第一篇:富兰克林经典语录
富兰克林经典语录:生活篇
Eat to live, and not live to eat.吃饭是为了活着, 活着不是为了吃饭。
Nice eaters seldom meet with a good dinner.好的吃客很少吃好的晚餐。
A full belly is the mother of all evil.大腹便便是邪恶之母。A fat kitchen,a lean Will.厨房愈丰盛, 意志愈薄弱。
To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals。少吃一点就能长寿一点。
Eat few suppers, and you'll need few medicines.晚饭吃得少,药也吃得少。
Cheese and salt meat, should be sparingly eat.干酪和咸肉,千万别吃够。
I saw few die of hunger, of Eating 100000.死于饥饿的不多,而死于吃得太多的很多.Dost thou love life? then do not squander time;for that is the stuff life is made of.热爱生活就别浪费时间;因为是时间组成了生活。The tongue offends, and the ears get the cuffing.是嘴惹的祸,耳朵却挨了耳光。A soft tongue may strike hard.舌头虽软,对人的伤害却可很硬。
Tongue double, brings trouble.多嘴多舌会多麻烦。
if you have no honey in your pot, have some in your mouth.如果壶里没有蜂蜜, 最好嘴里有一点。
A slip of the foot you may soon recover: but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.脚下滑了可以很快恢复平衡: 从嘴里滑出去就无法收回。Paintings and fightings are best seen at a distance.欣赏绘画和看打架最好都站远点。
Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly 沉默虽不总是智慧的象征,但饶舌绝对是愚蠢的标志
Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.别人吵架爱插嘴,一定鼻子常流血。Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure;nothing more bondage than too much liberty.过度淫乐带来的是更多的痛苦;过度自由带来的是更多的束缚。
富兰克林经典语录:信仰篇
Keep conscience clear,then never fear.良心清白才能无所畏惧。
He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.做了不该做的, 就会感受到不想感受的。If thou injurest conscience, it will have its revenge on thee.一旦伤害到良心,就会遭遇到报应。No longer virtuous no longer free, is a maxim as true with regard to a private person as a common-wealth.不再有道德就不再有自由。
Learning to the studious;Riches to the careful;power to the bold;heaven
to the virtuous.好学者得学问;精明者得财富;无畏者得力量;德高者得天堂。
A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.站着的农夫比跪着的绅士更高大。In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want
of it.世上的人们被拯救并不在于信仰而是在于需要。How many observe Christ's Birthday!How few, his precepts!O!it is easier to keep holidays than commandments.庆祝圣诞假日的人多!遵从他教诲的人少!The way to see by Faith, is to shut the eye of reason: the morning daylight appears plainer when you put out your candle.用信仰去观察的方法就是闭上理性的双眼: 熄掉你的蜡烛时,晨光就自然显现。
Pain wastes the body, pleasures the understanding.苦难耗损的是身体, 而享乐耗损的是精神。
He is a governor that governs his passions, and he a servant that serves
them.人是自己感情的主人, 也是自己感情的仆人。
富兰克林经典语录:财富篇
If you would know the Value of money, go and borrow some.要想知道钱的价值, 就去借一次钱。
Creditors have better memories than debtors.债权人的记性一定比债务人好。
If you would lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money.甩掉麻烦客户的办法就是借钱给他。
Drive thy business, or it will drive thee.不是你驾驭生意,就是生意驾驭你。
Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open.不监督员工就是对他们敞开你的钱包。He that pays for work before it is done, has but a pennyworth for twopence.如完工前就先付工钱,两分钱就只能值一分钱。
Keep thy shop, and shop will keep thee.保住你的商店,商店就会保住你。
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.财富不属于拥有者, 而属于享有者。
There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.人生三挚友,钞票,老妻和老狗。
Nothing but money, is sweeter than honey.只有钱, 比蜜甜。
Buy what thou hast no need of;and e'er long thou shalt sell thy necessaries.总买那些你不需要的东西,迟早会卖掉你需要的东西。
Content makes poor men rich;discontent makes rich men poor.知足使穷人富有;不满使富人贫穷。
Who is rich? he that rejoices in his portion.自得其乐的人才真富有。
Money & man a mutual friendship show: man makes false money, money makes
man so.人制造了可恶的钱, 钱也制造了可恶的人。
第二篇:富兰克林自传
《富兰克林自传》-------本杰明·富兰克林读后感
我很清楚记得《富兰克林自传》是我在读大学最迷茫的时候看的,那时候我的生活一塌糊涂,我不知道我读了这么多年的书,我应该怎么去追求未来,我觉得我活得其实是有点苍白无力,我浑浑噩噩地度过每一天,我不知道我的未来在哪里,我该朝那个方向去走。但我看完《富兰克林自传》后,我想我应该知道路在何方了。
本杰明·富兰克林,资本主义精神最完美的代表,人类道德与理性的最佳诠释者,一个令人难以置信的通才。作为政治家,他是美国建国的创始者、美国独立运动的领导者、民主精神缔造者、《独立宣言》的起草者;同时,他还是最杰出的科学家、外交家、出版家、作家和社会实业家。在我个人的心目中,他是“从天上偷窃火种的第二个普罗米修斯”。
小学的时候就读过富兰克林用风筝去引导天上的雷电的故事,当时也有一种冲动去学习富兰克林去用风筝去引导雷电,电光火花之间,那一定是个很美丽好玩的事情。了解得越多富兰克林,越是觉得他魅力无穷,一个没读过多少书的人,却在科学上面有那么多的贡献,在电学上做了那么多的实验以及做了比较系统的清理,但是“电荷守恒定律”就足以让我佩服他的智慧。从他的身上我看到,无论你的出身如何,后天的努力和学习是我们一身都需要去做的事情。也许知识并不总是能够改变你的一生,但是,离开了学习,我想,我们的能力范围又该是多么的狭窄。
一位饱经风霜的老人,以拉家常的方式,把自己成功的经验和失
败的教训娓娓道来,整部自传既无哗众取宠,又不盛气凌人,在通俗易懂的叙述中不仅会有睿智和哲理的火花,文字朴至素幽默,叙事清楚简澍,使读者备感亲切而易于接受。一开始读《富兰克林自传》的时候,我也曾怀疑这像是一位伟大名人写的书吗,没有一点的哗众取宠,没有一丝的盛气凌人,越往下读,我越觉得,他就坐在我的面前,满脸的慈祥,带着睿智的脸容。我觉得,我每从他身上得到的智慧,总能让我离真理和成功越近。我觉得,一个人的魅力,从他对待成功的态度上面就能看出来。富兰克林在老年的时候把自己一生经历过饿事情娓娓道来,我能看出他是个多么有魅力值得学习的人。
“读书是我唯一的娱乐。”我想,我该说不出这句话来。曾几何时,读书是我觉得痛苦的一件事,我每天得去学习一大堆各种各样的知识,面对这一大堆的考试,我只觉得读书是我一件“苦逼”的事。慢慢,我发现富兰克林这句话的魅力所在。他上了两年的学就辍学当了学徒。从现在社会的角度上面来看,一个小孩这么小的时候去当了学徒,他余生又能够改变到哪里去呢,他应该一生也只能做这学徒到个师傅的地位吧。是读书改变了富兰克林的一生,他不仅从书本上获得各种各样的知识,创办了“共读社”,“图书馆”,“费城学院”,他又是科学家,物理学家,发明家,政治家,社会活动家。从一个工人家庭出身到后来的多重身份,我深切体会到知识对一个人改变的巨大。也许我现在学的知识并不是我所喜欢的知识,但是为何我不去追寻那些我喜欢的,我所向往的知识呢?我或许不能改变大家对目前中国教育的看法以及中国目前糟糕的教育,但是我想,我应该总的有一条自
己学习努力的路线,学习我喜欢的,学习我认为对我有用的知识。或许某天我发现,知识并不能改变什么,但是我至少能从对知识的学习中得到知识的乐趣,明白一些道理,一些中国教育并不能告诉我们的真理。
富兰克林是个谦逊的人,我对其印象最深的是他的十三项美德修养。、节制。食不过饱,饮酒不醉。
2、沉默。说话必须对别人或你自己有益;要避免无益的聊天。3、生活秩序。将每一样东西放在它们应该放的地方;每件日常事务应当有一定的时间。
4、决心。做应该做的事情;决心要做的事应坚持不懈。
5、俭朴。花钱必须于人于己有益;换言之,切忌浪费。、勤勉。不浪费时间,只做那些有用的事情,戒掉一切不必要的行动。、诚恳。不欺骗人;思想纯洁公正;说话也要如此。、公正。不做害人的事情,不要忘记履行对人有益而且又是你应尽的义务。
9、中庸适度。避免极端;要容忍别人对你应得的处罚。
10、清洁。身体、衣服和住所力求清洁。、镇静。不要因为小事或普通的、不可避免的事故而惊慌失措。、贞节。除非为了健康或生育后代,不常进行房事,永远不
要房事过度、伤害身体或损害你自己或他人的安宁或名誉。
13、谦虚。仿效耶稣和苏格拉底。
我第一次我看到富兰克林的十三项美德,我问我自己我能做到几条,我想我应该能做到几条吧,我就开始数起来,节制?不能。沉默?也不能。生活秩序…。十秒钟后,我沉默了,我一条都做不到。我曾几何时不曾注意到的道德问题,却是富兰克林一生所保持的。沉默过后,我想我应该还能在我有限的生命时间里面向富兰克林学习。也许我并不能做到十三项,但总不能不去努力追求美德吧!
