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弗朗西斯·培根:随笔·摘录 56
弗朗西斯·培根《随笔》· Essays · 领导 · 人性 · 心性 · 财富
The blessing of Judah and Issachar will never meet; that the same people, or nation, should be both the lion's whelp and the ass between burthens; neither will it be, that a people overlaid with taxes, should ever become valiant and martial. It is true that taxes levied by consent of the estate, do abate men's courage less: as it hath been seen notably, in the excises of the Low Countries; and, in some degree, in the subsidies of England. For you must note, that we speak now of the heart, and not of the purse. So that although the same tribute and tax, laid by consent or by imposing, be all one to the purse, yet it works diversely upon the courage. So that you may conclude, that no people overcharged with tribute, is fit for empire.
出处:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/575
定位:Excerpt 56 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录
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犹大的祝福和以萨迦的祝福永远不会同时降临:同一个民族不可能既是狮子崽,又是驮重担的驴。一个被重税压垮的民族,也不可能变得勇敢善战。当然,经民众同意的税收对勇气的削弱会小一些,低地国家的消费税和英国的补助税都证明了这点。要注意,这里说的是“心气”,不是“钱包”。同样一笔税,经同意征收还是强行摊派,对钱包一样,对勇气却效果不同。所以结论是:没有哪个税负过重的民族适合建立帝国。
上下文
培根《随笔集》论国家伟大,引用《创世记》雅各对犹大和以萨迦的祝福,讨论税负与战斗精神的关系。
今日一问
你所在的环境里,负担和压力是否正在消磨人们的勇气和主动性?
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