投资 · 创业者自述
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯：节俭·摘录 126
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《节俭》· Thrift · 投资
The working man is now more of a citizen than he ever was before. He is a recognized power, and has been admitted within the pale of the constitution. For him mechanics' institutes, newspapers, benefit societies, and all the modern agencies of civilization, exist in abundance. He is admitted to the domain of intellect; and, from time to time, great thinkers, artists, engineers, philosophers, and poets, rise up from his order, to proclaim that intellect is of no rank, and nobility of no exclusive order. The influences of civilization are rousing society to its depths; and daily evidences are furnished of the rise of the industrious classes to a position of social power. Discontent may, and does, exhibit itself; but discontent is only the necessary condition of improvement; for a man will not be stimulated to rise up into a higher condition unless he be first made dissatisfied with the lower condition out of which he has to rise. To be satisfied is to repose; while, to be rationally dissatisfied, is to contrive, to work, and to act, with an eye to future advancement.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14418
定位：Excerpt 126 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
斯迈尔斯说，工人现在比以往更像公民，是被承认的力量，已被纳入宪法范围。机械学院、报纸、互助会等现代文明机构大量为他存在。他被允许进入知识领域，思想家、艺术家、工程师、哲学家和诗人不断从工人阶层中涌现，证明才智不分等级，高贵不专属某个阶层。文明的影响正唤醒社会， industrious classes 日益崛起为社会力量。不满可能存在，但不满是进步的必要条件：人只有先不满于较低处境，才会被激励向上。满足是安歇，理性不满则会谋划、工作和行动，着眼未来进步。
上下文
斯迈尔斯在《节俭》结尾部分论述工人阶层的崛起，认为文明机构和不满足感推动社会进步。
今日一问
我对现状的“不满”是停留在抱怨，还是已经转化为具体的行动和计划？
公版作品；原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg，仅摘录段落并附全书链接。
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