如此伟大的一个人,他在费城逝世,他为自己写的墓志铭只自称“印刷工富兰克林”而绝口不提后半生的重要职务。但法国经济学家杜尔哥却为他写下了这样的赞语:“从苍天那里取得了雷电,从暴君那里取得了民权”。
向伟大的“印刷工富兰克林”致敬!
第三篇:《富兰克林自传》
《富兰克林自传》
一生一帆风顺
自传
(一七七一年写于都怀福德村圣阿萨夫教堂主教家中)
我儿:
我一向爱好搜集有关祖上的一切珍闻轶事。你也许还记得当你跟我同住在英国的时候我曾经为了那个缘故跋涉旅途,遍访家族中的老人。目前我正在乡间休假,预料有整整一个星期的空闲,我想你也许同样地喜欢知道我一生的事迹(其中有许多你还没有听过),因此我就坐了下来替你把这些事迹写出来。除此以外,我还有一些别的动机。我出身贫寒,幼年生长在穷苦卑贱的家庭中,后来居然生活优裕,在世界上稍有声誉,迄今为止我一生一帆风顺,遇事顺利,我的立身之道,得蒙上帝的祝福,获得巨大的成就,我的子孙或许愿意知道这些处世之道,其中一部分或许与他们的情况适合,因此他们可以仿效。
当我回顾我一生中幸运的时候,我有时候不禁这样说:如果有人提议我重新做人的话,我倒乐意把我的一生再从头重演一遍,我仅仅要求像作家那样,在再版时有改正初版某些缺陷的机会。如若可能,除了改正错误以外,我也同样地要把某些不幸的遭遇变得更顺利些。但是即使无法避免这些不幸的厄运,我还是愿意接受原议,重演生平。但是由于这种重演是不可能的,那么最接近重演的似乎就是回忆了。为了使回忆尽可能地保持久远,似乎就需要把它记下来。
因此我将顺从一种老人中常有的癖好来谈论自己和自己过去的作为。但是我这样做,将不使听者感到厌倦,他们或是因为敬老,觉得非听我的话不可,但是一经写下来,听与不听就可以悉听自便了。最后(我还是自己承认了好,因为即使我否认,别人也不会相信),写自传,或许还会大大地满足我的自负心。说句老实话,我时常听见或在书上读到别人在刚说完了像“我可以毫不自夸地说……”这种开场白以后,接着就是一大篇自吹自擂的话。大多数人不喜欢别人的虚夸,不管他们自己是多么自负。但是无论在什么地方,我对这种自负心总是宽宥的。因为我相信这种心理对自己和他四周的人都有好处。所以,在许多情况下,一个人如果把自负心当作生命的慰藉而感谢上帝,这也不能算是怪诞悖理的。
自传既然我提到了上帝,我愿意十分谦恭地承认,上面提到的我过去一生中的幸福当归功于上帝仁慈的旨意,上帝使我找到了处世之道,并且使这些方法获得成功。这种信仰使我希望,虽然我不应该臆断,上帝在将来会像以前一样地祝福我,不论是使我继续享受幸福,或是使我忍受命中注定的逆运(像其他人一样,我也可能有这样的遭遇),因为我未来命运的轮廓只有上帝知道,上帝甚至能够通过苦难来祝福我们。
我有一位伯父,他也同样地爱好搜集家族中的遗闻轶事,有一次他交给我一些笔记,其中讲到关于我们祖先的一些事情。从这些笔记我知道我们的家族在诺桑普顿郡的爱克顿教区至少已经住了三百年,究竟在这以前还有多少年,他就不知道了。(也许从他们采用“富兰克林”
为姓的那时候起。“富兰克林”在这以前是一个人民阶层此处原文是anorderofpeople。按franklin一词原指英国十四、五世纪的非贵族的小土地所有者或自由农。——译者的名称,当时英国各地人们都在采用姓氏。)他们享有三十英亩的自由领地,以打铁为副业。直到我伯父的时候为止,打铁这一行业一直保持在我们家族中。家中的长子总是学打铁的,我伯父和我父亲都按照这个传统叫他们的长子学铁匠。我查考了爱克顿教区的户籍册,我只找到了一五五五年以后的出生、嫁娶和丧葬的纪录,那时以前的户籍册在那个教区里已经没有了,从这个户籍册里我发现我是五世以来小儿子的小儿子。我祖父汤麦斯生于一五九八年,住在爱克顿直到他年迈不能从事生产的时候为止,然后他住到他儿子约翰的地方去,他儿子是牛津郡班布雷村的一个染匠,我父亲就是跟着他学徒的。我的祖父就死在那里,葬在那里。我们在一七五八年看到了他的墓碑。他的长子汤麦斯住在爱克顿的住宅里,后来把住宅和田产遗留给他的独养女儿。他女儿和她的丈夫(是威灵堡的一个叫做费雪的人)又把房产卖给伊斯德先生,他现在就是那里的庄园领主。我祖父养大了四个儿子,名叫汤麦斯、约翰、本杰明和约瑟。我手边没有材料,但是我将把我记得的给你写出来。如果我的纪录在我离家以后未曾遗失的话,你可以从纪录里找到更详细的材料。
汤麦斯跟他父亲学了打铁,但是他秉性颖悟,当地教区的大绅士伯麦老爷鼓励他求学上进(他的弟弟们也得到同样的鼓励),他获得了充当书记官的资格,成为地方上有声望的人,也是当地(无论是他的本村,诺桑普顿的城镇或是他所在的州)一切公益事业的主要推动者,我们听到了许多关于这一类的事例。在爱克顿教区他颇受到当时的哈利法克斯勋爵的赏识和奖励。他死在旧历一七○二年一月六日,恰巧是我出生以前的四年整。我记得当我们从爱克顿教区的一些老人口中听到关于他的生平和性格的时候,你觉得很像你所知道的我的一生和个性,颇为惊异,你说:“他如果死在您出世的那一天,人家也许认为是灵魂转生呢!”
约翰学了染匠,我相信是染呢绒的。本杰明是丝绸染匠,在伦敦拜师受业。他秉性聪颖。我很清楚地记得他,因为当我还是一个孩子的时候,他渡海到波士顿来,住在我父亲那里,跟我们同住了几年之久。他一直活到高龄,他的孙子撒木耳·富兰克林现在还住在波士顿。他死后留下了两本四开本的诗稿,里面是一些写赠给他亲友的即兴短诗。下面寄给我的一首诗就是一个实例。〔富兰克林在括弧中加了一个注:“嵌在这儿”,但是未附实例〕他自己制定了一套速写术,并且教会了我,但是因为我从来不练,所以现在忘光了。我是跟这位伯父命名的,因为我父亲跟他感情特别融洽。他笃信宗教,经常去听著名传教师的说教,并且把他们的说教用他的速记术记下来,他身边有许多这样的笔记本。他也是一个很好的政治家,或许从他的地位来讲,他过分地关心政治了。最近在伦敦我获得了他所搜集的从一**一到一七一七年间重要的政论手册,从书本上的卷号看来,有许多册已经遗失了,但是还留下了对开本八本,四开本和八开本二十四本。一个旧书商人获得了这些书籍,因为我有时候从他这里买书,他认识我,所以就把它们送到我这里来。看样子是我伯父在去美洲之前留在伦敦的,这已经是五十多年以前的事了。在书边上他还加了许多注解。
第3节:不诚实的事是不会有益的我想你或许想知道一点我父亲的外貌和性格吧。他体格健全,身材中等,但长得很结实,十分强壮。他生性颖悟,善画,稍懂音乐。他的嗓子清脆悦耳,所以,有时候在晚间工作完毕后,当他在提琴上拉着赞美歌的调子,一面唱着歌的时候,听上去是怪好听的。他对于机械工作也很有才能,有时候碰到其他行业的工具,他也能
