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同样，从小处着手关注他人会给人留下无限的温馨，同时这一明智的做法也能增强别人的自尊和自负的心理。这些与人的天性是密不可分的。这样做无疑证实了我们是尊重和关心别人的。比如，观察我们所要争取的人在细小方面的习惯、他们的喜好、他们所反感的东西以及他们的兴趣，然后注意投其所好，避免让他们不快。以某种优雅的方式让他们知道你注意到他们喜欢这样的碟子或者这样的房间，正因为他们喜欢所以你这样安排了。或者相反，你注意到他们讨厌这种碟子，不喜欢这种类型的人等等，你已经注意加以避免了。这种对琐事的关注比那些大事更能满足别人自负的心理，因为这样做让别人觉得他们几乎是你所考虑和关心的惟一对象。
这些人生的秘诀对于刚刚踏入这个社会的你来说是非常必要的。我多希望我能在你这个年纪时就能很好地知道这些啊，可是我付出了53年的代价才了解到这些秘诀。如果你想收获这些经验的果实，我是绝对不会吝惜的。再见。
旧历1747年10月16日，伦敦
Lord Chesterfield
To
London；
October 16； O。
Dear boy；
The art of pleasing is a very necessary one to possess； but a very difficult one to acquire。 It can hardly be reduced to rules； and your own good sense and observation will teach you more of it than I can。“Do as you would be done by” is the surest method that I know of ； and probably the same things in you will please others。 If you are pleased with the plaisance and attention of others to your humors； your tastes； or your weaknesses； depend upon it； the same plaisance and attention on your part to theirs will equally please them。 Take the tone of the pany that you are in； and do not pretend to give it； be serious； gay； or even trifling； as you find the present humor of the pany； this is an attention due from every individual to the majority。 Do not tell stories in pany； there is nothing more tedious and disagreeable； if by chance you know a very short story； and exceedingly applicable to the present subject of conversation； tell it in as few words as possible； and even then； throw out that you do not love to tell stories； but that the shortness of it tempted you。 。 想看书来
切斯特菲尔德勋爵（3）
Of all things； banish the egotism out of your conversation； and never think of entertaining people with your own personal concerns or private affairs； though they are interesting to you； they are tedious and impertinent to everybody else； besides that； one cannot keep one's own private affairs too secret。 Whatever you think your own excellencies may be； do not affectedly display them in pany； nor labor； as many people do； to give that turn to the conversation； which may supply you with an opportunity of exhibiting them。 If they are real； they will infallibly be discovered； without your pointing them out yourself； and with much more advantage。 Never maintain an argument with heat and clamor； though you think or know yourself to be in the right； but give your opinions modestly and coolly； which is the only way to convince； and； if that does not do； try to change the conversation； by saying； with goodhumor； “We shall hardly convince one another； nor is it necessary that we should； so let us talk of something else。”
Remember that there is a local propriety to be observed in all panies； and that what is extremely proper in one pany may be； and often is； highly improper in another。
The jokes； the bonmots； the little adventures； which may do very well in one pany； will seem flat and tedious； when related in another。 The particular characters； the habit； the cant of one pany may give merit to a word； or a gesture； which would have none at all if divested of those accidental circumstances。 Here people very monly err； and fond of something that has entertained them in one pany； and in certain circumstances； repeat it with emphasis in another； where it is either insipid； or； it may be； offensive； by being illtimed or misplaced。
Nay； they often do it with this silly preamble：“I will tell you an excellent thing；” or； “I will tell you the best thing in the world。” This raises expectations； which； when absolutely disappointed； make the relator of this excellent thing look； very deservedly； like a fool。
