投资 · 创业者自述
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯：节俭·摘录 252
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《节俭》· Thrift · 投资
It so happens that the world cannot be conducted on superfine principles. To most men, and especially to the men we are speaking of, it is a rough, working world, conducted on common principles, such as will wear. To some it may seem vulgar to associate beer, tobacco, or feasting with the pure and simple duty of effecting an insurance against disablement by sickness; but the world we live in is vulgar, and we must take it as we find it, and try to make the best of it. It must be admitted that the tendencies to pure good in man are very weak, and need much helping. But the expedient, vulgar though it be, of attracting him through his appetite for meat and drink to perform a duty to himself and neighbours, is by no means confined to societies of working men. There is scarcely a London charity or institution but has its annual dinner for the purpose of attracting subscribers. Are we to condemn the eighteenpenny annual dinner of the poor man, but excuse the guinea one of the rich?
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14418
定位：Excerpt 252 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
世界没法按太高尚的原则运转。对大多数人，尤其我们说的工人，这是个粗糙的、讲实际的世界，得按能持久的一般原则来。有人觉得把啤酒、烟草、吃喝和纯粹的保险义务扯在一起很俗气，但我们生活的世界就是俗气的，得接受现实，尽量往好里做。必须承认，人身上纯粹向善的倾向很弱，需要很多帮助。但用吃喝的胃口吸引人履行对自己和邻居的义务，这种办法虽然俗，却不仅限于工人团体。伦敦几乎每个慈善机构都有年度晚宴来吸引捐款人。难道我们要谴责穷人一先令半的年度聚餐，却原谅富人一基尼的晚宴吗？
上下文
斯迈尔斯为互助会在酒馆聚会的做法辩护，指出上流社会的慈善晚宴同样靠吃喝吸引人。
今日一问
你是否曾因形式不够高雅而否定一件实际有效的好事？
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