《貧理查年曆》：從日常格言閱讀生活與社會

研讀導言與書目

當我們談論休閒，往往先想到工作之外的空白時間；然而，如何運用時間、與人相處、照顧身心，也藏著一個社會對「好生活」的想像。《貧理查年曆》把這些問題寫進簡短格言，讓日常經驗成為可以反覆閱讀與討論的材料。

本篇以附件整理的富蘭克林生平與格言全集為核心，保留中英對照，並依財富管理、人際關係、心理關係與自律修身、教育與求知、健康與節制、社會公義與治理六個維度編排。讀者可以依章節瀏覽，也能搭配 Excel 分類表做筆記、比較與主題研讀。

從休閒社會學的角度閱讀，我們不只問一句話是否有道理，也追問：它預設了什麼生活條件？誰能自由安排時間？節儉與勤勉，如何連結個人選擇及社會期待？這些格言來自不同時代，適合放回歷史脈絡理解，不宜直接當作所有人的生活準則。

這份研讀材料希望提供一個起點：帶著自己的生活經驗閱讀，在認同與疑問之間留下思考的空間，再把問題帶回今天的日常。

搭配分類表與免費資源一起研讀 →

《貧理查年曆》完整全集

班傑明·富蘭克林生平傳略 暨 六大維度格言智慧精編POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK: Life of Benjamin Franklin & Categorized Apothegms

【文獻題旨與體例說明】本書依據 1914 年由愛荷華州滑鐵盧 U.S.C. 出版社印行之《貧理查年曆》（Poor Richard's Almanack）歷史原著精確編譯。全書完整收錄兩大主軸：第一部分為記述富蘭克林傳奇一生的《班傑明·富蘭克林生平傳略》（Life of Benjamin Franklin），提供詳盡中英對照；第二部分將年曆中收錄之全數 670 條經典警句與格言，依「財富管理、人際關係、心理關係、教育、健康、社會公義」六大範疇進行系統性分類編排，並維持年曆各格言之原始時間順序（格言原書編號順序）。每條格言旁標註之星號（*）係原著標記，象徵該句蘊含雙重或對照哲思。

第一部分：班傑明·富蘭克林生平傳略 (Life of Benjamin Franklin)

一、波士頓出身與清寒微賤之家境 (1706–1716)

【英文原著】 Opposite historic Old South Church in Boston, on January 6, 1706, was born Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin was the fifteenth child of Josiah Franklin, whose occupation was that of tallow-chandler or candle-maker. Business was not prosperous, and the Franklin family was reared in very humble circumstances.

【中文全譯】 1706 年 1 月 6 日，班傑明·富蘭克林出生於波士頓具有歷史意義的舊南教堂對面。班傑明是約西亞·富蘭克林的第十五個孩子，其父親的職業是牛脂燭製造商或製燭工。由於家境並不寬裕，富蘭克林一家是在極為清寒拮据的環境中成長。

二、幼年嗜讀如渴與汲取知識的熱忱 (1716–1718)

【英文原著】 As a child, Benjamin hungered for books and knowledge. During the two years that his father was able to send him to school, he showed remarkable aptitude and industry, and rapidly outdistanced his fellow pupils. The first book which Franklin read was Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress". By trading and borrowing, he managed to secure other volumes. His passion for reading was so intense that he attracted the attention of a kind-hearted Boston merchant, who gave the boy access to his well-stocked library. Franklin read only books which could add to his education, and read them with a thoroughness that extracted every bit of useful knowledge.

【中文全譯】 幼年時期的班傑明對書籍與知識充滿了無比的渴望。在父親勉強供他上學的短短兩年裡，他展現了驚人的天賦與勤勉，迅速超越了同儕學童。富蘭克林閱讀的第一本書是班揚的《天路歷程》（Pilgrim's Progress）。透過以物易物與到處借閱，他設法獲取了其他書籍。他對閱讀的熱情極為強烈，以至於吸引了一位好心的波士頓商人的注意，該商人允許這個男孩進入自己藏書豐富的私人圖書館。富蘭克林只閱讀能增長自身教養學問的書籍，並以極為徹底嚴謹的態度精讀，汲取其中的每一分實用智慧。

三、印刷學徒生涯、匿名投稿與兄弟齟齬 (1718–1723)

【英文原著】 After leaving school, Franklin was apprenticed to his brother James in the printing trade. His wage was very small and he had to live most frugally. James started a newspaper, and Benjamin set type and distributed the sheets. One day, he anonymously contributed some verses and apothegms and was overjoyed to find them accepted and published. When his brother discovered that he was the contributor, an altercation broke out between the two, due principally to the ill temper of James. The quarrel was finally the cause of Benjamin's leaving Boston and going to Philadelphia.

【中文全譯】 離開學校後，富蘭克林到兄長詹姆斯的印刷廠當學徒。他的薪資非常微薄，生活不得不極度儉樸。詹姆斯創辦了一份報紙（《新英格蘭周報》），班傑明負責排字與派送報紙。有一天，他以匿名方式投遞了一些詩句與警句格言，欣喜地發現稿件被採納並正式刊載。當兄長發現他就是匿名投稿人時，兩人之間爆發了激烈爭執，這主要歸咎於詹姆斯的暴躁脾氣。這場爭吵最終促使班傑明離開波士頓，隻身前往費城。

四、費城初遇黛博拉、總督空頭支票與英倫滯留 (1723–1726)

【英文原著】 In Philadelphia, Franklin obtained work with Keimer, a printer. His lodgings were found at the house of Mr. Read, with whose pretty daughter, Deborah, he promptly fell in love. Mrs. Read, however, counselled the two to postpone the marriage until Franklin should earn sufficient to maintain his own household. He was but eighteen years old at this time. Sir William Keith, governor of the province of Pennsylvania, became acquainted with Franklin and offered to set him up in the printing business. Franklin, of course, accepted. At Keith's suggestion, he sailed to England to purchase an up-to-date outfit. Arrived there, he found that Keith was without credit. His beautiful plans went for naught and he was stranded in England without funds or prospects. It took him several years to work his way back to America.

【中文全譯】 在費城，富蘭克林在印刷商凱默的手下找到了工作。他寄宿在里德先生的家中，並迅速愛上了里德先生漂亮的掌上明珠黛博拉。然而，里德夫人建議兩人推遲婚期，直到富蘭克林賺取足以養家糊口的收入為止。此時的他年僅十八歲。賓夕法尼亞省省督威廉·基斯爵士結識了富蘭克林，並主動提出要資助他自立門戶開辦印刷事業。富蘭克林自然欣然接受。在基斯的建議下，他啟程遠航英格蘭去採購最新的印刷設備。抵達當地後，他才驚覺基斯根本毫無信用可言，其承諾的信貸全屬空談。他美好的藍圖化為泡影，並在既無資力亦無著落的情況下滯留英格蘭。他耗費了數年光陰辛勤打工，才湊齊路費返回美洲。

五、重整旗鼓、迎娶黛博拉與《貧理查年曆》風靡北美 (1726–1737)

【英文原著】 When he returned, the first news to greet Franklin was the marriage of Deborah Read to another man. At 22 years of age, Franklin had not made much progress toward the goal of his ambition. But nothing daunted, he applied himself with greater industry, greater self-sacrifice and greater perseverance. He kept plugging away at his trade of printer, and entered into business ventures with other men, all of which proved rapid failures. Finally, he struck out for himself. Coincidently, Deborah Read's husband died and Franklin took her to wife. The young couple had to live on close margin for a few years. When Franklin was 27 years of age, he evolved the idea which opened the road to fame and fortune. This was Poor Richard's Almanack. The first number had a tremendous sale. His homely, trite, common-sense sayings achieved wide popularity and each succeeding issue found more subscribers than its predecessor. The general recognition and respect gained for Franklin gave him an opportunity to enter public life. This sphere of activity was greatly to his liking.

【中文全譯】 當他重返故土時，迎接富蘭克林的第一個消息竟是黛博拉·里德已另嫁他人。在二十二歲時，富蘭克林在實現個人抱負的道路上仍未取得太大進展。但他毫不氣餒，以更加堅毅的勤勉、更大的自我克制與犧牲、以及更頑強的毅力投入工作。他持之以恆地深耕印刷本行，並曾與他人合夥經商，然而所有合夥事業皆迅速以失敗告終。最終，他決定完全靠自己獨資創業。恰巧此時黛博拉的丈夫去世，富蘭克林遂迎娶她為妻。這對年輕夫婦在最初幾年生活依然緊縮節儉。到了二十七歲時，富蘭克林萌生了一個為他開啟通往名望與財富大門的嶄新構想——這便是《貧理查年曆》（Poor Richard's Almanack）。第一期年曆便創下了驚人的銷量。其通俗樸實、飽含常識與人生智慧的警句廣受大眾歡迎，此後每一期的訂閱人數皆超越前一期。社會對富蘭克林的普遍認可與敬重，為他開啟了踏入公共事務的大門，而這一嶄新的領域亦極契合他的抱負與志趣。

六、創辦賓州大學與名垂青史之電學科學發現 (1737–1753)

【英文原著】 He held important offices and introduced many splendid reforms into the municipal government. Franklin's pet project was an efficient institution of learning. When he was 37 years old, his plans materialized into the founding of an academy from which has grown the great University of Pennsylvania. The scientists of Europe were at this time becoming aware of a mysterious force which they named electricity. Musschenbroeck, a German, came forth with the discovery of the Leyden jar. Franklin immediately devoted himself to a study of electricity. The subject proved so interesting, so full of possibilities that he sold out his printing business in order to devote his entire effort to the new field. His business, started on nothing, brought the handsome price of $90,000. When Franklin declared his belief that electricity and lightning were identical, the whole world laughed. He then made his famous kite test, and proved his theory. This demonstration gained world recognition for him as a scientist and won him many honors.

【中文全譯】 他歷任多項重要公職，並在市政管理中推行了諸多卓越的改革。富蘭克林最心繫的宏願，乃是建立一所高效的教育學府。在他三十七歲那年，這項構想具體落實為一所學院的創立，而這所學院日後茁壯成長為享譽世界的賓夕法尼亞大學（University of Pennsylvania）。當時歐洲的科學家們逐漸注意到一種被稱為「電」的神秘力量。德國科學家馬森布羅克（Musschenbroeck）發明了萊頓瓶。富蘭克林隨即全身心投入對電學的探索之中。這一領域展現出無比迷人的魅力與無限的可能性，以至於他將自己的印刷事業全盤售出，以便將全部精力傾注於這門新興學問。這家從白手起家創立的印刷企業，為他帶來了高達九萬美元的豐厚收益。當富蘭克林公然宣稱電與天上的雷電本質相同時，全世界都為之嘲笑。隨後他進行了名垂青史的「風箏實驗」，親手證實了自己的理論。這場展示使他贏得了舉世公認的科學家聲譽，並為他摘得了無數榮譽。

七、抗擊《印花稅法》、革命風雲與出使法國奠定勝局 (1754–1783)

【英文原著】 The colonies were now passing the turbulent period which culminated in the Revolutionary War. Franklin was a foremost figure in public life, and became the commissioner of the colonies to England. The first cause for provocation on the part of the colonies was the Stamp Act, which imposed an enormous tax on deeds, college degrees and printed matter. England sought to meet the expenses of the French-Indian war by this tax. Franklin's efficient representation and effective pleading secured its repeal in 1766. However, one year later, Parliament enacted a more obnoxious bill, placing a heavy duty on tea, glass and other commodities. Then it was that certain indignant citizens of Boston held their Boston Tea Party and brought upon the heads of the community the ill-considered, hateful Boston Port Bill. The city was virtually put in a state of seizure by the British under General Gage. This final action precipitated the crisis, and the Revolutionary War was on. Gage made his disastrous march to Concord and Lexington, and Bunker Hill ended in a triumph for American pluck. Although in favor of settling the dispute by arbitration, Franklin was as zealous a patriot as any. He was a member of the Continental Congress, and helped frame the Declaration of Independence. Later he went to Paris as special envoy to France for the colonies. He was received with great acclaimation and was accorded many honors. His mission of enlisting France's aid in the struggle was completely successful. Helped by the money of France and by the valor of such men as Lafayette, the Revolution triumphed.