运用自如。但是他最大的长处是在处理公私重大问题时他所表现的深刻见解和正确判断。果然,他从来没有参预政权工作,家里孩子众多,需要他去教育,家境又困难,使他无法离开他的行业。但是我清楚地记得常常有地方上的名人来请教他关于镇上或他所属教会的问题,他们很重视他的判断和忠告,同时当人们在个人生活中遇到了困难问题的时候,他们也常常来向他讨教,他常常被人们选定为争执双方的仲裁人。他喜欢尽可能地时常请一些通达的友人或邻居来进餐叙谈,在这种时候他总是设法提出一些明智或有益的讨论题,好增进孩子们的智慧。这样他使我们注意到立身处世中善良、正直和审慎的种种美德,对于餐桌上的食物很少留意或完全不注意,不管菜肴烹调的优劣,当令或落令,滋味的好坏,以及与同类中其他菜肴的比较。结果当我长大时我对这些事物完全不加注意,对我面前的菜肴漠不关心,粗心大意到这样一个程度:甚至在饭后几小时内人们若问我饭餐的内容我会瞠目不知所对。在旅途中,当我的旅伴们因为缺乏可口的食物,不能满足他们比较高贵精致的口味和食欲而感到痛苦的时候,我这种习惯倒是一种方便。
同样地我母亲也有一个健壮的体格:她替她所有的十个孩子哺乳。除了我父母死前的患病以外,我从未听说过我父亲或母亲患过病。父亲活到八十九岁,母亲活到八十五岁,他们的遗体同葬在波士顿。几年前我在他们的墓前立了一块大理石墓碑,上面铭刻着如下的碑文:
约赛亚·富兰克林
和他的妻子阿拜亚
共葬于此。
在婚后的五十五年中
他们相亲相爱地生活着。
他们既无田产,又无高俸厚禄,靠着不断的劳动和勤勉,蒙上帝的祝福,他们维持了一个人口众多的家庭,安乐度日。
并且抚养了十三个孩子,和七个孙儿孙女,声誉良好。
读者,从这个实例中,你应当勉励自己,在你的职业中勤奋从事,切勿不信上帝。
约赛亚是一个虔诚谨慎的男子,阿拜亚是一个细心贞洁的妇女。
他们的幼子
立此碑铭
聊表孝意和纪念。
约赛亚·富兰克林生于一六五五年,死于一七四四年,享年八十九岁。
阿拜亚·富兰克林生于一六六七年,死于一七五二年,享年八十五岁。
我唠唠叨叨地讲了许多离题的话,从这里我看出我已在逐渐衰老了,过去我写文章比现在条理清楚,但是在私人的团聚中,人们的衣着原不同于在公共的舞会。可能这只不过是疏懒罢了。
闲话休提,言归正传:我在我父亲的铺子里这样继续工作了两年,就是说,直到我十二岁的时候为止。我哥哥约翰本来是学皂烛制造业的,这时已经离开了我父亲,成了家,在罗特岛独自做起生意来,很明显的我注定要接替他的位置,成为一个蜡烛制造匠了。但是由于这时候我仍然不喜欢这个行业,我父亲害怕:假如他不替我找一个更合适的职业的话,我会像他的儿子约赛亚一样地私自脱逃去航海,使他十分恼怒。因此他有时带我去散步,去观看细木匠、砖匠、旋工、铜匠等工作,以便观察我的志趣,力图把我的兴趣固定在陆地上的某种行业上。从那时起我一直爱好留心观察手艺高明的工人运用他们的工具。这种细心观察对我一直很有用:由于从观察中我学到了很多东西,所以当一时找不到工人的时候,我自己能够做我家里的小修理工作,当做实验的兴致在我心里还是很新鲜强烈的时候,我能够替我自己的实验制造小小的机器。我父亲最后决定了制刀业。由于约在那时我伯父本杰明的儿子撒木耳在伦敦学了制刀业,在波士顿开了业,我就被送到他那里去,与他同住一个时候,试试这个行业。但是因为他希望从我身上获得一些报酬,触怒了我父亲,所以他又把我带回了家。
我从小就爱好读书,我一直把我手上的全部零用钱都花在书上。因为我喜爱《天路历程》,所以我一开始就收集了约翰·班扬文集的单独发行的小册子。以后我把它们
卖了,用这笔钱我买了柏顿的《历史文集》。这些是开本很小的由小贩们贩卖的书籍,价格便宜,全集共有四五十册,我父亲的小图书馆收藏的主要是一些有关神学论辩的书籍,其中大多数我都念了,但是既然当时业已决定我不做牧师了,正当我的求知欲那样旺盛的时候,我没有机会阅读更适当的书籍,迄今常使我感到遗憾,在那里有一本普鲁泰克的《英雄传》,我读了不少,我还认为读这本书所花的时间是非常值得的。那里也有笛福的一本名为《论计划》的书,另一本是马太博士的书,名为《论行善》。这本书可能在我思想上形成了一种对于我以后一生中的某些重大事件都有影响的倾向。
这种对书籍的爱好最后使我父亲决定叫我学印刷业,虽然他已经有了一个儿子(詹姆士)学了这种行业。一七一七年我哥哥詹姆士从英国回来,带来了一架印刷机和铅字,准备在波士顿开业。我对印刷业的爱好远胜过我父亲的行业,但是尽管如此,我对于航海仍不能忘怀。为了预防这种渴望产生忧惧的后果,我父亲急欲叫我跟我哥哥学徒。我反对了一些时候,但是最后我同意了,签订了师徒合同,当时我只有十二岁。按照合同,我将充当学徒直到我二十一岁时为止,但在最后一年中我将按照合同获得出师职工的工资。在很短的时期内,我熟悉了印刷业,成为我哥哥的得力助手。这时我有机会阅读较好的书籍了。我跟一些书铺的学徒们打交道,这种相识有时使我能够从他们那里借到一本小书,但是我很小心,很快地交还给他们,并且保持书本的整洁。有时候在晚间借到一本书,为了怕被人发现缺书或是怕有人要买这本书,第二天一清早即须归还,因此我常常坐在房间阅读到深夜。
第四篇:富兰克林演讲稿
SecondInauguralAddress(1937)WeWillCarryOn!
持久进步之路
Franklin D.Roosevelt富兰克林-罗斯福(1882---1945)
32nd President of the United States(1933---1945)Political Party : Democratic
When four years ago we met to inaugurate a President ,the Republic ,single-minded in anxiety ,stood in spirit here.we dedicated ourselves to the fulfillment of a vision-to speed the time when there would be the pursuit of happiness.We of the Republic pledged ourselves to drive from the temple of our ancient faith those who had profaned it;to end by action ,tireless and unafraid , the stagnation and despair of that day.We did those first things first.Our covenant with ourselves did not stop