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在翻阅本地报纸的时候，我计算了一下，在不到半年的时间里，这里至少出了25名伟人 ，17名非常伟大的人，9名非常杰出的人。报上说，这些人都会受到后人的敬仰；他们显赫 的名字将为世世代代所惊叹。让我想想——如果半年出46名伟人，那一年下来就有92 名。 我不知道后来的人怎么可能记住这么多的伟人，也不知道将来人们除了背诵伟人名册之外， 还有没有其他的事情要『操』心。
公司的总裁开始演讲了，他马上被当成伟人记录下来；平庸的学者压缩他的著作出对开 本了，很快也成为伟人；诗人用押韵的形式把陈旧的感伤串连起来，一时间也成为伟人。无 论受到仰慕的对象多么渺小，身后总会有一群更加渺小的仰慕者跟随。随行的人们一声欢呼 ，他便大步走向伟大，得意洋洋地回头看看那群追随者，一路领略各式各样古怪、离奇、荒 诞和自命不凡的渺小者。
昨天，有位先生请我吃饭，他保证请我吃一块鹿的腰胴肉、一只甲鱼，并且晋见—位伟 人。我如约而至。鹿肉味道不错，甲鱼也很好，但是，那个伟人却让人难以忍受。我刚一开 口说话，立刻就遭到他的厉声驳斥。为了挽回些面子，我试图接二连三地发起进攻，却又被 稀里糊涂地击退。我决定再次从战壕发起冲锋，把谈论的焦点转到中国『政府』上来。即使在这 个问题上，他还是一如既往地断言、斥责、反驳。天啊，我想，这个人竟然装作比我还了解 中国！我朝四下里望望，想看看有谁站在我这一边，但是，每只眼睛都敬慕地凝视着这位伟 人。因此，我想自己还是安安静静地坐着，在其后的谈话里当个好好先生才是上策。
一个人一旦拥有了一批仰慕者，他就会做出自认为合理其实非常荒唐的事；别人还以为 他的言行都是感情的升华或者是大智若愚。假如他违背了常识，就算把茶壶当成烟盒，也会 有人辩解说，那是因为他在专心致志地思考大事：要是他们的言谈举止跟常人无异，那他们 就跟常人一样算不上伟人了。伟大这个概念涵盖了某种奇特的东西，因为对于跟我们非常相 似的事物，我们很少会感到惊讶。
鞑靼人立喇嘛，最先考虑的是把他放在寺庙里的阴暗角落，让他若隐若现地坐在那里， 调整手、嘴唇和眼睛的活动；但最重要的是，他必须做到庄严和肃静。然而这只是把他奉为 神明的序曲：一批使者被派到民间去，称赞他是非常虔诚、庄严、热爱混沌未开的众生；人 们听信了使者的话，就把喇嘛当作偶像顶礼膜拜；他一动不动地接受人们的称颂，于是成为 神，从此由下面的僧人用那不朽的勺子喂养。这个国家也可以使用相同的办法制造伟人。偶 像只需把自己藏起来，然后派出手下的小使者为他高唱赞歌，不管是政治家还是作家，都会 立即被列入伟人名单；如果时兴赞美，如果他对公众谨小慎微地掩盖了自身的渺小，他会一 直受到赞美。
我游历过许多国家，也去过无数的城市，但没有诞生过十一二位这种小伟人的城市，我 还从来没有见识过。他们都认为自己是世界闻名的，并且互相恭维对方的伟大。如果有两个 这样的人相互客套、相互吹捧的时候，是非常有趣的。我曾见到过这样一件事：一位德国医 生把一位修道士大肆赞扬了一番，在场的人们都把他当作了世上最有智慧的人；然后，修道 士又反过来把医生恭维了一番，跟他平分了这份美誉。于是，这两人在众人的掌声中阔步离 去。
过分的赞美不仅仅陪伴着我们伟人的生前，甚至也会不多不少地伴随他进入坟墓。经常 会有下面事情发生：他的一个小小的崇拜者因为他这个大人物而取得成功，于是把他的生平 和著作编成年表。把这称之为炉火边和安乐椅之间的人生革命，可能是恰当的。我们从这份 年表中可以知道，这位伟人是哪年出生的，早年什么时候就表现出了不同寻常的天分和勤奋 的迹象，以及他的伯母和母亲所收集的他小时候说过的一些妙语。第二本书会介绍他上大学 时的情况，书中告诉我们，他在学业上取得了非常惊人进步，补袜子的技术非常高超，而且 有用纸包书保护封面的新发明。紧接着，他又在文学界崭『露』头角，出版了对开本的书。现在 ，伟人成熟了，他的作品被所有喜欢收藏珍本的人争相购买，各种学术团体竞相邀请他参加 ；他跟某位拉丁名字很长的外国人辩论并战胜对手，得到几位严肃的大作家的赞扬；他特别 喜欢吃猪肉蘸鸡蛋沙司，他成为一家文学俱乐部的『主席』并在荣誉到达巅峰时去世。他们是多 么幸福啊，因为某个小小的忠实随从，不仅不会抛弃他们，而且准备与每个反对者辩论，当 着反对者的面歌颂他们；同时准备在他们生前渲染他们的骄傲，在他们死后美化他们的品行 。至于你跟我，朋友，因为没有谦恭的追随者相伴，我们现在不是伟人，将来也不可能成为 伟人，而且也不在乎自己是否是个伟人，但是，我们至少可以争取做一个拥有平常心的老实 人。
a little great man
oliver goldsmith
in reading the newspapers here； i have reckoned up not less than twentyfiv e great men； seventeen very great men； and nine very extraordinary men in less t han the compass of half a year。 these； say the gazettes； are the men that poster ity are to gaze at with admiration； these the names that fame will be employed i n holding up for the astonishment of sucomeeding ages。 let me see — fortysix g reat men in half a year； amounts to just ninetytwo in a year。 — i wonder how posterity will be able to remember them all； or whether the people； in future ti mes； will have any other business to mind； but that of getting the catalogue by heart。
does the mayor of a corporation make a speech。 he is instantly set down for a great man。 does a pedant digest his common place book into a folio。 he quickly becomes great： does a poet siring up trite sentiments in rhyme。 he also becomes the great man of the hour。 how diminutive soever the object of adminition， eac h is followed by a erowd of still more diminutive adminers。 the shout begins in his train； onward he marches towards immortality； looks back at the pursuing cro wd with selfsatisfaction； catching all the oddities； the whimsies； the absurdi ties； and the littlenesses of conscious greatness； by the way。