【中文全譯】 北美殖民地此時正步入動盪歲月，並最終引爆了獨立戰爭。富蘭克林已是公眾生活中的領軍人物，並受命擔任各殖民地駐英格蘭的專員代表。引發殖民地憤慨的第一個導火線是《印花稅法》（Stamp Act），該法案對契約公證、大學文憑及印刷品課以重稅。英國企圖以此項稅收彌補英法北美戰爭的巨額開支。富蘭克林憑藉其高超幹練的外交斡旋與有理有據的雄辯申訴，成功促成該法案於 1766 年遭到廢除。然而僅僅一年後，英國議會便通過了更令人反感的法案，對茶葉、玻璃及其他日用品徵收高額關稅。隨後，一群義憤填膺的波士頓市民發動了著名的「波士頓茶葉事件」，這導致社區招致了草率而可憎的《波士頓港口法》。波士頓市實質上遭到了蓋奇將軍率領的英軍封鎖扣押。這最後的激化舉措引爆了全面危機，獨立戰爭隨之爆發。蓋奇將軍進軍康科德與列克星敦遭遇慘敗，而邦克山戰役最終以美國人民堅毅果敢的勇氣大獲全勝而告終。儘管富蘭克林始終主張透過仲裁調解來化解爭端，但他骨子裡的愛國熱忱絕不遜於任何人。他擔任大陸會議代表，並參與起草了偉大的《獨立宣言》。隨後，他以殖民地特使身份遠赴巴黎出使法國。他在法蘭西受到了各界的狂熱歡呼與尊崇禮遇。他為爭取法國對獨立鬥爭提供援助的使命取得了圓滿成功。在法國的巨額財力支持以及拉法葉侯爵等英雄豪傑的英勇奮戰下，美國革命最終贏得了勝利。

八、凱旋歸國、蓋棺論定與處世至高守則 (1785–1790)

【英文原著】 After an absence from America of nine years, Franklin returned. He was given a royal reception. Although 77 years old now, he still gave his country the best that was in him, until his death on April 17, 1790. At his burial 20,000 persons gathered to do him respect and honor. Franklin's life has been called the most interesting and the most successful lived by any American. And the explanation is found in the rule that guided him throughout his career: To go straight forward in doing what appears to be right, leaving the consequences to Providence.

【中文全譯】 在離開美洲大陸九年後，富蘭克林凱旋回國，受到了有如王者般的盛大迎接。儘管當時已年屆七十七歲高齡，他依然將自己最卓越的心力毫無保留地奉獻給祖國，直至 1790 年 4 月 17 日安詳辭世。在他的葬禮上，多達兩萬名民眾自發聚集，向他致以最崇高的敬意與悼念。富蘭克林的一生被譽為所有美國人中最饒富趣味、最為輝煌成功的一生。而這一切成就的根源，正在於貫穿他整個生涯的至高守則：「凡自認合乎正義之事，便義無反顧勇往直前，將最終的結果坦然交託予上蒼的安排。」

第二部分：《貧理查年曆》670條格言六大維度重編全集

第一章：財富管理 (Wealth Management & Frugality)（收錄 139 條）

本章彙整富蘭克林關於金錢、勤勉、節約、債務與實業之核心哲思。富蘭克林將時間視為生命的基石，反對奢靡浪費與借貸度日，強調「勤奮是好運之母」，倡導以踏實手藝與理性收支建立獨立自主之經濟基礎。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

1

A child thinks 20 shillings and 20 years can scarce ever be spent.

小孩子總以為二十先令與二十年的光陰幾乎花不完。

2

A cold April, the barn will fill.

四月寒冷，穀倉將會充盈。

8

A fat kitchen, a lean will.

廚房豐盛肥美，遺囑菲薄寒酸。

9

A fine genius in his own country, is like gold in the mine.

身處故土的優秀天才，有如深藏礦中的金子。

12

After crosses and losses men grow humbler and wiser.

歷經挫折與損失之後，人們會變得更加謙遜與明智。

23

A light purse is a heavy curse.

空癟的錢包是沉重的詛咒。

24

A little house well fill'd, a little field well till'd, and a little wife well will'd, are great riches.

充實的小屋、精耕的小田與體貼賢良的妻子，便是莫大的財富。

27*

All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful.

對節儉者而言萬物皆廉，對揮霍者而言萬物皆貴。

28*

All things are easy to industry, all things difficult to sloth.

勤勉則百事皆易，怠惰則百事皆難。

34

Ambition often spends foolishly what avarice had wickedly collected.

野心肆意揮霍的，往往正是貪婪用不義手段聚斂的財物。

50

An ounce of wit that is bought, is worth a pound that is taught.

親身體會換來的一盎司智慧，勝過旁人口傳教導的一磅學問。

53

A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.

腳踏實地挺立的農人，高過屈膝跪地的紳士。

59

Ask and have, is sometimes dear buying.

有求必應的索取，有時是代價最高昂的交易。

66

At a great pennyworth, pause a while.

面對看似天大便宜的划算買賣，務必停下來多加思忖。

72

Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.

買賣討價還價之間，既無朋友情份，亦無親屬情面。

73

Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle.

若發覺自己無所事事、怠惰度日，當常存羞愧警惕之心。

80

Better is a little with content than much with contention.

知足隨分之微薄少物，勝過爭端糾紛下之豐饒財富。

89

Buy what thou hast no need of; and e'er long thou shalt sell thy necessaries.

買進你用不著的多餘之物，不久之後你將不得不變賣生活必需品。

90

By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.

憑藉著勤奮與耐心，弱小的老鼠終能咬斷粗實的纜繩。

98*

Content and riches seldom meet together. Riches take thou, contentment I had rather.

知足與巨富鮮少齊聚一堂。財富任憑你取，我寧願選擇心靈的知足富足。

99

Content is the philosopher's stone, that turns all it touches into gold.

知足乃是真正的點金石，凡其觸及之處皆能化為黃金。

100*

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.

知足能使貧者富足，貪得無厭則使富者貧窮。

102

Creditors have better memories than debtors.

債權人的記性總是比債務人好。

105*

Dally not with other folks' women or money.

切勿隨意招惹別人的女人，亦莫輕忽把玩他人的錢財。

107

Declaiming against pride, is not always a sign of humility.

大聲斥責傲慢，未必就是謙遜的表現。

112

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

勤奮是好運之母。

113*

Diligence overcomes difficulties, sloth makes them.

勤奮能克服一切艱難，怠惰則會製造諸般困厄。

115*

Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.

善待朋友以長久維繫情誼，善待仇敵以化敵為友爭取其心。

120*

Don't judge of men's wealth or piety, by their Sunday appearances.

切勿從人們禮拜天光鮮的裝束，去評斷其真實財富或虔誠程度。

129

Drive thy business, or it will drive thee.

督促掌管你的事業，否則事業將反過來牽著你走。

134

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure.

若你想獲得真正的悠閒從容，就必須妥善利用每分時間。

145*

Fond pride of dress is sure an empty curse ; e'er fancy you consult, consult your purse.

盲目虛榮於衣著華服實為空虛詛咒；在順從虛飾喜好之前，先盤算你的錢包。

150

For one poor man there are an hundred indigent.

每見一名安貧樂道之人，便有一百個因揮霍而陷入困窘之輩。

156

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

未經教育栽培的天賦才華，猶如深埋礦中的銀礦石。

158

Gifts much expected, are paid, not given.

萬眾期盼索求之禮物，形同償債付出，而非慷慨餽贈。

161

God gives all things to industry.

上蒼將萬般美物賜予勤奮之人。

169

Great almsgiving, lessens no man's living.

慷慨施捨濟貧，絕不會減損任何人的生計富足。

170*

Great estates may venture more; little boats must keep near shore.

萬貫家業者可承擔較大風險；一葉扁舟者務必緊靠岸邊航行。

175

Great spenders are bad lenders.

出手揮霍無度者，往往是最不可靠的借貸對象。

187

Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.

曾經貧困並不可恥，以曾經過貧困為恥才是真正的羞恥。

190

He does not possess wealth, it possesses him.

他並未真正擁有財富，而是財富奴役掌控了他。

195

He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.

扶犁耕耘的農夫絕非小丑蠢漢，舉止荒唐低俗之人才是不折不扣的跳梁小丑。

197

Help, hands ; for I have no lands.

雙手且勤奮自立吧！因我並無萬頃良田可供倚賴。

202

He's gone, and forgot nothing but to say farewell to his creditors.

他一走了之，什麼都沒忘記帶，唯獨忘了向債權人道別（指潛逃躲債）。

205*

He that builds before he counts the cost, acts foolishly; and he that counts before he builds, finds he did not count wisely.

不計成本便動工建造者舉止魯莽；而動工前算計妥當者，往往發覺自己當初預算得不夠周全。

206

He that buys by the penny, maintains not only himself, but other people.

零買度日之人，不僅要養活自己，還得供養層層轉手的商人。

207

He that by the plow would thrive, himself must either hold or drive.

若想靠耕作興旺富足，農人自己必須親自掌犁或親自驅策牲口。

220

He that has a trade, has an office of profit and honor.

身懷一技之長者，形同擁有一份既體面又獲利的官職職位。

222

He that hath a trade, hath an estate.

身懷謀生手藝者，猶如擁有一處恆產。

223

He that is of opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

深信金錢萬能之人，極可能為了錢財而不擇手段無所不為。

224*

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly, need not be rich.

大富之人固然無需節儉度日，但善於克勤克儉者亦不必非有巨富不可。

226

He that never eats too much, will never be lazy.

從不過飽暴食者，永遠不會陷入怠惰昏沉。

227

He that pays for work before it's done, has but a penny-worth for two pence.

完工前便預付全額工錢者，往往花兩便士只得到一便士的價值。

233

He that sells upon trust, loses many friends, and always wants money.

凡賒帳賣貨者，不僅得罪失去許多朋友，且往往長年缺乏現錢。

240

He that won't be counsell'd, can't be help'd.

不肯聽取良言規勸者，神仙亦愛莫能助。

242

He that would have a short Lent, let him borrow money to be repaid at Easter.

若嫌大齋期太長，不妨借一筆約定復活節償還的債務（還債之期轉瞬即至）。

246

He who multiplies riches multiplies cares.

徒增財富之人，無非只是徒增心頭憂慮。

247*

He who buys had need have 100 eyes, but one's enough for him that sells the stuff.

買方必須具備一百隻眼睛以防受騙，賣方則只需一隻眼睛即可得售。

249

Honors change manners.

榮華富貴與顯赫地位，往往會改變一個人的舉止心性。

252

Hope of gain lessens pain.

對獲利收穫的企盼，能減輕當下的辛苦勞頓。

256

Idleness is the Dead Sea, that swallows all virtues.

怠惰是有如死海一般的深淵，吞噬淹沒一切美德。

257

Idleness is the greatest prodigality.

虛擲光陰無所事事，是世間最大的揮霍浪費。

258

If it were not for the belly, the back might wear gold.

若非為了一日三餐腹肚之需，後背衣裳本可穿金戴銀。

262

If pride leads the van, beggary brings up the rear.

若由傲慢在前開道領軍，殿後尾隨而至的必是行乞窮困。

267

If worldly goods cannot save me from death, they ought not to hinder me to eternal life.

世間財物既然無法救我免於肉體死亡，便不該成為我追求永生之障礙。

272

If you'd know the value of money, go and borrow some.

若想深知金錢的分量與價值，不妨試著去向人借錢。

273

If you'd lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money.

若想擺脫一個討嫌糾纏的訪客，借給他一筆錢即可。

275

If you have no money in your pot, have some in your mouth.

口袋鍋裡若無銀錢，嘴上言辭便當常存客氣溫和。

277

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.

懂得量入為出使開支小於收入，你便握有了真正的賢者點金石。

280

If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to the other world?

若那些財富真屬於你一人，死後何以不能帶往另一個世界？

287*

Ignorance leads men into a party, and shame keeps them from getting out again.

無知輕信誘使人們捲入黨派爭鬥，而死要面子的羞恥心則阻礙他們從中脫身抽離。

288*

I have never seen the philosopher's stone that turns lead into gold, but I have known the pursuit of it turn a man's gold into lead.

我從未見過能將鉛點化為黃金的賢者之石，但我屢屢見過盲目追求點金術的人，將自己的真金變成了廢鉛。

292*

Industry pays debts, despair increases them.

勤奮實幹能清償債務，絕望怨懟只會使債務有增無減。

294

Interest which blinds some people, enlightens others.

利益既能使某些人雙目失明，亦能讓另一些人頭腦清醒。

308

Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.

用心守好你的店鋪，店鋪自會養活顧全你。

316

Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him.

怠惰行步遲緩，貧困轉瞬便將其追趕超越。

318

Lend money to an enemy, and thou'lt gain him, to a friend and thou'lt lose him.

借錢給仇敵，你或能化敵為友爭取其心；借錢給朋友，你往往兩手空空失去好友。

326

Light gains, heavy purses.

薄利多銷，錢袋自充。

328

Light purse, heavy heart.

錢袋空空，心頭沉重。

332

Lost time is never found again.

逝去的光陰，永不再復返。

336*

Lovers, travellers, and poets will give money to be heard.

情人、旅人與詩人，甚至願意付錢只求有人肯傾聽他們的心聲。

340

Lying rides upon debt's back.

謊言往往騎在債務的背上隨行。

342

Many a man's own tongue gives evidence against his understanding.

許多人自己的舌頭，成了證明自己愚昧欠缺見識的罪證。

343

Many a man would have been worse, if his estate had been better.

許多人若當初家境更加優渥富足，其品行成就反而會更加敗壞。

347

Many estates are spent in the getting.

許多家業在辛苦營謀累積的過程中，反倒被揮霍耗損殆盡。

352

Many would live by their wits, but break for want of stock.

許多人妄想憑藉投機小聰明度日，卻因腹中無真材實料而一敗塗地。

355

Mary's mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense.

瑪麗張嘴從不花費自己分文，因為她每次開口都在享用別人的宴席（或損毀旁人名聲）。

362

Money and good manners make the gentleman.

充裕的財富加上端正的禮節教養，方能成就真正的紳士。

363*

Money and man a mutual friendship show ; man makes false money, money makes man so.

金錢與世人展現出奇妙的互助交情：人製造偽鈔假幣，金錢則使人變得虛假偽善。

370

Necessity never made a good bargain.

