；容易结交的朋友则容易分散。
16。 平常是好友，因为小小的利害就反目成仇。这是由于交友的动机不纯。假如动机纯粹，两人就能同甘苦，共患难。
17。 交友的目的只此一个：他有长处，我向他学习；我有特长，则教授于他。教即学，学即教，正所谓取长补短。假如他的长处不值得我学习，而他身上的缺点我又无力改变，那么我们整天待在一起说笑娱乐，就是在白白浪费时间。
18。 与人结交，就不要中断与他的友谊。纵然恢复了，也不会像曾经那样亲密无间。玉器破裂，能够粘补，如此一来，既不美观，也不牢固，已经失去了它原有的价值。
19。 聪明人想要与假朋友脱离关系，会逐渐地疏远他，而不是突然断绝与他的来往。
20． 古代西方的国王亚历山大在战事紧急的时刻亲自上战场迎敌。其中一个大臣劝阻他说：“战场上危机四伏，您如何保证自己的安全？” 国王回答：“你帮我驱散假朋友，我来抵御公开的敌人。”
君子之交淡如水。友谊不只是相识，也不只是感情。友谊源于共同的兴趣、爱好和目标。只有彼此相互肯定，相互欣赏，才能亲密接触，才会成为朋友。与此同时，友谊还需要坦率，认真地对待朋友的批评，一如对待他们的赞美。
On Friendship
Anonymous
1。 A friend should relate to a friend as to oneself； because a friend is another self。
2。 A friend and I； although we have two separate bodies； are of one mind。
3。 In easy times it is difficult to tell true friends from false ones。 In hard times the nature of a friendship is revealed。 In hard times a true friend draws closer； while a false one turns away。
4。 Before making friends； we should first judge； after making friends； we should trust them。
5。 Friendship and enmity are like sweet music and discord。 The criterion for distinguishing them is harmony or the lack of it。 Harmony is essential to friendship。 With harmony； a small enterprise can grow big。 With disagreement； a great enterprise can fall into decay。
交友论（2）
6。 When in distress； we love to see a friend’s face。 Both in trouble and in joy friendship is beneficial。 Friendship reduces sorrow in times of pain arl adds to joy in happy times。
7。 Persons with whom we can share our innermost feelings are our most intimate friends。
8。 If it is built on mon interests and similar moral standards； friendship is strong。
9。 A true friend does not always agree with his friends； nor does he always disagree。 He accepts what is reasonable and opposes what is unreasonable。 Therefore the duty of a friend is to speak frankly。
10。 A friendship in which pleasure predominates over righteousness cannot last。
11。 Those who claim many intimate friends have not even one intimate friend。
12。 Our duties towards our friends go as far as justice requires。
13。 Where there are friends； there is success。
14。 If we see a person’s friends are as numerous as trees in a forest； we know his virtue is very great。 If we see a person’s friends as few as the morning stars； we then know his virtue is very slight。
15。 To make friends with a noble person is difficult； to make friends with rascals is easy。 What is hard to bring together is hard to separate。 What is easily brought together is easily separated。
16。 If two persons are good friends in ordinary times； but for a small advantage or small disadvantage they bee enemies； this shows that their friendship is not based on virtue。 If a friendship is correct； advantages can be divided and shared。
17。 The end of making friends is only to imitate those who are better than oneself； or to teach one who may not be so good。 Therefore to teach is to learn and to learn is to teach。 This is mutual benefit。 If one’s virtue is too little I have nothing to learn； or if he is too wicked there is no way to teach him。 To spend the whole day together in diversions is to waste time。
18。 After establishing a friendship； be careful not to break the relationship。 Once broken； these relations can be mended； but it is difficult to restore them as they once were。 A jade vessel which has been glued back together will have an unsightly flaw and can easily break again。 Moreover it has bee less useful。
19。 The wise person who wants to withdraw from false friends avoids them little by little and does not break with them