If you would particularly gain the affection and friendship of particular people； whether men or women； endeavor to find out their predominant excellency； if they have one； and their prevailing weakness； which everybody has； and do justice to the one； and something more than justice to the other。 Men have various objects in which they may excel； or at least would be thought to excel； and though they love to hear justice done to them； where they know that they excel； yet they are most and best flattered upon those points where they wish to excel； and yet are doubtful whether they do or not。 As for example： Cardinal Richelieu； who was undoubtedly the ablest statesman of his time； or perhaps of any other； had the idle vanity of being thought the best poet too： he envied the great Corneille his reputation； and ordered a criticism to be written upon the Cid。 Those； therefore； who flattered skillfully； said little to him of his abilities in state affairs； or at least but en passant； and as it might naturally occur。 But the incense which they gave him—the smoke of which they knew would turn his head in their favor— was as a bel esprit and a poet。 Why？—Because he was sure of one excellency； and distrustful as to the other。 txt小说上传分享
切斯特菲尔德勋爵（4）
You will easily discover every man' s prevailing vanity by observing his favorite topic of conversation； for every man talks most of what he has most a mind to be thought to excel in。 Touch him but there； and you touch him to the quick； The late Sir Robert Walpole （who was certainly an able man）was little open to flattery upon that head； for he was in no doubt himself about it； but his prevailing weakness was； to be thought to have a polite and happy turn to gallantry—of which he had undoubtedly less than any man living。 It was his favorite and frequent subject of conversation； which proved to those who had any penetration that it was his prevailing weakness； and they applied to it with success。
Women have； in general； but one object； which is their beauty， upon which； scarce any flattery is too gross for them to follow。 Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person； if her face is so shocking that she must； in some degree； be conscious of it； her figure and air； she trusts； make ample amends for it。 If her figure is deformed； her face； she thinks； counterbalances it。 If they are both bad； she forts herself that she has graces； a certain manner； a je ne scais quoi still more engaging than beauty。 This truth is evident； from the studied and elaborate dress of the ugliest woman in the world。 An undoubted； uncontested； conscious beauty is； of all women； the least sensible of flattery upon that head； she knows it is her due； and is therefore obliged to nobody for giving it her。 She must be flattered upon her understanding； which； though she may possibly not doubt of herself； yet she suspects that men may distrust。
Do not mistake me； and think that I mean to remend to you abject and criminal flattery： no； flatter nobody's vices or crimes： on the contrary； abhor and discourage them。 But there is no living in the world without a plaisant indulgence for people's weaknesses； and innocent； though ridiculous vanities。 If a man has a mind to be thought wiser； and a woman handsomer； than they really are； their error is a fortable one to themselves； and an innocent one with regard to other people； and I would rather make them my friends by indulging them in it； than my enemies by endeavoring （and that to no purpose） to undeceive them。