迫於急迫無奈之下，從做不成划算的好買賣。

381

No gains without pains.

不勞則無獲，不歷艱辛難有所得。

382

No man e'er was glorious who was not laborious.

凡未能辛勤耕耘勞作者，從未有一人能贏得流芳榮耀。

387*

Nor eye in a letter, nor hand in a purse, nor ear in the secret of another.

眼睛莫窺探他人信函，雙手莫伸入他人錢袋，耳朵莫竊聽他人秘密。

388

Nothing but money is sweeter than honey.

世間除卻現錢銀兩，別無他物比甘蜜更甜。

393

Now I've a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow.

如今我添了羊又置了牛，人人都熱情向我道聲早安問好（富貴門庭多笑臉）。

397

Observe old Vellum; he praises former times, as if he'd a mind to sell 'em.

瞧瞧老皮紙商，他大肆吹捧昔日歲月的美好，活像打算把舊時光當古董高價兜售一般。

409

Patience in market, is worth pounds in a year.

買賣經營時具備耐心，一年下來可價值千金。

410

Pay what you owe, and you'll know what's your own.

清償所有債務，你方能確知何者真正屬於自己。

413

Pollio, who values nothing that's within, buys books as men hunt beavers for their skins.

波利奧從不看重內在涵養，買書如獵人捕獺只圖那張光鮮皮毛。

415

Poor Plain Dealing! Dead without issue.

可憐的坦誠直率啊！竟已斷子絕孫與世長辭。

416*

Poverty, poetry, and new titles of honor, make men ridiculous.

貧困落魄、自作多情作詩，以及新獲封的虛榮頭銜，往往令人顯得荒誕可笑。

417*

Poverty wants some things, luxury many things, avarice all things.

貧困欠缺某些事物，奢靡欠缺諸多事物，貪婪則妄想佔有一切。

424

Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, supped with infamy.

傲慢早餐時享盡豐足，午餐時伴隨貧困，晚餐時則與身敗名裂同食。

426

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy.

傲慢呼求索討之聲正如貧困匱乏般喧囂，且態度遠比後者更加蠻橫無禮。

429

Prodigality of time, produces poverty of mind as well as of estate.

虛擲浪費光陰，不僅導致家財匱乏，亦使心靈日益貧瘠。

444

Silks and satins put out the kitchen fire.

貪戀綾羅綢緞之虛華，必將熄滅自家的廚房柴火。

448

Sloth and silence are a fool's virtues.

怠惰與緘默不語，乃是蠢人僅有的美德。

449*

Sloth (like rust) consumes faster than labor wears. The used key is always bright.

怠惰如銹蝕，消耗腐蝕的速度遠快於辛勤磨損；常轉動的鑰匙永遠光亮如新。

450

Snowy winter, a plentiful harvest.

瑞雪兆豐年。

451*

Some are justly laughed at for keeping their money foolishly, others for spending it idly; he is the greatest fool that lays it out in a purchase of repentance.

有人因盲目守財見笑於人，有人因揮霍無度遭人恥笑；而花錢買來無盡懊悔者，才是天下最大的蠢才。

455

Spare and have is better than spend and crave.

節儉自足，勝過揮霍無度後再向人乞求。

468

Take this remark from Richard, poor and lame, whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.

且記下跛腳窮理查這句諫言：凡是在盛怒中所開啟之事，終將在羞愧中收場。

472*

Tell a miser he's rich, and a woman she's old, you'll get no money of one, nor kindness of t'other.

對守財奴說他家財萬貫，對女子說她年老色衰，你既休想從前者手中借得分文，亦別指望後者對你好臉色。

479*

The busy man has few idle visitors; to the boiling pot the flies come not.

終日勤勉忙碌之人鮮少有遊手好閒的訪客騷擾；滾燙沸騰的鍋邊蒼蠅絕不敢近。

491

The generous mind least regards money, and yet most feels the want of it.

豁達慷慨之心最淡泊金錢，卻往往在欲行善濟世之際最感資財匱乏。

493

The good pay-master is lord of another man's purse.

按期履約守信付款者，隨時能調動支配他人的錢袋。

505

The miser's cheese is wholesom'st.

守財奴的乳酪最是衛生有益（因其極度吝嗇鮮少拿出來宴客吃用）。

512

The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.

窮人所得微薄，乞丐一無所有，富人資財過剩，然而知足自足者天下無一人。

513*

The poor man must walk to get meat for his stomach, the rich man to get a stomach to his meat.

窮人奔走跋涉是為了填飽腹肚，富人散步漫遊則是為了消化腹中珍饈。

517

There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies.

世上有怠惰好逸之形軀，亦有怠於思考之頭腦。

520

There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.

世間有三位忠貞不渝的朋友：結髮老妻、老犬以及在手的現錢。

522

There is neither honor nor gain got in dealing with a villain.

與奸邪惡徒打交道往來，既無名譽榮耀可言，亦無實利可圖。

538

The second vice is lying; the first is running in debt.

第二種惡習是說謊撒謊；第一種惡習則是欠債借貸。

540

The sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence.

驕陽普照大地施恩從不悔悟，亦從不向萬物索求回報。

564*

Tim was so learned, that he could name a horse in nine languages. So ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on.

提姆學富五車能用九種語言稱呼一匹馬；然而無知到竟買了一頭乳牛騎著出行。

565*

'Tis against some men's principle to pay interest, and seems against others' interest to pay the principal.

償付利息違背了某些人的做人原則，而歸還本金則似乎損害了另一些人的切身利益。

575

'Tis hard (but glorious) to be poor and honest.

安貧樂道且長保清白誠信固然艱難，卻無比榮耀。

578

'Tis a well spent penny that saves a groat.

若花費一便士能保全四便士免於損失，這便士便花得無比值得。

591*

Trouble springs from idleness; toil from ease.

禍患災難源於懈怠怠惰，辛酸勞碌生於貪圖安逸。

601

Virtue and a trade, are a child's best portion.

高尚的美德與一門謀生手藝，乃是父母賜予兒女的最佳資產產業。

606

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.

財富並非屬於聚斂佔有它的人，而是屬於真正懂得明智享用它的人。

618

When a friend deals with a friend, let the bargain be clear and well penn'd, that they may continue friends to the end.

朋友之間買賣交涉，條款契約當書寫明晰定奪無誤，方能自始至終維繫長久友誼。

633

Where bread is wanting, all's to be sold.

家中若揭不開鍋缺乏口糧，凡所有之物皆不得不變賣換糧。

645

Who dainties love, shall beggars prove.

貪戀珍饈美味奢靡享樂者，終將淪為行乞討飯之丐。

648

Who is rich? He that is content.

何人稱得上真正富足？知足常樂隨分自足者。

649

Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.

何人稱得上真正富有？在自己應得份額產業中欣然喜樂者。

655

Wish a miser long life, and you wish him no good.

祝願守財奴長命百歲，絕非在為他祈求福祉（只會徒增其憂慮煎熬折磨）。

656*

Women and wine, game and deceit, make the wealth small and the wants great.

女色與烈酒、博彩聚賭與詭詐欺瞞，能令萬貫家財化為烏有，令貪婪匱乏欲壑難填。

659

Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason.

若想成功說服打動旁人，當直言其切身利益好處，莫徒托空洞之大道理。

第二章：人際關係 (Interpersonal Relations, Friendship & Marriage)（收錄 102 條）

本章收錄待人接物、擇友之道、婚姻家庭倫常與言談處世之箴言。富蘭克林洞察人性幽微，提醒世人謹慎交友、戒防阿諛諂媚、嚴守秘密、寬容待人，並以清明理性經營長久和睦之社交與家庭關係。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

6

A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.

虛偽的朋友和影子一樣，只在陽光明媚時相隨。

7*

A father's a treasure; a brother's a comfort; a friend is both.

父親是珍寶，兄弟是安慰，而朋友兩者兼具。

10

A flatterer never seems absurd: The flatter'd always takes his word.

阿諛奉承者似乎從不顯得荒唐：因為被奉承的人總是對其深信不疑。

11*

After three days men grow weary of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.

三天過後，人們便會對放蕩女子、作客賓客以及連綿雨天心生厭煩。

22

A life of leisure, and a life of laziness, are two things.

悠閒從容的生活與懶散懈怠的生活，完全是兩碼子事。

26

All mankind are beholden to him that is kind to the good.

凡善待善人者，全人類皆感念其恩德。

37

An egg today is better than a hen to-morrow.

今天的一顆雞蛋，勝過明天的一隻母雞。

47*

Anoint a villian and he'll stab you; stab him, and he'll anoint you.

你撫慰奉承惡徒，他會反手刺你；你痛擊制伏他，他反倒對你阿諛恭維。

51

An undutiful daughter, will prove an unmanageable wife.

不孝順父母的女兒，日後往往會成為難以管教與相處的妻子。

52

A pair of good ears will drain dry an hundred tongues.

一雙善於傾聽的耳朵，能讓一百張誇誇其談的舌頭說到枯竭。

55

A quarrelsome man has no good neighbors.

好逞口舌之爭的人，身邊絕不會有好鄰居。

60

A soft tongue may strike hard.

柔和的舌頭，亦能產生無比沉重的打擊力道。

64

A wicked hero will turn his back to an innocent coward.

多行不義的草莽梟雄，亦會在純潔無辜的懦夫面前轉身退縮。

79

Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.

結交朋友宜審慎放慢腳步，更換背棄朋友時則更須深思熟慮。

92

Ceremony is not civility; nor civility ceremony.

虛飾的繁文縟節非真正的謙和禮貌，謙和禮貌亦絕非刻板客套。

103*

Cut the wings of your hens and hopes, lest they lead you a wary dance after them.

剪掉母雞的翅膀並收斂你的非分冀望，免得日後疲於奔命四處追逐。

114

Distrust and caution are the parents of security.

不輕信與慎重，乃是安全之雙親。

124

Don't throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.

若你家自個兒裝著玻璃窗，就別朝鄰居家丟石頭。

139

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.

敬畏上帝，你的仇敵便會敬畏你。

142*

Fine linen, girls and gold so bright, choose not to take by candle light.

精緻的亞麻布、女子與耀眼的黃金，切莫在搖曳的燭光下挑選審視。

143*

Fish and visitors stink in three days.

鮮魚與訪客，三天便發臭。

153

Friendship increases by visiting friends, but by visiting seldom.

探望朋友能增進友誼，但探訪的頻率應當適度而鮮少。

166

Good wives and good plantations are made by good husbands.

賢良的妻子與豐饒的莊園，皆出自善於經營的稱職好丈夫。

168

Graft good fruit all, or graft not at all.

要嫁接就全嫁接優質果樹，否則索性完全不要嫁接。

176

Great talkers, little doers.

誇誇其談者，往往少有實際作為。

177

Great talkers should be cropt, for they have no need of ears.

多嘴妄言者當被剪去雙耳，反正他們從來用不著聽旁人說話。

178

Half hospitality opens his door and shuts up his countenance.

半心半意的待客之道：門戶雖開，面色卻冷若冰霜。

182

Happy's the wooing that's not long a doing.

進展明快俐落的追求求婚，最是稱心幸福。

188

Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.

莫聽信對朋友的毀謗中傷，亦莫在背後說仇敵的壞話。

189

Hear reason, or she'll make you feel her.

且聽從理性的規勸，否則理性將用痛苦讓你深刻領教。

193*

He is a governor that governs his passions, and he a servant that serves them.

能克制駕馭自身私慾情欲者乃真正之主宰，任由情欲驅使擺佈者終歸是奴僕。

198

He makes a foe, who makes a jest.

拿旁人肆意開玩笑譏諷者，往往是在為自己樹立仇敵。

219

He that goes far to marry, will either deceive or be deceived.

遠走他鄉尋偶結親者，不是存心欺瞞對方，便是落入被騙的陷阱。

221

He that has not got a wife, is not yet a complete man.

尚未迎娶妻子之人，算不上是個完整齊全的人。

236

He that speaks much, is much mistaken.

言多必失，夸夸多言者謬誤必多。

238

He that takes a wife, takes care.

娶妻成家者，亦挑起了牽掛與責任操勞。

243

He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.

若想安享寧靜與自在，切莫言盡所知，亦莫妄評所見。

250

Honor thy father and mother, i. e., live so as to be an honor to them when they are dead.

孝敬父母：即要活得堂堂正正，讓自己在雙親身後依然成為他們的榮耀。

251*

Hope and a red rag, are baits for men and mackrel.

虛妄的希望與紅布條，分別是誘釣凡夫俗子與青花魚的餌料。

259

If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.

傑克若墜入情網，便無法客觀評判吉爾的美貌（情人眼裡出西施）。

261

If passion drives, let reason hold the reins.

縱使激情在驅策奔馳，亦當讓理性緊握韁繩。

270

If you'd have a servant that you like, serve yourself.

若想擁有一位稱心如意的僕人，凡事親力親為伺候自己。

282

If you would be reveng'd of your enemy, govern yourself.

若想對仇敵進行最高明的報復，先約束克制駕馭好你自己。

284

If you would keep your secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.

若想讓秘密不被仇敵知曉，連密友亦切勿透露。

286

If you would reap praise you must sow the seeds, gentle words and useful deeds.

若想收穫眾人的讚譽，就必須播下種子——溫和良言與有益的實行。

289*

Ill company is like a dog who dirts those most, that he loves best.

