投资 · 创业者自述
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯：节俭·摘录 483
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《节俭》· Thrift · 投资
One thing, however, remains to be said of foreign workmen generally. Although they do not work so hard as the English, they take much better care of their earnings. They are exceedingly frugal and economical. Frenchmen are much soberer than Englishmen, and much better mannered. They are, on the whole, greatly more provident than English workmen. Mr. Brassey states that when the Paris and Rouen Railway works were commenced, the contractors endeavoured to introduce a system by which the workmen were to be paid once a fortnight; but very soon after the operations had begun, the Frenchmen requested that the pay might take place only once a month.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14418
定位：Excerpt 483 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
作者话锋一转：外国工人虽然干活不如英国人拼命，却更会打理自己挣的钱，非常节俭。法国人比英国人更少酗酒，举止也更有礼貌，整体上比英国工人更会为将来打算。他举布拉西的例子：巴黎到鲁昂铁路开工时，承包商想每两周发一次工资，可干了没多久，法国工人主动要求改成一个月发一次。这说明他们手里有钱不急着花，反而愿意让钱在手里多留些日子，好安排用途。作者借此提醒：能挣不等于能存，存得住才是真本事。
上下文
斯迈尔斯《节俭》，书中对比英国工人的高工资与法国工人的高储蓄习惯，讨论“会挣”与“会存”的差别。
今日一问
如果工资改成一个月发一次，你的日常开销撑得住吗？
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