THE WAY TO WEALTH, 致富之道

As dearly shown in the practice of an old Pennsylvania Almanac, entitled, "Poor Richard Improved."

正如一本名为《改进的穷理查》的老宾夕法尼亚年鉴的实践中所亲切展示的那样。

Courteous Reader, 尊敬的读者，

I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man, with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up and replied, "If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short; for A word to the wise is enough, as Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind; and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

"Friends," said he, "the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more[Pg 6] easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us: God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says.

“朋友们，”他说，“税收确实很沉重，如果只是政府征收的税，那我们或许还能更容易地承担；但实际上我们还有许多其他的税，而且对我们中的一些人来说，这些税更加沉重。我们的懒惰使我们多付了两倍的税，骄傲使我们多付了三倍的税，愚蠢使我们多付了四倍的税。而对于这些税，任何税务官都无法通过减免来解脱我们。然而，如果我们愿意倾听良言，还可以有所作为；正如《可怜的理查德》所说：‘天助自助者。’”

"I. It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep? forgetting that The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that There will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says.

“第一，一个政府若征税要求其人民拿出十分之一的时间为其服务，人们可能会觉得这是苛政；但懒惰让我们付出的远不止这些。懒散会引发疾病，严重缩短寿命。正如《可怜的理查德》所说：‘懒惰如铁锈，比劳动更快地侵蚀人；而常用的钥匙总是闪亮的。’ 如果你热爱生命，就不要浪费时间，因为‘时间是生命的材料’，正如他说的那样。我们在睡眠上花费了多少超过必要的时间，却忘了‘睡着的狐狸抓不到家禽’，还有‘坟墓里有足够多的时间供我们睡觉’，**正如《可怜的理查德》所说。”

"If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough. Let us, then, up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, as Poor Richard says.

“如果时间是世间最宝贵的东西，那么浪费时间就必然是，正如《可怜的理查德》所说，‘最大的挥霍’；因为他在其他地方提到过，‘失去的时间永远无法找回；我们所谓的时间充足，总是显得不够。’因此，让我们振作起来，行动起来，并且目标明确；通过勤奋，我们可以用更少的困扰完成更多的事情。‘懒惰让一切变得困难，而勤奋让一切变得容易；起得晚的人必须整日奔波，但到了晚上可能还难以完成工作；而懒惰的步伐如此缓慢，贫困很快就会追上他。’ 驾驭你的事业，不要让事业驾驭你；还有，‘早睡早起使人健康、富有且聪明，’正如《可怜的理查德》所说。”

"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, and he that[Pg 7] lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help, hands, for I have no lands; or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour, as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, At the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter; for Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy? Diligence is the mother of luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. One to-day is worth two to-morrows, as Poor Richard says; and farther, Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day. If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you, then, your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, and your country. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that The cat in gloves catches no mice, as Poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for Constant dropping wears away stones; and By diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and Little strokes fell great oaks.

"Methinks I hear some of you say, 'Must a man afford himself no leisure?' I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says: Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.[Pg 8] Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good-morrow.

"II. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says,

“第二，除了勤奋之外，我们还必须保持稳定、安定、谨慎，并亲自监督自己的事务，而不要过于依赖他人。正如《可怜的理查德》所说：

I never saw an oft-removed tree,

‘我从未见过一棵经常被移植的树，

Nor yet an oft-removed family,

也从未见过一个经常搬家的家庭，

That throve so well as those that settled be.

能像那些安定下来的一样兴旺。’

And again, Three removes are as bad as a fire; and again, Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee; and again, If you would have your business done, go; if not, send. And again,

还有，‘三次搬家如同一次火灾。’ 又说，‘看好你的店铺，你的店铺就会养活你。’ 还有，‘如果你想让事情办妥，亲自去做；如果不想，就派别人去。’ 又说，

He that by the plough would thrive,

‘想靠犁地致富的人，

Himself must either hold or drive.

自己必须握住犁柄或驾驭犁头。’

And again, The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands; and again, Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge; and again, Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open. Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; for in the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it; but a man's own care is profitable; for, If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for the want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.

还有，‘主人的目光比他的双手做的更多。’ 又说，‘疏忽带来的损失比无知更大。’ 还有，‘不监督工人，就等于把你的钱包敞开给他们。’ 过于依赖他人的照顾是许多人失败的原因；因为在这个世界上，人们得救并非靠信任，而是靠对信任的谨慎；但自己亲力亲为是有益的。正如《可怜的理查德》所说：‘如果你想要一个忠诚又称心的仆人，那就亲自为自己服务。’一点点疏忽可能酿成巨大的灾难：‘因为缺少一个马掌钉，马蹄铁丢了；因为丢了一只马蹄铁，马丢了；因为丢了一匹马，骑士被敌人追上并杀害。’ 这一切都源于对一个小小马掌钉的疏忽。”

"III. So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we[Pg 9] must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will; and

“第三，关于勤奋和关注自身事务的讨论到此为止，朋友们；但如果我们想让勤奋更有成效，就必须加上节俭。一个人如果不知道如何在赚钱的同时储蓄，即使一辈子辛苦工作，最终也可能一文不名。‘厨房丰盛，遗嘱必然清贫；’还有：

Many estates are spent in the getting,

‘许多财产在获取过程中被耗尽，

Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

因为女人为了喝茶放弃了纺织和编织，

And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.

