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塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯:自助论·摘录 203

塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《自助论》· Self-Help · 领导

The power of money is on the whole over-estimated. The greatest things which have been done for the world have not been accomplished by rich men, nor by subscription lists, but by men generally of small pecuniary means. Christianity was propagated over half the world by men of the poorest class; and the greatest thinkers, discoverers, inventors, and artists, have been men of moderate wealth, many of them little raised above the condition of manual labourers in point of worldly circumstances. And it will always be so. Riches are oftener an impediment than a stimulus to action; and in many cases they are quite as much a misfortune as a blessing. The youth who inherits wealth is apt to have life made too easy for him, and he soon grows sated with it, because he has nothing left to desire. Having no special object to struggle for, he finds time hang heavy on his hands; he remains morally and spiritually asleep; and his position in society is often no higher than that of a polypus over which the tide floats.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/935
定位:Excerpt 203 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

金钱的力量总体上被高估了。为世界做出的最伟大事情,不是富人也不是捐款名单完成的,而通常是由财力微薄的人完成的。基督教由最贫穷阶层的人传播到半个世界;最伟大的思想家、发现者、发明家和艺术家,都是中等财富的人,许多人的世俗境况几乎不比体力劳动者高多少。而且永远会如此。财富对行动往往是障碍而非刺激;许多情况下,它既是福也是祸。继承财富的年轻人容易生活太安逸,很快因无所求而厌倦。没有特别目标去奋斗,他觉得时间沉重;在道德和精神上沉睡;社会地位往往不比随潮水漂浮的水螅高。

上下文

斯迈尔斯《自助》强调贫穷常激发奋斗,财富反易使人懈怠。

今日一问

如果你突然获得一大笔钱,你还会保留现在让你成长的那个目标吗?

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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