there.Instinctively we recognized a deeper need-the need to find through government the instrument of our united purpose to solve for the individual the ever-rising problems of a complex civilization.Repeated attempts at their soluation without the aid of government had left us baffled and bewildered.For , without that aid ,we had been unable to create those moral controls over the services of science which are necessary to make science a useful servant instead of a ruthless master of mankind.To do this we knew that we must find practical controls over blind economic forces and blindly selfish men.We of Republic sensed the truth that democratic government has innate capacity to protect its people against disasters once considered inevitable ,to solve problems once considered unsolvable.We would not admit that we could not find a way to master economic epidemics just as , after centuries of fatalistic suffering , we had found a way to master epidemics of disease.We refused to leave the problems of our common welfare to be solved by the winds of chance and the hurricanes of disaster.In this we Americans were discovering no wholly new truth;we were writing a new chapter in our book of self-government.This year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Constitutional Convention which made us a nation.At that Convention our forefathers found the way out of the chaos which followed the Revolutionary War;they created a strong government with powers of united action sufficient then and now to solve problems utterly beyond individual or local solution.A century and a half ago they established the Federal Government in order to promote the general welfare and the blessings of liberty to the American people.Today we invoke those same powers of government to achieve the objectives.Four years of new experience have not belied our historic instinct.They hold out the clear hope that government within communities , governmentwithin the separate States , and government of the United States can do the things the times require , within yielding its democracy.Our tasks in the last four years did not force democracy to take a holiday.Nearly all of us recognize that as intricacies of human relationships increase , so power to govern them also must increase-power to stop evil;power to do good.The essential democracy of stop our Nation and safety of our people depend not upon the absence of power , but upon lodging it with those whom the people can change or continue at stated intervals through an honest and free system of elections.The Constitution of 1787 did not make our democracy impotent.In fact , in these last four years , we have made the exercise of all power more democratic;for we have begun to bring private autocratic powers into their proper subordination to the public’s government.The legend that they were invincible—above and beyond the processes1
