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塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯:自助论·摘录 180

塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《自助论》· Self-Help · 领导

It has, however, been a favourite fallacy with dunces in all times, that men of genius are unfitted for business, as well as that business occupations unfit men for the pursuits of genius. The unhappy youth who committed suicide a few years since because he had been “born to be a man and condemned to be a grocer,” proved by the act that his soul was not equal even to the dignity of grocery. For it is not the calling that degrades the man, but the man that degrades the calling. All work that brings honest gain is honourable, whether it be of hand or mind. The fingers may be soiled, yet the heart remain pure; for it is not material so much as moral dirt that defiles—greed far more than grime, and vice than verdigris.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/935
定位:Excerpt 180 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

有一种流传很广的谬论,说天才不适合做生意,做生意也会让人没法追求天才的事业。几年前有个年轻人自杀,因为他觉得自己“生来是个人,却被判当杂货商”,这行为恰恰证明他的灵魂连杂货商的尊严都配不上。因为不是职业贬低人,而是人贬低职业。任何带来诚实收入的工作,无论用手还是用脑,都是光荣的。手指可能弄脏,但心可以保持纯净;因为玷污人的与其说是物质上的污垢,不如说是道德上的污垢——贪婪比油污更脏,恶习比铜绿更甚。

上下文

塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《自助》一书,19世纪英国励志经典,强调品格与勤奋。

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