He had； like other philosophers； a thermometer to show him the heat of the weather； and a barometer to mark when it was likely to prove good or bad； but； there being no instrument invented to discover； at first sight； this unpleasing disposition in a person； he for that purpose made use of his legs； one of which was remarkably handsome； the other； by some accident； crooked and deformed。 If a Stranger； at the first interview； regarded his ugly Leg more than his handsome one； he doubted him。 If he spoke of it； ＆ took no notice of the handsome Leg； that was sufficient to determine my Philosopher to have no further Acquaintance with him。 Every body has not this two…legged Instrument； but every one with a little Attention； may observe Signs of that carping； fault…finding Disposition； ＆ take the same Resolution of avoiding the Acquaintance of those infected with it。 I therefore advise those critical； querulous； discontented； unhappy People； that if they wish to be respected and beloved by others； ＆ happy in themselves they should leave off looking at the ugly Leg。
如果我休息，我就生锈
＇美国＇奥里森·马登
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奥里森·马登（1848—1924），美国著名的成功学家；其创办的《成功》杂志在美国无人不晓，这一杂志通过创造性地传播成功学改变了无数美国人的命运。他被公认为美国成功学的奠基人和最伟大的成功励志导师。
在一把旧锁上发现了一则重要的铭文——如果我休息，我就生锈。对于那些为懒散而苦恼的人来说，这将是至理名言。甚至勤奋工作的人也可以此为警示，如果一个人有才而不用，就像废弃钥匙上的铁，很快就会生锈，最终不能适应工作。
那些想取得像伟人那样的成就，并成为伟人的人，必须不断地使用自身才能得以提升自身，以便使知识的大门、人类为之奋斗的每个领域——专业、科学、艺术、文学、农业的大门——不会被锁上。
勤奋是开启成功宝库的钥匙。如果休·米勒白天在伐木场劳作后，晚上停下来休息消遣的话，就不会成为名垂青史的地理学家。著名的数学家爱德蒙·斯通，如果闲暇时无所事事，就不会出版数学词典，也不会发现开启数学大门的钥匙。如果苏格兰青年霍格森，在山坡上放羊时让他那繁忙的大脑处于休眠状态，而不是花费心思计算星星的位置，他将不会成为著名的天文学家。
劳动改变一切——不是断断续续、变化无常的或者方向偏差的劳动，而是忠诚的、不懈的、方向正确的日夜劳动。正如，要想获得自由，必须时刻警惕；而要想获得永久的成功，则必须坚持不懈地工作。
If I Rest； I Rust
Orison Marden
The significant inscription found on an old key—“If I rest； I rust”—would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest taint of idleness。 Even the industrious might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that； if one allows his faculties to rest； like the iron in the unused key； they will soon show signs of rust； and； ultimately； cannot do the work required of them。
Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use； so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge； the gates that guard the entrances to the professions； to science； art； literature； agriculture—every department of human endeavor。
Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement。 If Hugh Miller； after toiling all day in a quarry； had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation he would never have bee a famous geologist。 The celebrated mathematician； Edmund Stone； would never have published a mathematical dictionary； never have found the key to science of mathematics； if he had given his spare moments to idleness。 Had the little Scotch lad； Ferguson； allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside； instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads； he would never have bee a famous astronomer。
Labor vanquished all—not inconstant； spasmodic； or ill…directed labor； but faithful； unremitting； daily effort toward a well…directed purpose。 Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty； so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success。
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论自私者的聪明
＇英国＇弗兰西斯·培根
蚂蚁本是聪明灵巧的小动物，却也是果园菜圃里的害虫。因而十分自恋的人确有可能会损害公众。用理智将自爱与爱人区分开吧！忠实于己，不要欺骗别人；尤其不要欺君叛国。人类行为卑劣的中心，就是自我。正如地球，它只以自我为中心。而与日月五行亲近的东西，也就有其他的中心，并从中得利。凡事从自我出发，君主这样做倒是可以容忍，因为君主是一己之主，且他们的祸福关系着公众的福祉。但臣仆之于君主，人民之于国家也是这样的话，就罪过之极了，因为任何事一经此种人的手，他都要为一己之私服务，经常背离君主、君国的目标行事。所以君王、国家从来都不会挑选有这种弊病的奴仆，除非他们认为所需要的服务无关紧要。更糟的是，当比例失调时，奴仆利益优先于主人，已经有失体统了；而如果奴仆的微薄私利牵制影响了主人的利益，就更是无法无天了。然而，卑劣的军官、会计、使者和将军等贪官污吏之事，使球偏离轨道，他们为了自己的微利，出于妒忌，将主人的宏绩伟业毁于一旦。多数情况下，这种人所获的好处无济于他们的幸运，可为了那微利所做出的出卖行为带来的灾害却与主人的洪福差不多。自私者会为了烤熟鸡蛋而放火烧屋，这当然是他们的本性使然。然而，这些家伙往往能取信于主人，因为他们所擅长的就是溜须拍马、谋求私利，不论是为了讨好主人，还是为了谋取私利，他们都会把正义之事的利益抛弃。
自私者的聪明，在许多方面都犯下了罪恶。房屋轰塌前一定要逃生，那是老鼠的机智；把小动物从它们挖好了的栖身之处驱逐出来，鸠占鹊巢，那是狐狸的狡猾；边吞食边落泪，那是鳄鱼的阴险。尤其要指出的是，“有己为人”（西塞罗告诉庞培语），往往倒霉。即使耗尽毕生的精力为自己牟利，最终还是要被无常的命运收拾掉；而他们还自忖，以自私者的明智，足以束缚住生命的翅膀呢。
Of Wisdom for a Man’s Self
Francis Bacon
An ant is a wise creature for itself； but it is a shrewd1 thing in an orchard2 or garden。 And certainly men that are great lovers of themselves waste the public。 Divide with reason between self…love and society； and be so true to thyself； as thou be not false to others； specially to thy king and country。 It is a poor centre of a man’s actions； himself。 It is right earth。 For that only stands fast upon his own centre； whereas all things that have affinity with the heavens； move upon the centre of another； which they benefit。 The referring of all to a man’s self is more tolerable3 in a sovereign prince； because themselves are not only themselves； but their good and evil is at the peril of the public fortune。 But it is a desperate evil in a servant to a prince； or a citizen in a republic。 For whatsoever affairs pass such a man’s hands； he crooketh them to his own ends； which must needs to be often eccentric to the ends of his master or state。 Therefore； let princes； or states； choose such servants as have not this mark； except they mean their service should be made but the accessory。 That which maketh the effect more pernicious is that all proportion is lost。 It were disproportion enough for the servant’s good to be preferred before the master’s； but yet it is a greater extreme； when a little good of the servant shall carry things against a great good of the master’s。 And yet that is the case of bad officers； treasurers； ambassadors； generals； and other false and corrupt4 servants； which set a bias upon their bowl； of their own petty ends and envies； to the overthrow of their master’s great and important affairs。 And for the most part； the good such servants receive is after the model of their own fortune； but the