of a democracy—has been shattered.They have been challenged and beaten.Our progress out of the depression is obvious.But that is not all that you and I mean by the new order of things.Our pledge was not merely to do a patchwork job with secondhand materials.By using the new materials of social justice we have undertaken to erect on the old foundations a more enduring structure for the better use of future generations.In that purpose we have been helped by achievements of mind and spirit.Old truths have been relearned;untruths have been unlearned.We have always known that heedless self-interestwas bad morals;we know now that it is bad economics.Out of the collapse of properity whose builders boasted their practicality has come the conviction that in the long run economic morality pays.We are beginning to wipe out the line that divides the practical from the ideal;and in so doing we are fashioning an instrument of unimagined power for the establishment of a morally better world.This new understanding undermines the old admiration of worldly success as such.We are beginning to abandon our tolerance of the abuse of power by those who betray for profit the elementary decencies of life.In this process evil things formerly accepted willnoy be so easily condoned.Hard-headedness will not so easily excuse hardheartedness.We are moving toward an era of good feeling.But we realize that there can be no era of good feeling save among men of good will.For these reasons I am justified that the greastest change we have witnessed has been the change in the moral climate of America.Among men of good will ,science and democracy together offer an ever-richer life and ever-larger satisfaction to the individual.With this change in our moral climate and our rediscovered ability to impeove our economic order , we have set our feet upon the road of enduring progress.Shall we pause now and turn our back upon the road that lies ahead ?Shall we call this the promised land ?Or ,shall we continue on our way ?For “Each age is a dream that is dying , or one that is coming to birth.”
Many voices are heard as we face a great decision.Comfort says , “Tarry a while.” Opportunism says , “This is a good spot.”Timidity asks , “How difficult is the road ahead ?”
True ,we have come far from the days of stagnation and despair.Vitality has been preserved.Courage and confidence have been restored.Mental and moral horizons have been extended.But our present gains were won under the pressure of more than ordinary circumstances.Advance became imperative under the good of fear and suffering.The times were on the side of progress.To hold to progress today , however , is more difficult.Dulled conscience , irresponsibility , and ruthless self-interest already reappear.Such symptoms of prosperity may become portents of disaster!Prosperity already tests the persistence of our progressive purpose.Let us ask again : Have we reach the goal of our vision of that fourth day of March 1933 ? Have we found our happy valley ?