惡劣不良的同伴有如一條頑狗，往往把它最親近喜愛的人身上弄得最骯髒。

303

It's common for men to give pretended reasons instead of one real one.

人們往往習慣給出一堆虛假的藉口，來掩蓋那唯一真實的原因。

309*

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.

婚前雙眼要睜得雪亮，婚後雙眼不妨半睜半閉。

313

Late children, early orphans.

老來得子，幼子早成孤兒。

321

Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second may be what thou wilt.

讓順服成為孩子的第一堂課，至於第二堂課教什麼便可隨你心意。

322*

Let thy discontents be thy secrets; if the world knows them 'twill despise thee and increase them.

將內心的不滿與怨懟深藏心底；世人若得知，只會輕蔑你並徒增你的困擾。

323

Let thy maid-servant be faithful, strong, and homely.

挑選女僕當求忠誠可靠、身強體健且相貌樸實。

327

Light heel'd mothers make leaden-heel'd daughters.

過於俐落勤快的母親，往往養出步履沉重懶散的女兒。

334*

Love, cough, and a smoke, can't well be hid.

愛情、咳嗽與煙氣，皆是難以遮掩掩藏之物。

335*

Lover and Lordship hate companions.

情場與王權霸業，皆容不得旁人插足分享。

338

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.

且愛你的仇敵，因為他們毫不留情指出你的缺點。

339

Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge.

善待鄰居，但切莫拆除自家的籬笆。

353

Marry above thy match, and thou'lt get a master.

攀附門第高攀聯姻，你迎來的往往不是伴侶而是主人。

354*

Marry your son when you will, but your daughter when you can.

為兒子娶妻可隨心擇時，為女兒擇偶出閣則當抓緊良機。

356

Meanness is the parent of insolence.

卑劣下作的心性，乃傲慢無禮之母。

371

Ne'er take a wife till thou hast a house (and a fire) to put her in.

在尚未擁有能夠容身遮風避雨的房屋與溫暖爐火之前，切莫急於娶妻。

400

Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.

老頑童與小孩子一樣都有自己的心愛玩具；唯一的差別只在於價格的貴賤罷了。

402*

One good husband is worth two good wives; for the scarcer things are the more they're valued.

一個好丈夫抵得上兩個好妻子；因為世間物以稀為貴。

430

Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.

輕易許諾或能讓你贏得朋友，但言而無信不履約必將使他們化為仇敵。

432

Quarrels never could last long, if on one side only lay the wrong.

若是非過錯僅在於單方面，爭執吵鬧絕不可能持久延續。

440

Saying and doing have quarrel'd and parted.

口頭高談與切實力行，早已反目成仇分道揚鑣。

456*

Speak and speed; the close mouth catches no flies.

有話當講莫失良機；緊閉的嘴巴捕捉不到飛蠅（善於表達方能有所獲）。

457

Speak little, do much.

少說多做，行勝於言。

460

Strange, that he who lives by shifts, can seldom shift himself.

怪哉！終日靠投機取巧混日子的人，往往最難以改變自拔於困境。

470*

Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.

刻薄之言結交不到知己；一匙甘蜜所能捕捉的蒼蠅，遠多於一加侖苦醋。

507

The muses love the morning.

繆思文藝女神眷愛清晨破曉時分。

515*

The proof of gold is fire; the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman.

烈火煉真金，黃金試婦人，婦人驗男子。

519*

There are no ugly loves, nor handsome prisons.

情之所鍾無醜婦，身陷囹圄無美景。

523

There is no little enemy.

天下絕無微不足道之仇敵。

524

There is no man so bad but he secretly respects the good.

世上再壞的惡人，內心深處亦會暗自敬佩真正的善者。

534

The rotten apple spoils his companion.

一隻爛蘋果，足以敗壞周遭所有同伴。

536

The same man cannot be both friend and flatterer.

同一個人絕不可能既是真心摯友又是阿諛諂媚之徒。

543

The tongue offends, and the ears get the cuffing.

舌頭口無遮攔惹禍，雙耳反倒挨了巴掌掌摑。

546*

The way to see by faith, is to shut the Eye of Reason. The morning daylight appears plainer when you put out your candle.

憑信心眺望之法乃是閉上理性之眼；吹熄微弱燭火之際，清晨日光反倒顯得格外明晰。

555

Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.

好管閒事插足旁人紛爭打鬥者，往往免不了要擦拭自己被打得鮮血淋漓的鼻子。

557

Thou canst not joke an enemy into a friend; but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.

你絕無法憑開玩笑將仇敵化為朋友；卻極易因不知分寸的玩笑將朋友逼成仇敵。

559

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

唯有在其中兩人已命喪黃泉之時，三個人方能守住一個秘密。

560*

Three things are men most likely to be cheated in, a horse, a wig, and a wife.

世人最易在三件事物上受騙上當：良駒、假髮與娶妻。

566

'Tis a laudable ambition, that aims at being better than his neighbors.

立志讓自己的品德修為勝過鄰舍同儕，實為值得稱頌的崇高志向。

568*

'Tis a strange forest that has no rotten wood in it, and a strange kindred that all are good in it.

林莽之中絕無枯木朽木者實屬罕見；宗族親族之中人人皆為純善之輩亦鮮少聽聞。

569

'Tis better leave for an enemy at one's death, than beg of a friend in one's life.

寧可在臨終時將遺產留給仇敵，亦莫在生前卑躬屈膝向朋友乞憐求助。

574

'Tis great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults, greater to tell him his.

向朋友吐露自己的缺點是莫大的信任；當面直言指出對方的過失則需要更大的勇氣與信賴。

586*

Tom, vain's your pains; they all will fail; ne'er was good arrow made of a sow's tail.

湯姆，白費你的苦心了，終將付諸東流；母豬尾巴上絕造不出鋒利堅韌的良箭。

587

Tongue double, brings trouble.

兩面三刀口是心非，必招致禍端麻煩。

593

Two dry sticks will kindle a green one.

兩根乾燥的柴火，足以引燃一根潮濕的青枝生木。

595

Unequal marriages are seldom happy ones.

門戶不當、心性懸殊的聯姻，鮮少能得享真正幸福美滿。

596

Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error.

不講理智的魯莽匆促急躁，乃是通往謬誤災禍的筆直大道。

602*

Visit your aunt, but not every day; and call at your brother's, but not every night.

探望姑母莫每日登門打擾；造訪弟兄莫每晚流連作客。

612*

What is a butterfly at best? He's but a caterpillar dressed, the gaudy fop's his picture just.

彩蝶充其量算得上什麼？不過是盛裝打扮的毛毛蟲罷了，恰似那華服俗艷的紈褲子弟之寫照。

619*

When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.

蒙受他人恩惠當銘記在心；施恩濟助他人時當轉身淡忘。

625

When reason preaches, if you won't hear her, she'll box your ears.

當理性苦口規勸講道時你若置若罔聞，理性終將狠狠賞你一記耳光。

631*

When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to thee, look on his mouth.

與人交談時直視其雙眼展現真誠，聽人傾訴時注視其口唇展現專注。

639

Where yet was ever found the mother, who'd change her baby for another?

世間何處曾見過有一位親生母親，甘願拿自己的骨肉嬰孩去換取旁人的孩子？

652

Who judges best of a man, his enemies or himself?

究竟誰最能看清評判一個人的真實面目？是他的仇敵，還是他自己？

662

Why does the blind man's wife paint herself?

眼盲之人的妻子，何苦還要在鏡前描眉敷粉盛裝打扮呢？

663*

You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife.

你對自己身上的一身缺點過失尚且能寬容容忍，何以容不下結髮妻子身上的一點瑕疵？

667

You may talk too much on the best subjects.

縱使是最高尚崇高之絕佳題材話題，亦有可能夸夸多言過猶不及。

第三章：心理關係與自律修身 (Psychology, Passions & Self-Discipline)（收錄 225 條）

本章聚焦於個人內在心靈治理、情緒克制、道德修養與良知之省察。富蘭克林警示傲慢、狂怒與虛榮之毒害，倡導知足常樂、沉著堅忍與嚴於律己，強調「能駕馭自身情欲者方為真正的主宰」。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

4*

Act uprightly, and despise calumny; dirt may stick to a mud wall, but not to polish'd marble.

行事要正直，且鄙棄誹謗；泥垢或許能沾附在泥牆上，卻黏不上光潔的大理石。

5

A cypher and humility make the other figures and virtues of tenfold value.

零與謙遜能讓其餘的數字與美德增添十倍的價值。

15

A good example is the best sermon.

良好的榜樣是最好的講道。

17

A good man is seldom uneasy, an ill one never easy.

善人鮮少心緒不寧，惡人則永無安寧之時。

21*

A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.

謊言單腿難立，真理雙腿站穩。

25

All blood is alike ancient.

所有人的血統同樣古老。

29

All would live long, but none would be old.

人人都渴望長壽，卻無人願意衰老。

30

A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.

漫長的一生未必足夠美好，但美好的一生已足夠漫長。

31

A man in a passion rides a mad horse.

處於盛怒狂熱中的人，猶如騎著一匹瘋狂失控的野馬。

38

An empty bag cannot stand upright.

空囊無法直立，腹中無物者難以自持。

42

Anger warms the invention, but over-heats the oven.

怒火雖能催生急智，卻會把烤爐燒得過熱焦壞。

43

An honest man will receive neither [ ... ] nor that is not his due.

誠實正直的人既不收受〔缺損〕，亦不接受任何非其應得之物。

45

An ill wound, but not an ill name, may be healed.

嚴重的皮肉創傷尚能治癒，敗壞的名聲卻難以痊癒。

48

An old man in a house is a good sign.

家有一老，是興旺祥和的吉兆。

49

An old young man will be a young old man.

年少沉穩謹慎的人，老來依然能精神矍鑠。

54

Approve not of him that commends all you say.

切勿贊同那個對你說的每句話都一味稱好的人。

57*

Are you angry that others disappoint you? Remember you cannot depend upon yourself.

你因別人讓你失望而生氣嗎？請記住，連你自己都常常靠不住。

58

As charms are nonsense, nonsense is a charm.

正如符咒常是無稽之談，荒謬之語有時卻如魔咒般迷惑人心。

61

As pride increases, fortune declines.

傲慢日增，福運必減。

62*

As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.

正如痛處最易遭遇碰撞摩擦，傲慢之人最常蒙受侮辱與冒犯。

63

A temper to bear much, will have much to bear.

越是能忍耐包容的脾性，往往越有數不盡的重擔需要承受。

65

As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.

正如我們必須為每一句虛浮之言負責，我們亦須為每一次不負責任的沉默做出交待。

67

A traveller should have a hog's nose, deer's legs, and an ass's back.

行旅之人應具備野豬之鼻（不挑粗食）、鹿之快腿（敏捷健行）與毛驢之背（善於負重忍耐）。

71

[71號原缺或空白]

〔本條於原年曆選本中為空缺或未編列〕

83

Beware of him that is slow to anger; he is angry for something, and will not be pleased for nothing.

當心平時不易動怒之人；他一旦動怒必事出有因，且絕不會無端善罷甘休。

84*

Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.

切莫輕忽微小的開支，一處微小的漏洞足以沉沒一艘巨艦。

88

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

無所非分奢望之人是有福的，因他永遠不會嚐到失望之苦。

91

Calamity and prosperity are the touchstones of integrity.

逆境災患與順境榮華，皆為檢驗品格操守的試金石。

96

Clean your finger, before you point at my spots.

在用手指指責我的污漬之前，先把你自己的手指擦洗乾淨。

97

Clearly spoken, Mr. Fog! You ex- [plain it as well as a blind man does colours] / Greek.

說得真清楚啊，迷霧先生！你的解釋簡直就像希臘古文般深奧難懂（有如盲人談顏色）。

101

Courage would fight, but discretion won't let him.

勇氣意欲一戰，慎思卻加以阻攔。

104

Danger is sauce for prayers.

危難是祈禱的開胃醬（身處險境祈禱最切）。

108*

Defer not thy well doing; be not like St. George, who is always on horseback, and never rides on.

行善休得拖延；莫像聖喬治那樣，整天騎在馬背上卻從不起程。

110*

Despair ruins some, presumption many.

絕望毀了一部分人，而自負狂妄毀了更多人。

117

Do not do that which you would not have known.

若要人不知，除非己莫為。

118

Do me the favor to deny me at once.

請幫我個忙，如果辦不到就請立刻當面拒絕我。

122

Don't overload gratitude; if you do she'll kick.

不要對旁人的感恩之心索求無度；過度壓榨，感恩亦會反撲踢人。

125

Don't value a man for the quality he is of, but for the qualities he possesses.

評價一個人，莫看他的門第出身，而要看他所具備的品德才能。

126

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.

你熱愛生命嗎？那麼切勿浪費光陰，因為時間正是構成生命的材料。

133*

Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.

飲食當取悅自胃，穿著當顧及眾人觀感。

140*

Fear not death ; for the sooner we die, the longer shall we be immortal.

無懼於死亡；因為我們越早離世，享有永生不朽的時間就越長。

141

Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.

心懷懼怕而不敢作惡，除此之外你便無所畏懼。

144

Fly pleasures and they'll follow you.

避開縱慾享樂，真正的樂趣自會尾隨而來。

149*

For age and want save while you may; no morning sun lasts a whole day.

