窮理查年鑑
Poor Richard's Almanack

班哲明‧富蘭克林(1706－1790)是有史以來最傑出的美國人之一。他是作家、印刷商、政治家、外交家、教育家、發明家、哲學家、幽默大師、企業家、店主、公民領袖、科學家、自學成才者、公務員、民族英雄，富蘭克林嘗試了各種事業並在所有這些方面都取得輝煌的成就。他作的年 鑑是作為一個虛構的理查‧桑德斯(因此叫"窮理查")的著作從1733－1758年在費城年年發表。這些年鑑在殖民地居民中極受歡迎。典型的年鑑包含有日曆、天氣預測，忠告、食譜以及其他許多有用的知識。窮理查的諺語、格言和箴言有的是他自己創作的，有的不是。它們使富蘭克林實用、寬容和今人快活的妙語和哲學得到傳播普及。以下是"窮理查"幾百條諺語和評論中選出的格言。

窮人幾乎沒有，乞丐一無所有，富人擁有太多，沒人會說夠了。

與狗一起躺下的人，起來時滿身跳蚤。

唯人與瓜難知。

請聽又窮又破的理查一句話，
凡以憤怒開始的事必以恥辱告終。

凡不勤勉的人，決不會有榮譽。

勤則萬事易，懶則萬事難。

要想說服人家，應曉之以利，而非以理。

教你孩子緘默，他很快就學會說話。

不能服從的人，就不能指揮。

法官應服從法律，人民應服從法官。

守株待兔者，美餐無保證。

有知識的傻瓜比沒知識的傻瓜更糟。

你把商店管好，商店管你吃飽。

如果三人之中兩人死了，那秘密就可能守住。

早睡早起身，富裕、聰明又健身。

對上級謙恭是職責，對平輩謙恭是禮貌，對下級謙恭是高尚。

如果你知道如何支出少於收入，你就有了點金術。

訪客和魚三天都會發臭。

凡親屬中沒有傻瓜、娼技和乞丐的人必非凡人。

勤勉乃幸運之母。

凡靠希望過日子的人，將會絕糧而死。

不要幹你本來不知道的事。

財富不屬於擁有它的人，而屬於享受它的人。

有牛又有羊，人人對我點頭忙。

天助自助者。

如果你自家的窗戶是玻璃的，就不要向鄰居扔石頭。

暴力在道理背上拉屎。

債主的記憶力比債戶強。

上帝醫治，醫生收費。

就是在最威嚴的王位上的最偉大的君主也必須坐在自己的屁股上。

通向榮譽的快捷方式是把為榮譽而幹的事當作為良心而幹。

世上最高尚的問題是：我能做什麼有益的事?