I see a great nation , upon a great continent , blessed with a great wealth of natural resources.Its hundred and thirty million people are at peace among themselves;they are making their county a good neighbour among the nations.I see a U nited States which can demonstrate that , under democratic methods of government , national wealth can be translated into a spreading volume of human comforts hitherto unknown , and the lowest standard of living
can be raised far above the level of mere subsistence.But here is the challenge to our democracy : In this nation I see tens of millions of its citizens---a substantial part of its whole population---who at this very moment are denied the greater part of what the very lowest standards of today call the necessities of life.I see millions of families trying to live on incomes so meager that the pall of family disaster hangs over them day by day.I see millions whose daily lives in city and on farm continue under conditions labeled indecent by a so-called polite society half a century ago.I see millions denied education , recreation , and the opportunity to better their lot and the lot of their children.I see millions lacking the means to buy the products of farm and factory and by their poverty denying work and productiveness to many other millions.I see one-third of a nation ill-clad , ill-housed , ill-nourished.It is not in despair that I paint you that picture.I paint it for you in hope---because the Nation , seeing and understanding the injustice in it , proposes to paint it out.We are determined to make every American citizen the subject of his country’s interest and concern;and we will never regard any faithful law-abiding group within our borders we add more to the abundance of those who have much;it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.If I know aught of the spirit and purpose of our Nation , we will not listen to Comfort , Opportunism , and Timidity.We will carry on.Overwhelmingly , we of the Republic are men and women of good will;men and women who have more than warm hearts of dedication;men and women who have cool heads and willing hands of practical purpose as well.They will insist that every agency of popular government use effective instruments to carry out their will.Government is competent when all who compose it work as trustees for the whole people.It can make constant progress when it keeps abreast of all the facts.It can obtain justified support and legitimate criticism