為防年老與窮困，尚有餘力時當及早儲蓄；清晨的朝陽絕不可能普照一整天。

151*

For want of a nail the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe, the horse is lost ; for want of a horse the rider is lost.

缺了一枚鐵釘，掉了一隻馬蹄鐵；缺了一隻馬蹄鐵，折了一匹戰馬；缺了一匹戰馬，喪了一名騎士。

155

Generous minds are all of kin.

寬宏豁達的心靈，四海之內皆屬同道同族。

157

Gifts burst rocks.

重禮贈予，頑石亦開（禮多能化解頑固障礙）。

160*

Glass, china, and reputation are easily crack'd, and never well mended.

玻璃、瓷器與個人的名譽皆極易碎裂，且一旦受損永難完全修復。

163

God helps them that help themselves.

天助自助者。

167

Grace thou thy house, and let not that grace thee.

讓你的品德令居所生輝，莫指望光鮮的居所來為你臉上貼金。

171

Great famine when wolves eat wolves.

當惡狼開始自相殘食之時，天下必逢罕見大飢荒。

173*

Great merit is coy, as well as great pride.

過人的卓越功績往往含蓄靦腆，巨大的自負傲慢亦常佯作矜持。

174

Great modesty often hides great merit.

極度的謙遜之中，往往深藏著非凡的德才卓越。

179

Half the truth is often a great lie.

半真半假之言，往往正是天大的謊言。

183

Happy Tom Crump, ne'er sees his own hump.

自得其樂的駝背湯姆，從來看不見自己背上的駝峰（人往往對自身缺陷盲目樂觀）。

184

Haste makes waste.

欲速則不達，忙亂必生浪費。

186

Have you somewhat to do to-morrow; do it to-day.

若你明日尚有待辦之事，今日便著手完成。

191

He has chang'd his one ey'd horse for a blind one.

他把一匹單眼瞎的馬換成了雙眼全瞎的馬（愈換愈糟、得不償失）。

192

He has lost his boots, but sav'd his spurs.

他丟失了整雙長靴，卻只保住了靴後微不足道的馬刺。

194

He is ill clothed, who is bare of virtue.

缺乏美德修養之人，縱有錦衣華服亦形同赤身裸體。

196

He is not well bred, that cannot bear ill-breeding in others.

若無法包容忍耐旁人的粗魯無禮，自身亦談不上有良好教養。

204

He that best understands the world, least likes it.

最洞悉人情世故者，往往最不喜歡這個世界。

210

He that can have patience can have what he will.

凡能堅忍有耐心者，終能得其所欲。

212

He that cannot obey, cannot command.

不懂得順服服從之人，亦無法妥善發號施令。

213

He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.

能善於安歇調適內心者，偉過於攻城掠地的將領。

214

He that can travel well afoot, keeps a good horse.

善於健行徒步跋涉者，形同隨身擁有一匹良駒。

215

He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.

行不當為之事者，終將品嚐不願承受的苦果。

216

He that drinks fast, pays slow.

痛飲猛喝急躁者，償付酒帳往往拖拉遲緩。

217

He that drinks his cyder alone, let him catch his horse alone.

自個兒獨飲蘋果酒的人，任憑他獨自一人去追捕逃跑的馬匹。

228

He that pursues two hares at once, does not catch one and let t'other go.

同時追捕兩隻野兔的人，絕不會只捉住一隻而放跑另一隻（而是兩手空空）。

229

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

決心日後才痛改前非者，其實就是下定決心現在絕不改正。

230

He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business by night.

晚起遲延之人整天必須快步奔波，且到夜幕低垂亦難以趕上當日進度。

231

He that scatters thorns, let him not go barefoot.

沿途播撒荊棘者，自己切莫赤腳行走。

232*

He that's content hath enough; he that complains has too much.

知足者分量已足，抱怨怨懟者手中所得反倒過甚。

234

He that sows thorns, should never go barefoot.

播種蒺藜荊棘之人，絕不該赤足行路。

239

He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.

坐等命運好運降臨者，連今晚的晚餐都毫無著落。

241

He that would catch fish, must venture his bait.

若想捕獲肥魚，就必須捨得下魚餌去冒險。

245

He that would travel much, should eat little.

凡欲長途行萬里路者，日常飲食當力求節約清淡。

253

How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults.

世上能擁有足夠勇氣坦然承認自身過失之人，何其稀少。

260

If man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.

凡人若能實現自己一半的願望，所得的煩惱憂患亦將加倍。

268

If you'd be belov'd, make yourself amiable.

若想獲得眾人喜愛，先讓自己變得和藹可親。

269

If you desire many things, many things seem but a few.

你若貪得無厭渴求過多，眼前所擁有的諸般事物便會顯得微不足道。

271*

If you'd have it done, go; if not, send.

若真想將事情辦妥，親自前往；若無關緊要，方才差遣他人。

274

If you do what you would not, you must hear what you would not.

若肆意妄為做出非分醜事，就休怪旁人說出令你難堪逆耳之言。

276

If you have time don't wait for time.

手頭既然尚有時間，切莫坐等明日時機。

278

If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.

腦袋若是由蜂蠟做成的，就別在炎炎烈日下行走（人當深知自身脆弱限度）。

279*

If you ride a horse, sit close and tight, if you ride a man, sit easy and light.

騎馬時坐鞍要穩實緊夾，差遣駕馭下屬部眾時當寬和寬鬆莫過度苛求。

293

In success be moderate.

身處順境成功之際，舉止心性當力求節制謙和。

295

In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it.

在塵世的人情世故中，人們之所以得救保全，往往不是靠輕信，而是靠不輕信的戒心。

297

Is there anything men take more pains about than to render themselves unhappy?

世上難道還有什麼事情，比人們費盡心機自討苦吃令自己不幸更投入的嗎？

298

It is better to take many injuries, than to give one.

寧可蒙受諸多傷害，亦切莫施加一次傷害於他人。

301

It is not leisure that is not used.

未被妥善利用的空閒，算不上真正的閒暇。

304

It's the easiest thing in the world for a man to deceive himself.

世上最輕而易舉的事，莫過於自欺欺人。

305

Jack Little sow'd little, and little he'll reap.

小傑克播種得少，收穫自然也少（付出微薄，收穫寥寥）。

306*

Keep flax from fire, youth from gaming.

使亞麻遠離火苗，使青年遠離賭博。

307*

Keep thou from the opportunity, and God will keep thee from the sin.

遠離受誘惑的機會，上主自會保守你免於罪愆。

319*

Let all men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly; men freely ford that see the shallows.

讓世人認識你，但切莫讓任何人完全看透你；一眼望見淺灘之處，人人皆能肆意涉水而過。

320

Let every new year find you a better man.

願每一個新年來臨之際，你都成為一個更好的人。

324

Let thy vices die before thee.

在你壽終正寢之前，先讓身上的諸般惡習徹底死去。

329

Little rogues easily become great ones.

微不足道的小賊，極易演變為罪大惡極的巨寇。

330

Little strokes fell great oaks.

斧鑿細微，終倒巨櫟（水滴石穿，繩鋸木斷）。

331

Look before, or you'll find yourself behind.

未雨綢繆向前看，否則轉眼便落於人後。

333

Love, and be loved.

去愛他人，並讓自己值得被愛。

337

Love well, whip well.

愛之深，責之切（嚴加管教乃真愛）。

344

Many a meal is lost for want of meat.

許多正餐無疾而終，只因鍋中無米肉可下。

348

Many foxes grow grey, but few grow good.

許多狐狸毛髮漸白變老，卻鮮少有變得善良本分的。

357*

Men and melons are hard to know.

人心與甜瓜，皆難以從外表看透好壞。

358*

Men differ daily about things which are subject to sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible?

人們對眼前可感知的具體事物尚且每日爭辯不休，又豈能在不可見的玄妙之事上達成共識？

359*

Men meet, mountains never.

人生何處不相逢，高山相隔永不移。

360

Men often mistake themselves, seldom forget themselves.

人們往往誤判自己，卻鮮少忘記替自己的私利打算。

361

Men take more pains to mask than mend.

人們寧願費盡心機掩飾自身的過失，也不願痛下決心加以改正。

372*

Neglect kills injuries, revenge increases them.

淡然蔑視能化解傷害，伺機報復只會加劇傷害。

373

Neglect mending a small fault, and 'twill soon be a great one.

輕忽微小的過失不予匡正，不久便將釀成不可收拾的大禍。

374

Neither praise nor dispraise, till seven Christmasses be over.

在未共同度過七個聖誕節之前，切莫輕易對人妄加褒貶。

376*

Never praise your cyder, horse, or bedfellow.

切勿在人前誇耀你的蘋果酒、坐騎或是同床伴侶。

383

None are deceived but they that confide.

唯有輕信託付之人，才會落入被欺瞞受騙的境地。

384*

None know the unfortunate, and the fortunate do not know themselves.

無人願意結識潦倒不幸之輩，而春風得意之徒往往連自己是誰都認不清。

385

None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.

沒有誰比微小的螞蟻更能做出精彩的講道，而它終日勤懇一言不發。

386

No resolution repenting hereafter, can be sincere.

凡是將悔改痛改前非推託至未來的決心，絕非出自真心實意。

389

Nothing drys sooner than a tear.

世上乾涸得最快的，莫過於傷痛的眼淚。

390

Nothing humbler than ambition, when it is about to climb.

野心在正欲向上攀爬之際，表現得比任何事物都更加謙卑順從。

392

Nothing so popular as goodness.

世上沒有任何事物，比真誠的善良更能深得人心。

396

Observe all men; thyself most.

留心觀察所有人；而最需要嚴加省察的，乃是你自己。

399

O Lazy-bones ! Dost thou think God would have given thee arms and legs, if he had not design'd thou should'st use them.

哎呀，懶骨頭！上天若非本意要你活動勞作，又怎會賜給你這雙手雙腳呢？

401

Old young and old long.

年少時懂事沉穩，到老方能長壽康寧。

403

One may be more cunning than another, but not more cunning than everybody else.

一個人或許能比另一個人精明，但絕不可能比所有人都更精明。

404*

One mend-fault is worth two find-faults, but one find-fault is better than two make-faults.

一個改過自新者抵得上兩個挑剔挑錯者，而一個挑錯者好過兩個製造過錯者。

405

One to-day is worth two to-morrows.

一個今天，抵得上兩個明天。

406*

Onions can make ev'n heirs and widows weep.

洋蔥的辛辣，連得繼承遺產的繼承人與寡婦都能逼出眼淚。

408

Pardoning the bad, is injuring the good.

姑息寬恕惡徒，實為傷害欺凌良善。

418

Praise to the undeserving is severe satire.

讚譽名不副實之人，乃是最嚴厲刻薄的譏諷。

419

Pray, don't burn my house to roast your eggs.

求求你，別為了烤熟你那幾顆雞蛋而燒毀我的整座宅院。

420

Prayers and provender hinder no journey.

虔誠祈禱與備足糧草，絕不會耽誤任何行程。

421

Presumption first blinds a man, then sets him a running.

狂妄自大先蒙蔽人的雙眼，隨後驅使他在盲目中狂奔墜崖。

425

Pride dines upon vanity, sups on contempt.

傲慢午間以虛榮為食，晚間則以蔑視輕侮果腹。

427

Pride gets into the coach, and shame mounts behind.

傲慢昂首跨上四輪馬車，羞恥已悄悄尾隨登於其後。

428

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.

切莫張揚你所深知的一切、所欠的一切、所擁有的一切，以及所能做到的一切。

441*

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

在他人身上探求美德，在自己身上省察惡習過失。

445

Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.

既然連一分一秒都難以預料掌握，就切莫虛擲浪費一個時辰。

454

Sorrow is good for nothing but sin.

憂傷除卻對自身罪愆深切悔悟之外，於事無補。

461*

Strive to be the greatest man in your country, and you may be disappointed; strive to be the best, and you may succeed; he may well win the race that runs himself.

爭當國中顯赫權勢第一人或將大失所望；立志做個品德最純善之人終能成功；超越自我者必贏得賽跑。

462

Success has ruin'd many a man.

一時僥倖成功，往往毀了許多人的心性前程。

464

Suspicion may be no fault, but showing it may be a great one.

心存戒心猜疑或許無傷大雅，但公然顯露猜忌往往是莫大過失。

466

Take courage, mortal; death can't banish thee out of the universe.

凡人當振作勇氣；死亡亦無法將你驅逐於這浩瀚宇宙之外。

467

Take heed of the vinegar of sweet wine, and the anger of good-nature.

當心甘甜美酒變質成的酸醋，當心好脾氣老實人的雷霆之怒。

473

Tell me my faults, and mend your own.

且直言指出我的不足，同時切記匡正你自己的過失。

477

The bird that sits, is easily shot.

久棲不動的飛鳥，最易被獵人射中。

480

The cat in gloves catches no mice.

戴手套的貓抓不到老鼠（拘泥虛矯難成大事）。

484

The discontented man finds no easy chair.

怨天尤人心緒不寧之人，天下無處可令他安坐舒泰。

486

The end of passion is the beginning of repentance.

狂熱激情的終點，往往正是痛苦懊悔的起點。

487*

The excellency of hogs is fatness, of men virtue.