若要在死後屍骨腐爛時不被人忘記，
要寫出值得人讀的東西，要做些值得人寫的事。

不要出賣道德去買財富，
也不要出賣自由去買權力。

古人告訴我們什麼是最好的，
但我們應該知道什麼是現代人最合適的。

你要管理事務，別讓事務管理你。

一年根除一惡習，惡棍也能成好人。

若對小錯誤視而不見，那你就會犯大錯。

吃乃快活自家，穿是取悅人家。

工作未完就付錢，兩分錢只值一分錢。

歷史學家講他們信以為真的事多於講史實。

讓你小孩先學會服從，其次才學你要他學的東西。

什麼都不想的人最幸福，因為他從不失望。

如果你損害良心，良心就會向你報復。

不要聽朋友的壞話，也不要說敵人的壞話。

把你欠的還掉，你就知道什麼是你的。

不要把你知道的一切，你欠的一切，你擁有的一切
你所能做的一切都向人公佈。

每個民族都有足夠的勇氣忍受其他民族造成的痛苦，
同時也有足夠的勇氣寬恕其他民族。

歷史無趣的國家是幸福的，
歷史無趣的時代是幸運的。

狼只是偶爾吃羊，
而人卻吃了千萬隻羊。

人的舌頭既軟又沒骨，
可用它可敲斷人的脊樑骨。

若怕幹壞事，別的就都不用怕了。

借錢給一個敵人，你會贏得他。
借錢給一個朋友，你會失去他。

論學技巧：自學的人是拿傻瓜當師傅。

讓你的不滿成為你的秘密，──如果讓世人知道了，他們
會看不起你，而且會增加你的不滿。

二十歲意氣用事，三十歲機智處事，四十歲斷事不惑。

一藝在身，勝如田莊在手。

明天要做的事今天就做。

人每天都在變，憑感覺的事是不是也和無影無蹤的事一樣不可靠。

說起任何人都不可以用輕薎的語氣，無論他是國王還是奴隸。只有最毒的蜂才會用刺。

說話尖刻交不了朋友；一勺蜜要比一加侖醋能抓住更多蒼蠅。

急事緩辦。

注意小筆開支，小漏將會沈大船。

沒有辛苦就沒有收穫。

許多人抱怨自己記性不佳，幾乎沒人說自己判斷力差。

井乾方知泉水貴。

人人都要有良知。有良知的人寥寥無幾，沒人認為他們缺乏良知。

暗地裏還敬重好人的不算壞。

好的榜樣就是最好的說教。

不聽勸告的人，沒法幫助他。

一群烏合之眾就像一個怪物，頭長得很多就是沒腦筋。

傻瓜的日子是泡在酒裏，
智者的生活放在思考裏。

酒不能消愁，只能澆愁，而且使愁上加愁。

天才不受教育就像是埋在礦裏的銀子。

一點一點砍，也能砍下一棵大橡樹。

如果不知道事物的本質，光知道名字有何意義？

玻璃、陶瓷和名譽都很容易破裂，而且永遠無法彌補。

黃金時代永遠不是現在的時代。

老少都有自己的玩物，只是價格不同而已。

倉促造成浪費。

鄰居可相愛，籬笆不能拆。

小孩以為二十先令總花不完，二十年總過不完。

無知不為恥，不想學才可恥。

一個今天等於兩個明天。

工作時就像你會活到一百歲似的，
祈禱時就像你明天就要死似的。

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Poor Richard's Almanack

The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.

He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.

Men and melons are hard to know.

Take this remark from Richard poor and lame. Whate'er's begun in anger ends in sham.

No man e'er was glorious, who was not laborious.

All things are easy to Industry.

All things are difficult to sloth

Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not Reason.

Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak.

He that cannot obey, cannot command.

The magistrate should obey the Laws, the people should obey the magistrate.

He that waits upon a Fortune, is never sure of a Dinner.

A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.

Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.

Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.

To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the Philosophers Stone.

Fish & Visitors stink in 3 days.

He that has neither fools, whores nor beggars among his kindred, is the son of a thunder gust.

Diligence is the Mother of Good Luck.

He that lives upon Hope, dies farting.

Do not do that which you would not have known.

Wealth is not his that has it, vut his that enjoys it.

Now I've a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow.

God helps them that help themselves.

Don't throw stones at your neighbours, if you own windows are glass.

Force shites upon Reason's Back

Creditors have better memories than debtors.

God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees.

The greatest monarch on the proudest throne, is oblig'd to sit upon his own arse.

The nearest way to come at glory, is to do that for conscience which we do for glory.

The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?

If you wou'd not be forgotten
as soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worth reading.
or do things worth the writing.

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, not Liberty to purchase power.

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

Drive thy Business, let not that drive thee.

Each year one vicious habit rooted out, In Time might make the worst Man good throughout.

Wink at small faults; remember thou has great ones.

Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.

He that pays for Work before it's done, has but a pennyworth for twopence.

Historians relate, not so much what is done, as what they would have believed.

Let thy Child's first lesson be Obedience, and the second may be what thou wilt.

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

If thou injurest Conscience, it will have its Revenge on thee.

Hear no ill of a Friend, nor speak any of an Enemy.

Pay what you owe, and you'll know what's your own.

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.

To bear other Peoples Afflictions, every one has Courage enough, and to spare.

Happy that nation, fortunate that age, whose history is not diverting.

A wolf eats sheep but now and then,
Tem Thousands are devour'd by Men.

Man's tongue is soft, and bone doth lack;
Yet a stroke therewith may break a man's back.

Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.

Lend money to an Enemy, and thou'lt gain him, to a Friend and thou'lt lose him.

Learn of the skilful; He that teaches himself hath a fool for his master.

Let thy discontents be thy Secrets;--if the world knows them, 'twill despise thee and increase them.

At 20 years of age the Will reigns; at 30 the Wit; at 40 the Judgment.

He that hath a Trade, hath an Estate.

Have you somewhat to do to-morrow; do it to-day.

Men differ daily, about things which are subject to Sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible.

Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king.

The meanest Bee bath, and will use, asting.

Tart Words make no Friends; a spoonful of honey will catch lore flies than a Gallon of Winegar.

Make hast slowly.

Beware of little Expences, a small Leak will sink a great ship.

No gains without pains.

Many complain of their Memory, few of their judgment.

When the Well's dry, we know the Worth of Water.

Good Sense is a Thing all need, few have, and none think they want.

There is no Man so bad, but he secretly respects the Good.

A good example is the best sermon.

He that won't be counsell'd, can't be help'd.

A Mob's a Monster; Heads enough, but no Brains.

Life with Fools consists in Drinking;
With the wise Man, Living's Thinking.

Drink does not drown Care, but waters it, and makes it grow faster.

Genius without education is like Silver in the Mine.

Little Strokes,
Fell great Oaks

What signifies knowing the Names, if you know not the Nature of Things.

Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd and never well mended.

The Golden Age never was the present Age.

Old Boys have their Playthings as well as young Ones; the Difference is only in the Price.

Haste makes Waste.

Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.

A Child thinks 20 Shillings and 20 Years can scarce ever be spent.

Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn.

One To-day is worth two To-Morrows.

Work as if you were to live 100 years,
Pray as if you were to die To-morrow.