when the people receive true information of all that government does.If I know aught of the will of our people , they wil demand that these conditions of effective government shall be created and maintained.They will demand a nation uncorrupted by cancers of injustice and , therefore , strong among the nations in its example of the will to peace.Today we reconsecrate our country to long-cherished ideals in a suddenly changed civilization.In every land there are always at work forces that drive men apart and forces that draw men together.In our personal ambitions we are individualists.But in our seeking for economic and political progress as a nation , we all go up , or else we all go down , as one people.To maintain a democracy of effort requires a vast amount of patience in dealing with differing methods , a vast amount of humility.But out of the confusion of many voices rises an understanding of dominant public need.Then political leadership can voice common ideals , and aid in their realizatioin.In talking again the oath of office as President of the United States , I assume the solemn obligation of leading the American people forward along the road over which they have chosen to advance.While this dutty rests upon me I shall do my utmost to speak their purpose and to do theit will , seeking Divine guidance to help us each and every one to give light to them that sit in darkness and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
第五篇:富兰克林和书
富兰克林和书
美国18世纪著名政治家、科学家富兰克林,参加过独立上星期争,参加起草独立宣言,代表美国同英国谈判,后签订巴黎和约,曾创办《宾夕法尼亚报》,建立美国第一个公共图书馆。他在研究大气电方面有重要贡献,发明避雷针。著有《自传》。
富兰克林自幼酷爱读书。家贫无钱上学,从少年时代起,就独自谋生。常常饿肚子省钱买书读。
某一天,富兰克林在路上看到一位白发老驱,已饿得走不动了。连心将自己仅有的一块面包送给她。老妪看富兰克林的样子,也是一个穷人,不忍收他的面包。
“你吃吧,我包里有的是。”富兰克林说着拍拍那只装满书籍的背包。
老妪吃着面包,只见富兰克林从背包里抽出一本书,津津有味地读起来。“孩子,你怎么不吃面包啊?”老妪问道。富兰克林笑着回答说:“读书的滋味要比面包好多了!”
经济拮据,购书能力有限,他只得经常借书读。他常在认间向朋友敲门借书,连认点起一盏灯,专心读书,疲乏了就以冷水浇头提提神,坐下继续阅读完,第二天一早,准时把书还给书主,从不失信。蔡元培六十年读书如一日
蔡元培,号孑民,浙江绍兴人。中国民主工革命家、教育家、科学家,知识界的卓越越先驱。编著有《蔡元培先集》。
蔡元培从少年时代起,就勤于读书,百般天蚊虫多,晚上读书时把一双脚放在水桶里,避免蚊子叮咬,专心致志地读书。在他一生繁心工作和革命斗争中,从未停止过读书。他晚年回顾说:“自十余岁起……读到现在,将满六十年了……几乎没有一日不读点书的。”
由于他一生读书不辍,因此,他知识渊博,被誉为“学界泰斗”。
爱迪生以书为枕
大名鼎鼎的美国科学家爱迪生,一生的发明多达近二千项,被誉为“发明大王”。这也与他勤非读书分不开的,他常常通宵达旦地读书,查资料,困极了,他就以书当枕,在实验室躺一会儿。因此,有人风趣地说:“怪不得爱迪生有那么多的知识,原来他在睡梦中也还要从书本里吸取营养哩。”
牛顿的天赋并没有明显的超人之处,然而他特别勤奋学习,学习和研究都专心致志,简直到了入迷的地步。他常常一连几个星期都留在实验室里,直到实验完成。有一次,他迷着搞实验,竟把手表当鸡蛋放到锅里去煮。又有一次,牛顿的朋友来看他,他把饭菜摆到桌上后,又一头钻进了实验室。这个朋友等得不耐烦了,就先吃起来,吃过后没有告辞就走了。牛顿做完实验后出来,一看桌上的盘碟,自言自语的笑着说:“我还以为没吃饭呢,原来已经吃过了!”说着又走进实验室去了。
安培
安培专心研究科学,相传还有一则趣事:
一天,安培在路上边走边思考问题,猛抬头,发现前面有一块黑板,不由喜上心头。马上掏出一支随身携带的粉笔,把脑中思索的问题写下,计算起来。这块黑板向前移动了,安培跟着往往前移。渐渐黑板移动得更快了,这位专心的计算者也不由自主地跟着跑了起来。路上的行人看到这种情形,不禁拍手大笑。当他实在跟不上而停下来时,发现这并不是什么黑板,而是马车的后背。他望着车背上的公式渐渐远去,遗憾地叹了一口气:“唉!可惜还没有算完。” 囊萤映雪
“囊萤映雪”这则成语的囊萤是晋代车胤家贫,没钱买灯油,而又想晚上读书,便在夏天晚上抓一把萤火虫来当灯读书;映雪是晋代孙康冬天夜里利用雪映出的光亮看书。后用“囊萤映雪”比喻家境贫苦,刻苦读书。