There are little attentions； likewise； which are infinitely engaging； and which sensibly affect that degree of pride and selflove； which is inseparable from human nature； as they are unquestionable proofs of the regard and consideration which we have for the persons to whom we pay them。 As for example： to observe the little habits； the likings； the antipathies； and the tastes of those whom we would gain； and then take care to provide them with the one； and to secure them from the other； giving them genteelly to understand； that you had observed they liked such a dish or such a room； for which reason you had prepared it： or； on the contrary； that having observed they had an aversion to such a dish； a dislike to such a person； etc。； you had taken care to avoid presenting them。 Such attention to such trifles flatters selflove much more than greater things； as it makes people think themselves almost the only objects of your thoughts and care。
These are some of the arcane necessary for your initiation in the great society of the world。 I wish I had known them better at your age； I have paid the price of threeandfifty years for them； and shall not grudge it if you reap the advantage。 Adieu！
富兰克林致赫伯德小姐
本杰明·富兰克林（1706—1790），美国著名的政治家、社会活动家、科学家、发明家。1706年1月27日；他生于波士顿一个工人家庭，由于家境贫寒，只上了两年学就辍学当了学徒，12岁时到他大哥的印刷所里当学徒，长期从事印刷工作，同时刻苦自学。他曾化名投稿，报纸编辑以为文章“出自名家手笔”。作为政治家，在美国和世界历史上，他与许多重要事件有关。他在北美独立战争中起了重大作用，是美国的创建人之一，参与起草了《独立宣言》和美国宪法。
本篇是富兰克林在弟弟约翰逝世之后，写给约翰第二任妻子与前夫所生的女儿赫伯德小姐的信。
我要向你深表哀悼。我们失去了一位非常可爱、可贵的亲人。这是上帝和自然的旨意，当灵魂进入天堂的时候，躯体就要被置入黄土。或者说它是胚胎的发育期，是新生命的准备阶段。
一个人在死的那一刻才算得到真正的诞生。既然不朽的天堂诞生了一个新婴儿，他们幸福的社会里又增加了一名新的成员，我们为什么还要悲伤呢？我们都是精灵。无比仁慈智慧的上帝行善施恩，赐予我们躯体，让我们享受快乐的生活；帮助我们获取知识，让我们造福于人类。当我们的躯体无法适应这些目的——不能提供给我们快乐，反而让我们痛苦；不能给我们帮助，反而成为我们的累赘——当它们无法完成上帝当初托付的使命时，依然恩惠仁慈的上帝准备了一个办法，让我们摆脱躯体。死亡就是上帝所准备的解脱办法。我们自己有时也会明智地选择一种局部的死亡。受伤疼痛的手脚，已经无法复原，我们会心甘情愿地把它切除。要拔牙的人，也会毅然跟它分手，因为拔掉之后痛苦就会随之消失。一个人如果完全脱离躯壳，就会立刻解脱掉一切痛苦以及引起痛苦和疾病的根源。
我们的朋友和我们自己早就受到邀请去参加一次欢乐的宴会，这是一场永远不散的宴会。他的坐席早已准备好了，所以他会先我们一步而去。我们不可能都很方便地一同前往；既然不久之后我们就要随他而去，并且知道到哪里可以找到他，那我们又为什么因此伤心呢？
再见
本·富兰克林
1756年2月23日于费城
Benjamin Franklin
To
Philadelphia；
February 23； 1756。
I condole with you。 We have lost a most dear and valuable relation。 But it is the will of God and nature； that these mortal bodies be laid aside； when the soul is to enter into real life。 This is rather an embryo state； a preparation for living。
A man is not pletely born until he is dead。 Why then should we grieve； that a new child is born among the immortals； a new member added to their happy society？ We are spirits。 That bodies should be lent us，while they can afford us pleasure； assist us in acquiring knowledge； or in doing good to our fellow creatures； is a kind and benevolent act of God。 When they bee unfit for these purposes； and afford us pain instead of pleasure； instead of an aid bee an encumbrance； and answer none of the intentions for which they were given； it is equally kind and benevolent； that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them。 Death is that way。 We ourselves； in some cases； prudently choose a partial death。 A mangled painful limb； which cannot be restored； we willingly cut off。 He who plucks out a tooth； parts with it freely； since the pain goes with it； and he； who quits the whole body； parts at once with all pains and possibilities of pains and diseases which it was liable to； or capable of making him suffer。
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure； which is to last for ever。 His chair was ready first； and he is gone before us。 We could not all conveniently start together； and why should you and I be grieved at this； since we are soon to follow； and know where to find him？
Adieu；
B。 Franklin
贝多芬致兄弟（1）
路德维格·凡·贝多芬（1770—1827），德国作曲家。他是从古典音乐向浪漫主义音乐过渡时期的最杰出音乐家，也是人类艺术上最伟大的创造者之一。他有着卓越的音乐天赋、炽热的叛逆气质和巨人般的坚强性格；他那百折不挠的意志和对社会的责任感而产生的崇高理想，形成了他作为一个音乐家的特有品质。他通过自己的创作，特别是在他的九部交响曲中，反映了那个时代人民运动的伟大的、进步的思想风貌。他以时代和个人的命运为主题，通过深刻的哲理和感人的艺术形象的结合，写出了一系列交响乐作品，表现了从斗争到胜利、从黑暗到光明、从苦难到快乐的资产阶级上升时期的精神历程。早在贝多芬在世时他就被公认为具有世界意义的音乐家。作为伟大的古典作曲家兼浪漫派先驱，他被永远载入史册。
1797年后，贝多芬患了耳聋病，病情逐年恶化。对一个音乐家说来，再没有比这更沉重的打击了！在这封信中，他想把所遭受的痛苦向兄弟述说，但写好后并未寄出。
给我的兄弟卡尔和（约翰）贝多芬：
啊，兄弟们，你们说我心肠不好、固执而又厌世，你们多么冤枉我啊！