豬隻之卓越在於肥碩體魄，世人之卓越則在於崇高美德。

488

The eye of a master, will do more work than his hand.

主人的督導監督之眼，遠比自己的雙手能成就更多事務。

490

The favor of the great is no inheritance.

權貴權臣的眷顧青睞，絕非可世代承襲的恆產。

492

The golden age never was the present age.

世人理想中的黃金時代，從來不在當下這個時代。

497*

The honest man takes pains, and then enjoys pleasures; the knave takes pleasures, and then suffers pains.

正直之人先歷經艱辛而後得享安樂；奸邪之徒先肆意縱樂而後蒙受無盡痛苦。

498*

The honey is sweet, but the bee has a sting.

甘蜜固然甜美，但蜜蜂亦有利刺傷人。

499

The horse thinks one thing, and he that saddles him another.

牲口駿馬自有一番打算，為其配備馬鞍的主人則另有所謀。

504

The master's eye will do more work than both his hands.

主人的督導監督之眼，能比其雙手成就更多的事工。

509

The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?

世間最崇高崇偉的發問莫過於：我在這世上究竟能行何等善事？

516

The proud hate pride in others.

心懷傲慢之人，最痛恨旁人身上的傲慢。

521*

There are three things extremely hard, steel, a diamond and to know one's self.

世上有三件事物極度堅硬難解：精鋼、鑽石以及自知之明。

525

There is much difference between imitating a good man, and counterfeiting him.

效法善人的德行，與假冒善人的偽善，兩者判若雲泥。

526

There's a time to wink as well as to see.

既有洞若觀火之時，亦當有閉目包容之刻。

529

There's none deceived but he that trusts.

若非輕信託付，無人會落入受騙陷阱。

530

There's small revenge in words, but words may be greatly revenged.

口舌口角之爭算不上復仇，但妄言卻極易招致沉重的報復。

531

There was never a good knife made of bad steel.

劣質粗鋼之中，從未造出過一柄鋒利好刀。

532

They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.

心中本無憂患之事者，往往會為了芝麻蒜皮無端自尋煩惱。

537

The sleeping fox catches no poultry.

貪睡昏睡的狐狸，捉不到任何家禽獵物。

539

The sting of a reproach is the truth of it.

責備話語之所以令人刺痛難忍，正因其句句屬實。

544

The too obliging temper is evermore disobliging itself.

過度迎合討好旁人的脾性，往往最是在委屈折磨自己。

548

The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.

馬車上最破損糟糕的車輪，往往發出最大的噪音喧響。

549*

The wolf sheds his coat once a year, his disposition never.

野狼一年蛻換一次毛皮皮毛，但其嗜血殘暴的本性永世不改。

550*

Think of three things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.

深思三件事：你從何處而來、正往何方而去，以及最終必須向誰交賬負責。

552*

Tho' modesty is a virtue, bashfulness is a vice.

謙遜固然是一種美德，過度靦腆怯弱卻是一種缺陷。

553

Those that have much business must have much pardon.

事務繁多日理萬機之人，理應得到眾人更多的包容體諒。

554

Those who are fear'd, are hated.

令人心生恐懼畏懼之人，必招致世人深切痛恨。

556

Tho' the mastiff be gentle, yet bite him not by the lip.

大獒犬縱使溫順馴服，亦切莫去咬扯它的嘴唇招惹其怒。

561*

Tim and his handsaw are good in their place, tho' not fit for preaching or shaving a face.

提姆與其手鋸在木工作坊各得其所，若用來登台講道或剃鬚理容則大謬不然。

562

Time enough always proves little enough.

口口聲聲自以為時間充裕者，事到臨頭往往發覺時間捉襟見肘。

567

'Tis a shame that your family is an honor to you ! You ought to be an honor to your family.

若僅靠門第家聲為你臉上貼金實為羞恥！你應當成為整個家族的榮耀。

570

'Tis easier to build two chimneys, than maintain one in fuel.

砌築兩座壁爐煙囪容易，長年為一座壁爐備足柴火卻艱難得多。

571

'Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

防範惡習陋習滋生容易，破除戒絕陳年惡習卻極為艱難。

572

'Tis easy to see, hard to foresee.

目睹眼前既成事實容易，未雨綢繆洞見先機卻極為不易。

573

'Tis easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.

壓制最初的一絲非分私慾容易，滿足其後隨之而來的無窮貪慾卻不可能。

576*

'Tis less discredit to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty gettings.

節省微薄瑣碎之開支損耗無傷大雅，為蠅頭小利卑躬屈膝逢迎才真正有失體統。

577

'Tis not a holiday that's not kept holy.

未能恪守虔敬聖潔之日，算不上真正的節期聖日。

579

To bear other people's afflictions, every one has courage enough, and to spare.

承受旁人的痛苦磨難與災厄，人人都有用不完的充沛勇氣（事不關己高高掛起）。

583*

To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.

犯錯乃凡人之常情，悔改乃神聖天性，執迷不悟作惡到底則屬魔鬼心性。

585

To-morrow every fault is to be amended; but that to-morrow never comes.

人人口稱明日定當改過自新；然而那個「明天」卻永不降臨。

588

Too much plenty makes mouth dainty.

過度優渥豐足驕縱，嘴巴自會變得挑肥揀瘦挑剔挑嘴。

592

Trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

信任自己自立自持，旁人便無法欺瞞背叛於你。

594

Under-take not what thou canst not perform, but be careful to perform what thou hast undertaken.

力所不及之事切莫輕率承攬，一旦應允承諾之事則務必恪盡全力完成。

598

Use makes perfectness.

熟能生巧，實踐出真知。

599

Vain-glory flowereth, but beareth no fruit.

虛榮浮誇雖能繁花似錦，卻從不結出切實碩果。

600

Vice knows she's ugly, so puts on a mask.

邪惡心知自身醜陋不堪，因而總是戴著偽善面具示人。

603

Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge.

粗心大意漫不經心給我們帶來的損害，遠多於知識匱乏本身。

604

Wars bring scars.

戰火兵燹，必留創傷疤痕。

607

Weighty questions ask for deliberate answers.

茲事體大的重大議題，需要深思熟慮的審慎答覆。

608

Welcome, mischief, if thou comest alone.

若不幸厄運當真形單影隻獨自前來，倒還算不幸中的大幸。

609

Well done is better than well said.

做得好，勝過說得動聽。

610

Well done, is twice done.

一次將事情徹底辦妥，勝過事後返工反覆折騰。

613*

What's given shines, what's receiv'd is rusty.

慨然施予餽贈之物光芒四射，伸手收受索討之物黯淡銹蝕。

614

What signifies knowing the names, if you know not the nature of things.

若不知曉萬物事理的本質真相，空記一堆外在名稱又有何意義？

615

What signifies your patience, if you can't find it when you want it.

臨到需要隱忍之際若尋不著耐心蹤影，平時自命有耐心又有何益？

617

What you would seem to be, be really.

你渴望在世人眼中呈現何等模樣，便切實讓自己成為何等樣人。

620*

When death puts out your flame, the snuff will tell, if we were wax or tallow by the smell.

死神熄滅你生命燭火之際，殘燭熄滅之氣味自會揭示我們是尊貴白蠟抑或劣質牛脂。

621

When knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed or the other pitied.

當奸邪惡徒自相背叛殘害之時，前者談不上多加指責，後者亦無絲毫值得同情憐憫。

623

When out of favor, none know thee; when in, thou dost not know thyself.

失勢失寵潦倒之際，無人相識認得你；得勢受寵春風得意之時，你連自己是誰都認不清。

624

When prosperity was well mounted, she let go the bridle, and soon came tumbling out of the saddle.

順境榮華高居駿馬之際若鬆開韁繩得意忘形，轉瞬便會自馬鞍上狼狽翻落墜地。

626

When there's more malice shown than matter, on the writer falls the satire.

文章若通篇惡意詆毀而缺乏實質事理，辛辣的譏諷終將反噬在作者自己頭上。

627

When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

唯有水井枯竭乾涸之際，我們方知清泉之珍貴價值。

630

When you're good to others, you are best to yourself.

善待包容他人之際，實乃對自己最大的善待與恩惠。

632

When you taste honey, remember gall.

品嚐甘露甘蜜之際，當常存戒心憶起苦膽之辛澀。

640*

Wide will wear, but narrow will tear.

寬厚耐磨長久實用，狹隘緊繃必致破裂碎裂。

641*

Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.

對旁人微不足道的過失不妨眨眼包容；切記你自己身上尚有莫大罪愆缺陷。

642

Wish not so much to live long as to live well.

與其一味祈求長命百歲，不如祈求活得充實正直善良。

646

Who has deceived thee so oft as thyself?

世間欺瞞欺騙你最多次的人，何曾有過旁人？唯有你自己！

647

Who is powerful? He that governs his passions.

何人稱得上真正強大有力量？能駕馭克制自身情慾私慾者。

650

Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits.

何人稱得上真正堅強剛毅？能克制戰勝自身不良惡習者。

654

Willows are weak, but they bind the faggot.

細柳枝條看似纖細柔弱，卻能緊緊捆紮起整捆柴火木柴。

660*

Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.

將旁人施加於你的傷害怨懟寫在風中塵土裡，將他人施予你的深厚恩澤鐫刻在大理石上。

664

You may be too cunning for one, but not for all.

你或許能憑狡黠精明瞞過一個人，但絕不可能瞞過全天下所有人。

665

You may delay, but time will not.

你或可蹉跎拖延遲滯，時光光陰卻絕不會為你停下半步。

668

You may sometimes be much in the wrong, in owning your being in the right.

有時僅僅因自己據理力爭硬要證明自己完全正確，反而落入了莫大的過失境地。

669*

Youth is pert and positive, age modest and doubting; so ears of corn when young and light, stand bolt upright, but hang their heads when weighty, full, and ripe.

青年氣盛傲慢且自以為是，暮年沉穩謙遜而心存審慎；猶如穀物穗頭年幼輕盈時昂然直立，結實沉甸飽滿之際則謙卑垂首。

第四章：教育與求知 (Education, Learning & Wisdom vs. Folly)（收錄 99 條）

本章涵蓋讀書治學、真知灼見、求師學藝與智愚之辨。富蘭克林譏諷自滿的書呆子與虛浮的機巧，推崇結合生活實踐之真智慧與虛懷若谷之求學精神，主張「讀書使人充實，沉思使人深邃」。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

18

A house without woman and firelight, is like a body without soul or sprite.

沒有女人與爐火的房屋，猶如沒有靈魂或生氣的軀體。

32

A man without a wife, is but a half a man.

沒有妻子的男人，只不過是半個人。

33

A man without ceremony has need of great merit in its place.

不拘禮節客套的人，必須具備過人的真才實德來補足。

36

A modern wit is one of David's fools.

自命現代聰敏之人，不過是大衛詩篇中的愚頑之輩。

39*

A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error, though Clodpate won't allow either.

新的真理依然是真理，舊的謬誤終究是謬誤，縱使愚漢頑固不化兩者皆不認可。

40

Anger and folly walk cheek by jole; repentance treads on both their heels.

憤怒與愚昧並肩而行，悔恨則緊踩在兩者的腳後跟上。

41

Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.

發怒從不缺少藉口，但鮮少有正當充足的理由。

56

A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.

問心無愧的人，縱使雷聲轟鳴亦能安然入睡。

70

Bad commentators spoil the best of books.

拙劣的註釋者，往往會糟蹋毀壞最優秀的名著。

74*

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors.

與自己的惡習宣戰，與身邊的鄰舍和睦。

75

Beauty and folly are old companions.

美麗與愚昧自古便是形影不離的同伴。

76

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

無知並不可恥，不願虛心學習才是真正的羞恥。

77

Ben beats his pate, and fancys wit will come; but he may knock, there's nobody at home.

班敲著自己的腦袋，幻想靈感智慧會降臨；然而他儘管叩門，腦中空空如也無人在家。

81

Better slip with foot than tongue.

失足跌跤猶可挽回，失言失態禍患難消。

82

Beware, beware! He'll cheat without scruple, who can without fear.

戒之！慎之！凡有能力肆無忌憚欺瞞行事者，行騙時絕無道德顧忌。

109

Deny self for self's sake.

為了自身的長遠福祉，當學會克制自我私慾。

123

Don't think to hunt two hares with one dog.

莫想著用一條獵犬同時追捕兩隻野兔。

135

Ever since follies have pleased, fools have been able to divert.

自古荒唐愚行能悅人以來，蠢人便總能供人取樂逗趣。

136*

Every man has assurance enough to boast of his honesty, few of their understanding.

人人都自信滿滿誇耀自己的誠實，卻鮮少有人敢誇耀自己的理解洞察力。

137

Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other.

經驗是一所學費高昂的學校，但愚人非得碰得頭破血流才肯在其中學習。

146

Fools make feasts, and wise men eat 'em.

愚人張羅大排筵席，智者從容赴席品嚐。

147

Fools multiply folly.

蠢人往往只會衍生出更多愚蠢。

148*

Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.

愚人最需要良言相勸，但唯有智者才能從建言中真正獲益。

152

Friendship cannot live with ceremony, nor without civility.

友誼無法在虛偽客套中共存，亦不能缺少基本的謙遜禮貌。

159*

Give me yesterday's bread, this day's flesh, and last year's cyder.