i was yesterday invited by a gentleman to dinner；who promised that our ente rtainment should consist of an haunch of venison； a turtle； and a great man。 i c ame； acomording to appointment。 the venison was fine； the turtle good； but the gr eat man insupportable。 the moment i ventured to speak； i was at once contradicte d with a snap。 i attempted； by a second and a third assault； to retrieve my lost reputation； but was still beat back with confusion。 i was resolved to attack hi m once more from entrenchment； and turned the conversation upon the government o f china： but even here he asserted； snapped； and contradicted as before。 heavens ； thought i； this man pretends to know china even better than myself！ i looked r ound to see who was on my side； but every eye was fixed in admiration on the gre at man； i therefore； at last thought proper to sit silent； and act the pretty ge ntleman during the ensuing conversation。
when a man has once secured a circle of admirers； he may be as ridiculous he re as he thinks proper； and it all passes for elevation of sentiment； or learned absence。 if he transgresses the common forms of breeding； mistakes even a teapo t for a tobacomobox； it is said； that his thoughts are fixed on more important objects：to speak and act like the rest of mankind is to be no greater than they 。 there is something of oddity in the very idea of greatness； for we are seldom astonished at a thing very much resembling ourselves。
when the tartars make a lama； their first care is to place him in a dark cor ner of the temple； here he is to sit half concealed from view； to regulate the m otion of his hands； lips； and eyes； but； above ail； he is enjoined gravity and s ilence。 this； however； is but the prelude to his apotheosis： a set of emissaries are dispatched among the people to cry up his piety； gravity； and love of raw f lesh； the people take them at their word； approach the lama； now become an idol； with the most humble prostration： he receives their addresses without motion； c ommences a god； and is ever after fed by his priests with the spoon of immortali ty。 the same receipt in this country serves to make a great man。 the idol only k eeps close； sends out his little emissaries to be hearty in his praise； and stra ight； whether statesman or author； he is set down in the list of fame； continuin g to be praised while it is fashionable to praise； or while he prudently keeps h is minuteness； concealed from the public。
i have visited many countries； and have been in cities without number； yet n ever did i enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve of those little gr eat men； all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world； and complimenti ng each other upon their extensive reputation。 it is amusing enough when two of those domestic prodigies of learning mount the stage of ceremony； and give and t ake praise from each other。 i have been present when a german doctor； for having pronounced a panegyric upon a certain monk； was thought the most ingenious man in the world； till the monk soon after divided this reputation by returning the compliment； by which means they both marched off with universal applause。
