投资 · 创业者自述
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯：节俭·摘录 489
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《节俭》· Thrift · 投资
There is another class of people, not fraudulent, but extravagant; though perhaps on the brink of becoming fraudulent. They live up to their means, and often beyond them. They desire to be considered "respectable people." They live according to the pernicious adage, "One must do as others do." They do not consider whether they can afford to live up to or beyond their means; but they think it necessary to secure the "respect" of others. In doing so, they usually sacrifice their own self-respect. They regard their dress, their establishments, their manner of living, and their observance of fashion, as the sole tests of respectability and rank. They make an appearance in the eyes of the world; though it may be entirely hypocritical and false.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14418
定位：Excerpt 489 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
还有一类人并不欺诈，只是奢侈，但也许正站在欺诈的边缘。他们花光收入，甚至超支，一心想被看作“体面人”。他们信奉一句有害的俗话：“别人怎样，我也得怎样。”他们不问自己是否负担得起，只觉得必须保住别人的“尊重”。结果呢，往往先丢掉了自尊。他们把衣着、宅子、生活方式和追时尚当成体面和地位的唯一标准，在世人面前摆出样子，哪怕这完全是虚伪和假的。斯迈尔斯提醒：把“体面”外包给别人评价，就会不断超支；真正的做法是重新定义体面——量力而行、诚实生活，而不是靠排场换尊重。
上下文
19世纪英国社会等级观念浓厚，“体面”常与外在排场挂钩，斯迈尔斯在《节俭》中专门剖析这种攀比心理。
今日一问
你判断一个人“体面”的标准，有多少是别人塞给你的？
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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