請給我昨日之麵包（易於消化）、今日之鮮肉（新鮮甘美）與去年之蘋果酒（陳釀香醇）。

164

God, parents, and instructors, can never be requited.

上蒼、父母與良師之恩德，永世難以全報。

165

Good sense is a thing all need, few have, and none think they want.

健全的明智判斷是人人都需要、極少數人具備，卻無人自認欠缺之物。

172

Great good-nature, without prudence, is a great misfortune.

毫無戒心慎思的一味老好人性情，實為莫大的不幸禍患。

180

Half wits talk much but say little.

一知半解的半吊子話說得最多，卻毫無實質內容。

185

Harry Smatter, has a mouth for every matter.

不學無術的哈利，對天下任何事情都能插嘴瞎聊。

199

Here comes the orator, with his flood of words, and his drop of reason.

瞧那位雄辯演說家走來了，口吐滔滔字句洪流，腹中卻只有一滴可憐的理性。

200

He's a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.

不懂得收斂隱藏自身鋒芒智慧的人，終究只算個蠢材。

208

He that can bear a reproof, and mend by it, if he is not wise, is in a fair way of being so.

能虛心接受責備並引以為戒改過者，縱使當下尚未明智，也已走在通往智慧的捷徑上。

209

He that can compose himself, is wiser than he that composes books.

能克制自持內心心性者，遠比只會著書立說之人更加明智。

211

He that cannot bear with other people's passions, cannot govern his own.

無法包容旁人脾氣偏執者，往往也難以克制自己的情緒。

218

He that falls in love with himself, will have no rivals.

盲目自戀愛上自己的人，身邊絕不會有競爭對手。

225

He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.

與狗同眠者，起身必沾滿跳蚤（近墨者黑）。

263

If thou hast wit and learning, add to it wisdom and modesty.

你若具備機智與學問，當進一步添上明智與謙遜。

264

If thou injurest conscience, it will have its revenge on thee.

你若違背傷害了良知，良知終將對你展開嚴厲的報復。

265*

If thou would'st live long, live well ; for folly and wickedness shorten life.

若想求得長壽，當先活得正直向善；因為愚昧與作惡最能折損壽命。

281

If you would be loved, love and be lovable.

若想得到旁人關愛，當先學會去愛並做個值得被愛之人。

283

If you would have guests merry with cheer, be so yourself, or so at least appear.

若想讓滿堂賓客開懷盡興，主人自己當率先愉悅，或至少流露歡顏。

285

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.

若不想在死後腐朽之際立刻被世人遺忘，要麼寫下值得後人研讀的篇章，要麼做出值得後人記載的功績。

290

Ill customs and bad advice are seldom forgotten.

惡劣的陋習與有害的餿主意，往往最難以被人徹底遺忘。

300*

It is ill-manners to silence a fool, and cruelty to let him go on.

當面打斷蠢人說話是失禮無教養，任由蠢人繼續出醜饒舌則是殘酷無情。

302*

It is wise not to seek a secret, and honest not to reveal it.

不去探聽他人秘密是明智，不洩漏已知秘密是誠實。

317*

Learn of the skillful; he that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.

當向能工巧匠求教；閉門自學者，無異於拜了個愚人為師。

325

Liberality is not giving much, but giving wisely.

慷慨不在於餽贈之巨，而在於餽贈得當、施與得宜。

364

Most fools think they are only ignorant.

多數蠢人都自以為自己只不過是一時無知而已。

365

Most of the learning in use, is of no great use.

世俗流行的大多數學問，實際上並無太大用處。

366*

Most people return small favors, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with ingratitude.

多數人對微小恩惠予以回報，對中等恩惠口頭稱謝，對莫大厚恩卻往往以忘恩負義相報。

375

Never intreat a servant to dwell with thee.

切莫懇求苦留去意已決的僕人繼續為你效力。

394

No wood without bark.

樹木皆有樹皮包裹，金無足赤人無完人。

398

Of learned fools I have seen ten times ten ; of unlearned wise men I have seen a hundred.

滿腹經綸的讀書蠢才我見過百人，而目不識丁的通達智者我也見過百人。

411

Philosophy as well as foppery often changes fashion.

哲學思潮正如時髦服飾一般，經常變換風尚流行。

422

Pretty and witty, will wound if they hit ye.

貌美若再加上伶俐機鋒，一旦命中便能令人深感刺痛。

431*

Proud modern learning despises the ancient. School-men are now laughed at by school-boys.

狂妄的現代學問輕視古代經典；昔日飽學名儒如今反倒被黃口學童嘲弄。

434*

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.

讀書使人充實，沉思使人深邃，辯論交流使人明晰。

435

Read much, but not many books.

讀書宜精讀深思，莫貪圖卷帙浩繁而浮光掠影。

439

Samson with his strong body, had a weak head, or he would not have laid in a harlot's lap.

參孫縱有蓋世神力之軀，卻無清明洞察之腦，否則斷不致耽溺於妓女膝上。

443*

Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly.

沉默未必皆為智慧之象徵，但喋喋不休妄言永遠是愚昧的印記。

446*

Singularity in the right, hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.

自命不凡堅持己見毀了許多人；能與眾人明智共識協調者實屬幸運。

452

Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.

有人善於觀測氣象知時節，有人則糊里糊塗一竅不通。

459

Strange! that a man who has wit enough to write a satire, should have folly enough to publish it.

怪哉！具備足夠機智寫出諷刺文章之人，竟會愚蠢到將其公開發表。

465*

Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.

飲酒暢談時可廣納各方建議，但飲清泉水冷靜之後再做決斷定奪。

471

Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak.

教導孩子學會克制謹言慎行，張嘴說話他自會學得飛快。

474

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

缺席不在場者從不缺指責挑剔，在場者從不缺辯解脫罪之詞。

475*

The ancients tell us what is best, but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

古人告訴我們何為至善至美，但我們必須向當代人汲取何為最切合時宜。

478

The brave and the wise can both pity and excuse, when cowards and fools shew no mercy.

勇者與智者既能憐憫亦善體諒，唯有懦夫與蠢才毫不留情冷酷無情。

482*

The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone.

狡詐之徒鋌而走險盜馬，明智之人遠離是非任其自受其果。

485

The doors of wisdom are never shut.

智慧的大門永遠敞開，從不向好學者關閉。

489

The family of fools is ancient.

愚頑蠢材之族系，自古以來源遠流長。

494

The good or ill hap of a good or ill life, is the good or ill choice of a good or ill wife.

一生之福禍休咎，往往繫於擇妻娶婦之善惡賢愚。

495*

The heart of the fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise man is in his heart.

蠢人的心全懸在嘴上口無遮攔，智者的嘴則深藏心底深思熟慮。

496

The heathens when they dy'd, went to bed without a candle.

異教徒在氣絕謝世之際，猶如走入黑夜中熄滅了燭火。

502

The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned; but still 'tis nonsense.

有學問的蠢人能用更華麗文雅的詞藻寫出胡說八道；然而胡說終究還是胡說。

506

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.

最精緻極致的愚蠢，往往出自鑽牛角尖、紡得過細的聰明智慧。

508

The nearest way to come to glory, is to do that for conscience which we do for glory.

通往榮耀的最近捷徑，乃是出於純潔良知去躬行我們為求榮耀所做的一切。

510*

The old man has given all to his son; O fool! to undress thyself before thou art going to bed.

老人將所有家產早早全數分給兒子；真是個蠢才！何苦在就寢前便將衣裳脫個精光。

518

There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit.

世上沒有哪種蠢人比稍具機智小聰明的蠢人更惹人生厭難纏。

527

There're many witty men whose brains can't fill their bellies.

世上有諸多看似機智靈巧之人，其才智卻連填飽自己的肚子都辦不到。

541

The things which hurt, instruct.

令我們蒙受痛楚之事，往往最能教導啟迪我們。

547

The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the fool from his friends.

智者自仇敵身上獲取的益處，遠多於蠢人自朋友身上所得。

551

Thirst after desert, not reward.

當汲汲追求自身的真才實學與美德價值，而非汲求外在名利賞賜。

580*

To be intimate with a foolish friend, is like going to bed with a razor.

與愚昧魯莽的朋友過從甚密，猶如攜帶著一把出鞘的剃刀同床共枕。

582

To-day is yesterday's pupil.

今天乃是昨天的學生（今日當記取汲取昨日的教訓）。

590

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that have not wit enough to be honest.

詭計多端與背信棄義乃愚蠢之輩的伎倆，因其欠缺足夠智慧去做個誠實正直之人。

611

We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.

我們或能給予旁人良言規勸，卻無法代為約束其言行操守。

616*

What's proper is becoming; see the blacksmith with his white silk apron.

合宜得體方顯美觀；瞧瞧那鐵匠若繫上白絲綢圍裙該多麼滑稽突兀。

629

When 'tis fair, be sure take your coat with you.

天朗氣清出門之際，務必記得隨身帶上外套大衣（未雨綢繆）。

635

Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.

若缺乏健全常識與明智理性，眼前擁有一切亦形同匱乏一無所有。

638

Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

若有缺乏真愛的功利婚姻，周遭必衍生出婚姻之外的不倫之愛。

644

With the old almanack and the old year, leave thy old vice, tho' ever so dear.

伴隨著舊曆書與舊歲月的翻篇，當痛下決心拋棄身上的陳年惡習，縱使它曾多麼令你難以割捨。

651

Who is wise? He that learns from every one.

何人稱得上真正明智有智慧？虛懷若谷能向遇見的每個人求教學習者。

653

Who knows a fool, must know his brother; for one will recommend another.

結識了一個蠢人，必能順藤摸瓜認得其弟兄同類；因為蠢人之間總是互相推崇引薦。

657

Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning.

言辭或能彰顯一個人的伶俐機鋒，實際作為方能流露其真實意圖企圖。

658

Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please.

若想得享心靈寧靜自在從容，行你所當為之本分，莫隨心所欲放縱私慾。

661*

Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.

執筆撰文當如飽學鴻儒般嚴謹雅正，開口說話講道則當如市井黎民般通俗易懂。

666

You may give a man an office, but you cannot give him discretion.

你或能提拔任命一個人官職職位，卻無法賦予他處事的明智審慎與通達判斷。

第五章：健康與節制 (Health, Temperance & Well-being)（收錄 53 條）

本章匯集日常飲食節制、作息調養、戒除酗酒與養生良方。富蘭克林深知生理健康乃事業與智慧之基石，諄諄告誡「早睡早起使人健康富有聰慧」、「晚餐少食免服藥」，倡導以自然節制代替盲目仰賴藥石。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

13

A full belly is the mother of all evil.

飽食終日是諸般罪惡之母。

14

A full belly makes a dull brain.

過飽的肚子造就遲鈍的頭腦。

20

A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.

學識淵博的蠢材比無知的蠢材更加不可救藥。

85*

Beware of meat twice boil'd, and an old foe reconcil'd.

當心二次回鍋的水煮肉，以及重新示好和解的昔日宿敵。

86*

Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.

當心經驗尚淺的年輕醫生，以及手力顫抖的年邁理髮匠。

87

Blame-all and praise-all are two block heads.

事事皆挑剔指責者，與事事皆盲目吹捧者，皆屬不可救藥的蠢才。

93*

Changing countries or beds, cures neither a bad manager, nor a fever.

更換國度或更換床第，既治不好拙劣的管理能力，也退不了體內的重熱高燒。

94

Cheese and salt meat should be sparingly eat.

乳酪與醃鹹肉應當節制食用，多食無益。

116*

Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you but even with him ; forgiving, it sets you above him.

傷害他人使你居於仇敵之下；以牙還牙只不過與他扯平；唯有寬恕，方能使你超然凌駕於其上。

127

Drink does not drown care, but waters it, and makes it grow faster.

借酒消愁愁不滅，反倒澆灌憂愁，使其滋長得更為迅速。

128*

Drink water ; put the money in your pocket, and leave the dry-bellyache in the punch-bowl.

且飲清水吧；把銀錢留在口袋裡，將絞痛的酒後腹疾丟在酒碗之中。

130*

Drunkenness, that worst of evils, makes some men fools, some beasts, some devils.

酗酒乃惡中之最，它令某些人變為蠢蛋，令某些人淪為禽獸，更令某些人化為惡魔。

131

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

早睡早起，使人健康、富有且聰慧。

132

Eat few suppers, and you'll need few medicines.

晚餐少食，所需藥物自少。

162

God heals, and the doctor takes the fees.

妙手回春乃上主醫治，醫生只是收取診金。

201

He's a fool that makes his doctor his heir.

立醫生為遺產繼承人的人，是天底下最大的傻瓜。

203

He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.

深知多數藥物無濟於事的醫生，才是最高明的良醫。

235

He that speaks ill of the mare, will buy her.

嫌棄挑剔母馬毛病的人，往往正是真正想買下它的人。

237*

He that spills the rum loses that only; he that drinks it, often loses both that and himself.

打翻蘭姆酒者僅損失那點酒水；痛飲蘭姆酒者往往既賠了酒又喪失了自己。

254

Hunger is the best pickle.

飢餓是最佳的開胃佐料。

255

Hunger never saw bad bread.

飢腸轆轆時，從未見過難吃的麵包。

266

If wind blows on you thro' a hole, make your will and take care of your soul.