the same degree of underserved adulation that attends our great man while li ving； often also follows him to tomb。 it frequently happens that one of his litt le admirers sits down big with the important subject； and is delivered of the hi story of his life and writings。 this may properly be called the revolutions of a life between the fireside and the easychair。 in this we learn； the year in wh ich he was born； at what an early age he gave symptoms of uncommon genius and ap plication； together with some of his smart sayings； collected by his aunt and mo ther； while yet but a boy。 the next book introduces him to the university； where we are informed of his amazing progress in learning； his excellent skill in dar ning stockings； and his new invention for papering books to save the covers。 he next makes his appearance in the republic of letters； and publishes his folio1。 now the colossus is reared； his works are eagerly bought up by all the purchaser s of scarce books。 the learned societies invite him to become a member； he dispu tes against some foreigner with a long latin name； conquers in the controversy； is complimented by several authors of gravity and importance； is excessively fon d of eggsauce with his pig； becomes president of a literary club； and dies in the meridian of his glory。 happy they； who thus have some little faithful attend ant； who never forsakes them； but prepares to wrangle and to praise against ever y opposer； at once ready to increase their pride while living； and their charact er when dead。 for you and i； my friend； who have no humble admirer thus to atten d us； we； who neither are； nor ever will be great men； and who do not much care whether we are great men or no； at least let us strive to be honest men； and to have common sense。爱之絮语
佚名
设想男人是从火星上来的，女人是从金星上来的。很久以前的一天，火星人用望远镜张 望远方时，发现了金星人，这匆匆一瞥把火星人心中沉睡的感情唤醒了。他们对这种感情从 未知晓。坠入爱河的火星人很快发明了太空旅行，飞往金星。金星上的女人们张开双臂迎接 他们的到来。火星男人与金星女人之间的爱情真是奇妙。他们愉快地共同生活，一起工作， 同甘共苦，他们都忘了彼此是来自不同的星球，忘了本应具有的差异。一天早晨，火星人和 金星人完全忘却了彼此的不同。也就是从那天起，冲突开始在男人与女人之间发生。
女人抱怨男人最多的地方是男人不会倾听。当女人说话时，男人不是完全不理睬，就是 稍听片刻，掂量一下困扰女人的问题，然后自傲地抛给女人一个解决的办法以安慰她就算完 事。无论女人抱怨了多少次，说他没有倾听，他就是不懂，依然故伎重演。女人需要同情， 可男人以为她需要的是解决办法。
男人最常抱怨女人总试图改造自己。女人爱上男人时，便觉得帮助他成长是自己的责任 ，并尽力想帮助男人改进做事的方式。女人成立了家庭促进会，而男人就是首要目标。无论 男人怎样拒绝她的帮助，女人都一再坚持，伺机帮助他或是告诉他该做什么。女人认为自己 是在调教男人，而男人却觉得自己被控制了。男人崇尚权力、个人能力和成功。他们本是以 取得成功的能力作为给自己的定义。对他们而言，实现目标举足轻重，因为这能证明他们自 身的能力，会让他们有良好的感觉。而男人要想自我感觉不错，就必须独立自主地取得种种 成功。
在男人看来，不请自来的建议就是认为他们不知道该做什么，不能凭独自的力量获取胜 利。他们对此很恼火，因为个人能力对于他们非常重要。然而，如果男人确实需要帮助，取 得帮助也是明智的举措。在这种情况下，他会和一位自己敬重的人谈论自己的困难。男人谈 论困难就是请求他人提供意见。被请求的人因此会颇感荣幸，并顺其自然地抒发感想，听对 方诉说，然后提供宝贵的建议。男人的这种习惯在一定程度上导致了他们在倾听女人谈论自 己的情感和困『惑』时，本能地提供解决方案。
女人却对这些不重视。她们是在感情和与人相处的好坏以及交流中确定自我的感觉。女 人在诉说感情和彼此联系中获得满足。交流对于她们至关重要，分担私人感情比达到目的重 要得多，让她们获得满足感的巨大源泉之一就是交谈与联系。男人看重的是目的，女人看重 的是关系。她们更在意对善意、友爱和关怀的表达。女人具有敏锐的直觉，能处处为他人的 需求和情感着想是她们引以为豪的事。不经邀请而主动向同伴提供帮助，被她们看做是伟大 的爱的展示。女人不洞悉男人的天『性』，就很容易在不知不觉中伤害了挚爱的男人。
爱情神奇而微妙，只有大家都记住男女之间的差异，爱情才会永恒。
whispering love
anonymous
imagine that men are from mars and women are from venus。 one day； long ago； the martians； looking through their telescopes； discovered the venusians。 just g limpsing the venusians awakened feelings they had never known。 they fell in love and quickly invented space travel and flew to venus。 the venusians welcomed the martians with open arms。 the love between the venusians and martians was magica l。 they delighted in being together； doing things together and sharing together。 both the martians and venusians forgot that they were from different planets； a nd were supposed to be different。 and one morning； everything they had learned a bout their differences was erased from their memory。 and since that day； men and women have been in conflict。
the most frequently expressed complaint women have about men is that men don 't listen。 either a man completely ignores her when she speaks； or he listens fo r a few beats； assesses what's bothering her； and t