若暗風自隙縫孔穴直吹汝身，當立遺囑並預備好靈魂（警惕穿堂隙風致病）。

296

I saw few die of hunger, of eating 100,000.

我鮮少見過因飢餓而亡者，因暴飲暴食致死者卻有十萬之眾。

299*

It is ill jesting with the joiner's tools, worse with the doctor's.

隨意拿木匠的鋒利刀斧開玩笑是不智的，拿醫生的藥品刀具胡亂擺弄則更加致命。

310

Keep your mouth wet, feet dry.

保持口腔潤澤（適度飲水），保持雙腳乾燥。

346

Many dishes, many diseases.

杯盤佳餚過度繁多，諸般病症應運而生。

350

Many medicines, few cures.

藥方琳瑯滿目，良藥治癒者寥寥無幾。

367*

Much virtue in herbs, little in men.

草木草藥多具靈效美質，世人之中卻鮮見高尚美德。

377

Never spare the parson's wine, nor the baker's pudding.

神父的陳釀葡萄酒與麵包師傅的布丁，切莫客氣放手享用（享用他人盛情無需拘謹）。

378

Nice eaters seldom meet with a good dinner.

挑肥揀瘦挑剔挑嘴之人，鮮少能遇上一頓合心意的美饌。

379

Nick's passions grow fat and hearty ; his understanding looks consumptive.

尼克的私慾情欲日漸肥碩健旺，他的理性見識卻顯得病骨支離骨瘦如柴。

380

Nine men in ten are suicides.

十人之中有九人，皆是因不良習性暴飲暴食而在慢性自我毀滅。

391

Nothing more like a fool, than a drunken man.

世間最像蠢才的，莫過於醉得神智不清的酒鬼。

407*

Pain wastes the body; pleasures the understanding.

肉體病痛消耗形軀，沉溺享樂則銷蝕心智理解。

412

Plough deep, while sluggards sleep.

趁懶漢昏睡時深耕細作，收穫時節自得豐稔。

414

Poor Dick eats like a well man, and drinks like a sick.

窮理查吃得像個壯漢健康人，喝得卻像個久病臥床者（節制少飲）。

423*

Pride and the gout are seldom cur'd throughout.

傲慢與痛風，自古皆極罕徹底根治痊癒。

433

Rather go to bed supperless, than run in debt for a breakfast.

寧可空腹飢腸就寢，亦莫為了張羅早餐而負債背累。

436*

Retirement does not always secure virtue; Lot was upright in the city, wicked in the mountain.

歸隱避世未必能長保美德；羅得在喧囂城中尚能正直，退隱山中反倒行事敗壞。

447

Sleep without supping, and you'll rise without owing for it.

不食晚餐便入眠，翌晨醒來便無欠債負擔之憂。

483

The devil sweetens poison with honey.

魔鬼總用甜美甘蜜包裹致命毒藥。

500

The idle man is the devil's hireling; whose livery is rags, whose diet and wages are famine and diseases.

怠惰懶散者乃是魔鬼雇用的差役；其制服是襤褸襤衫，其伙食與酬勞則是飢饉與重疾。

528

There's more old drunkards, than old doctors.

世上的老酒鬼，往往比年邁的老名醫還要多見。

535

The royal crown cures not the headache.

璀璨的王者王冠，亦治不好帝王的偏頭痛。

542

The tongue is ever turning to the aching tooth.

舌頭總是忍不住去舔舐那顆正在作痛的患齒。

545

The way to be safe, is never to be secure.

長保萬全安全的良策，乃是永不自以為高枕無憂。

558

Three good meals a day is bad living.

一日三餐皆享豐盛大餐暴食，乃是損害身心健康的糟糕生活。

563

Time is an herb that cures all diseases.

歲月光陰是一劑靈草，能撫平治癒世間一切創痛疾苦。

581*

To be proud of knowledge, is to be blind with light; to be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the antidote.

恃才矜智傲慢者猶如被強光刺盲雙眼；居功自矜美德者形同拿解毒良藥毒害自己。

584

To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.

若想延年益壽，當縮減節制每餐的飲食。

597

Up, sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.

起來吧，懶漢，莫再虛擲生命光陰；來日長眠於墳墓之中，自有睡不完的覺。

605*

We are not so sensible of the greatest health as of the least sickness.

我們對頂峰旺盛的健康往往麻木不仁，對微不足道的微恙微疾卻極其敏感不安。

628

When the wine enters, out goes the truth.

杯酒入肚神智不清之際，真實真理便悄然溜走。

第六章：社會公義與政度治理 (Social Justice, Governance & Public Virtue)（收錄 52 條）

本章收錄關於律法公正、官吏政風、君民權責、宗教寬容與公共德性之深刻洞見。富蘭克林痛斥苛法與司法腐敗，呼籲執政者恪守公義，維護公民自由與社會誠信，體現北美啟蒙時代至高之公民理想。所有條目依原書出版順序排列。

編號

英文原文 (English)

逐句中文翻譯 (Traditional Chinese)

3

A countryman between two lawyers, is like a fish between two cats.

夾在兩位律師之間的鄉下人，就像夾在兩隻貓之間的一條魚。

16

A good lawyer, a bad neighbor.

精明的律師往往是糟糕的鄰居。

19

A lean award is better than a fat judgment.

菲薄的和解裁決，勝過豐厚的法庭判決。

35

A mob's a monster; heads enough, but no brains.

烏合之眾是一頭怪物：頭顱雖多，卻沒有腦袋。

44

An hundred thieves cannot strip one naked man, especially if his skin's off.

一百個強盜也剝光不了一個赤裸的窮漢，尤其當他連皮都已脫落之時。

46

An innocent plowman is more worthy than a vicious prince.

清白勤勉的農夫，遠比作惡多端的王子更具價值。

68

At the working man's house hunger looks in but dares not enter.

勤奮勞動者的家門前，飢餓只敢在窗外張望，卻不敢踏入半步。

69*

At 20 years of age the will reigns; at thirty the wit; at 40 the judgment.

二十歲意氣當道，三十歲機智風發，四十歲方見明智與判斷。

78

Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, and countenance.

對於毫不費力且無需成本之事（如以禮待人、給予良言、展現和顏悅色），切莫過於吝嗇。

95*

Children and princes will quarrel for trifles.

孩童與君王，往往都會為了微不足道的瑣事而爭吵不休。

106

Death takes no bribes.

死神從不收受賄賂。

111*

Different sects like different clocks, may be all near the matter, though they don't quite agree.

不同教派就如不同的時鐘，雖然走時不完全一致，但大抵相去不遠。

119*

Don't go to the doctor with every distemper, nor to the lawyer with every quarrel, nor to the pot for every thirst.

稍有微恙莫急著求醫，偶有齟齬休隨便找律師，口渴時切勿動輒借酒澆愁。

121*

Don't misinform your doctor nor your lawyer.

切莫向你的醫生隱瞞病情，亦莫對你的律師提供虛假陳述。

138

Eyes and priests bear no jests.

眼睛經不起揉弄，僧侶神職容不得開玩笑。

154

Full of courtesy, full of craft.

禮數過於周全，心機必多詭詐。

181

Happy that Nation, fortunate that age, whose history is not diverting.

歷史平靜缺乏波瀾戲劇性者，實乃真正幸福之邦國與幸運之時代。

244

He that would rise at court, must begin by creeping.

凡欲在朝廷宮廷平步青雲者，往往須先從卑躬屈膝開始。

248*

Hold your council before dinner; the full belly hates thinking as well as acting.

商議要事當在正餐之前；酒足飯飽的肚子既討厭動腦深思，亦懶於付諸行動。

291*

"I'll warrant ye", goes before rashness; "Who'd-a-tho't" comes sneaking after.

「我向你拍胸脯保證」總走在魯莽涉險之前；「誰能料得到會這樣」則鬼鬼祟祟尾隨於後悔之時。

311*

Kings and bears often worry their keepers.

君王與狗熊，往往最令伺候看管他們的人提心吊膽。

312*

Kings have long arms, but misfortune longer ; let none think themselves out of her reach.

君王的權勢之手雖長，厄運的手卻更加漫長；無人能自認凌駕於厄運之外。

314*

Laws like to cobwebs, catch small flies, great ones break through before your eyes.

法律猶如蛛網，只能捕捉微小的飛蠅，龐然巨蟲卻能在你眼前破網而出。

315*

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

過於寬鬆的法律鮮少有人遵守；過於嚴苛的法律則鮮少能切實執行。

341*

Mad kings and mad bulls, are not to be held by treaties and packthread.

瘋狂的君王與發狂的公牛，絕非條約協議與細麻繩所能羈絆約束。

345

Many complain of their memory, few of their judgment.

許多人抱怨自己記性不好，卻鮮少有人抱怨自己的判斷力不足。

349

Many have quarrel'd about religion, that never practiced it.

許多人為了宗教教義爭執不休，自己卻從未在生活中身體力行過信仰。

351

Many princes sin with David, but few repent with him.

許多君王如同大衛一般犯罪墮落，卻鮮少能如大衛那般痛徹悔改。

368

Necessity has no law; I know some attorneys of the same.

迫於無奈別無法則（窮則思變）；我也認得幾位毫無底線法紀的律師正是如此。

369

Necessity has no law; Why? Because, 'tis not to be had without money.

迫於無奈別無法則；何以見得？因為若無金錢，法律連邊都沾不上。

395*

No workman without tools, nor lawyer without fools, can live by their rules.

工匠無工具便無法立足，律師若無蠢材供其玩弄便難以依章謀生。

437

Rob not for burnt offerings.

切莫以不義劫掠之物，充作獻祭上蒼的燔祭。

438*

Rob not God, nor the poor, lest thou ruin thyself; the eagle snatched a coal from the altar, but it fired her nest.

切莫侵奪上主或窮人的微物免招自焚；母鷹掠走祭壇上的炭火，反倒燒毀了自己的巢穴。

442*

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.

莫為換取財富而出賣美德，莫為換取權力而出賣自由。

453

Some make conscience of wearing a hat in the church, who make none of robbing the altar.

有人在教堂戴帽尚覺違背良知，卻對劫掠祭壇之重罪毫不在乎。

458*

Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king; the meanest bee hath, and will use, a sting.

上至君王下至奴僕切莫輕侮任何人；縱使最微小的蜜蜂亦有利刺，且必會螫人。

463*

Sudden power is apt to be insolent, sudden liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually.

驟得權勢易致專橫狂妄，驟得自由易生放肆傲慢；循序漸進滋長之物舉止最為得體。

469*

Talking against religion is unchaining a tiger; the beast let loose may worry his deliverer.

妄議詆毀宗教信仰猶如解開惡虎鎖鏈；猛獸脫困往往反噬搭救之人。

476

The bell calls others to church, but itself never minds the sermon.

教堂洪鐘召喚萬民赴禮拜，自己卻從不聽進講道一句話。

481

The creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

債權人乃是極度迷信的教派，對約定的良辰吉日時刻嚴格恪守不誤。

501

The king's cheese is half wasted in parings; but no matter, 'tis made of the people's milk.

國王乳酪的半數在削皮切屑中浪費殆盡；然而無妨，反正那全是由百姓的脂膏乳汁所製成。

503*

The magistrate should obey the laws, the people should obey the magistrate.

長官理應恪守法律，人民則應服從長官。

511*

The painful preacher, like a candle bright, consumes himself in giving light.

苦口婆心的傳道人猶如一盞明燭，燃燒耗盡自己以照亮世人。

514

The prodigal generally does more injustice than the covetous.

揮霍無度者所招致的不義侵害，往往遠多於慳吝貪婪之人。

533*

The rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at top.

在湍急河流與腐敗政權之中，最浮躁輕薄之物往往漂浮在最頂層。

589

To whom thy secret thou dost tell, to him thy freedom thou dost sell.

你將心底秘密吐露給何人，你便將自己的自由販賣拱手相讓予何人。

622*

When knaves fall out, honest men get their goods; when priests dispute, we come at the truth.

奸邪惡徒內訌反目，正直之人失物復得；神職僧侶爭端辯駁，凡人方能得見真理真貌。

634

Where good laws are, much people flock thither.

法度清明律法健全之邦，萬民必欣然趨之若鶩湧入。

636

Where there's no law, there's no bread.

失去法紀秩序保障之地，連最基本的溫飽口糧亦無處著落。

637*

Where there is hunger, law is not regarded; and where law is not regarded, there will be hunger.

飢荒匱乏之處法度難以推行遵守；而蔑視法紀綱常之地必將迎來飢饉饑荒。

643

Without justice courage is weak.

缺乏正義公理主持之勇氣，終究脆弱無力難成大器。

670*

You will be careful, if you are wise; how you touch men's religion, or credit, or eyes.

明智之人必謹小慎微戒懼恐懼：切莫輕易觸碰冒犯他人的信仰、信譽信用，或是旁人脆弱的眼睛。

資料、版本與使用說明

• 全文來源：使用者提供的 poor-richards-almanack-classified.docx；原文、翻譯與分類依附件保留。
• 附件底本：1914 年 Waterloo, Iowa：U.S.C. 版《Poor Richard’s Almanack》。
• ISBN：1914 年原版無 ISBN；重印參考版 ISBN 9780880889186。
• 1914 年版數位掃描與書目（另開新分頁） ↗。
• ISBN 制度歷史（另開新分頁） ↗。

整理／凸肚男