男人为了喝酒放弃了砍伐和劈柴。’

If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.

如果你想变得富有，就要既考虑如何赚钱，也考虑如何节省。印第安群岛并没有让西班牙变得富有，因为它的支出大于收入。

"Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families. And farther, What maintains one vice would bring up two children. You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, Many a little makes a mickle. Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.

“因此，放弃你那些昂贵的愚行吧，这样你就不会再抱怨艰难的时光、沉重的税收和昂贵的家庭开支。此外，‘养活一项恶习的开销足以抚养两个孩子。’ 你也许认为，偶尔喝一点茶、喝一点酒、吃稍微昂贵一点的饭菜、穿稍微精致一点的衣服、或者偶尔参加一些娱乐活动，并不会有太大问题；但请记住，‘积少成多。’ 小心小的开销，‘小漏洞能使大船沉没，’正如《可怜的理查德》所说；还有，‘喜爱珍馐的人必将沦为乞丐；’而且，‘愚者办宴会，智者享其宴。’”

"Here you are all got together at this sale of fineries and knickknacks. You call them goods; but, if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but, if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And again, At a great pennyworth pause a while. He means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths.[Pg 10] Again, It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanac. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire, as Poor Richard says.

"These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them! By these and other extravagances, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly that A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small estate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think It is day, and will never be night; that a little to be spent out of so much is not worth minding; but Always taking out of the mealtub and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom, as Poor Richard says; and then, When the well is dry, they know the worth of water. But this they might have known before if they had taken his advice. If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing, as Poor Richard says; and indeed so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again. Poor Dick farther advises, and says,

Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse;

‘对服饰的虚荣心绝对是一种诅咒；

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.

在满足幻想之前，先看看你的钱包。’

And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick[Pg 11] says, It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.

还有，‘骄傲像乞丐一样聒噪，甚至比匮乏更加无礼。’ 当你买了一件精美的东西后，你必须再买十件，以保持外观一致；但《可怜的理查德》说：‘抑制第一个欲望要比满足随后的所有欲望容易得多。’ 贫穷的人模仿富人，就如青蛙膨胀自己试图与牛一样愚蠢。

Vessels large may venture more,

‘大船可以冒险出海，

But little boats should keep near shore.

小船还是应留近岸。’”

It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says, Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy. And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy; it hastens misfortune.

然而，这种愚蠢很快就会受到惩罚；正如《可怜的理查德》所说：“以虚荣为早餐的骄傲，以蔑视为晚餐。” 骄傲以富足为早餐，以贫困为午餐，以耻辱为晚餐。归根结底，这种外表的虚荣心究竟有何用呢？为了它冒这么大的风险，承受这么多的痛苦，它既不能促进健康，也不能减轻痛苦；它不会提升一个人的价值，反而引起嫉妒，加速不幸的到来。

"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities? We are offered, by the terms of this sale, six months' credit; and that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt, as Poor Richard says; and again, to the same purpose, Lying rides upon Debt's back, whereas a freeborn ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.

"What would you think of that prince or of that government who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you[Pg 12] not say that you were free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put your self under such tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in jail till you shall be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard says, Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter. At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but

For age and want save while you may;

‘趁年富力强和生活富裕时储蓄；

No morning sun lasts a whole day.

没有哪个早晨的太阳能持续一整天。

Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expense is constant and certain; and It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says; so, Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

收入可能是暂时且不确定的，而支出却是持久且确定的。正如《可怜的理查德》所说：‘建两座烟囱比维持一座烟囱的燃料更容易。’ 因此，‘宁可晚上饿着肚子睡觉，也不要背债起身。’”

"IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted, without the blessing of Heaven; and, therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it,[Pg 13] but comfort and help them. Remember, Job suffered, and was afterward prosperous.

"And now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for it is true, We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct. However, remember this, They that will not be counselled cannot be helped; and farther, that, If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles, as Poor Richard says."

“最后，总结一下，正如《可怜的理查德》所说：‘经验是一所昂贵的学校，但愚人别无选择，而且即使在这所学校，他们也难以学到什么。’ 这是事实：‘我们可以给出建议，但无法赋予行动。’ 然而，请记住：‘那些不愿接受劝告的人也无法被帮助；’ 还有，‘如果你不听从理智的声音，她一定会用尺子敲你的指关节。’ 正如《可怜的理查德》所说。”

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine; and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my Almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on these topics during the course of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and, though I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,

于是这位老先生结束了他的长篇大论。人们听了，赞同他的教义；但立刻又做了相反的事情，就像听了一场普通的布道一样；因为拍卖会开始了，他们开始奢侈地购买。我发现这位好人彻底研究了我的年鉴，并消化了我在二十五年间在这些话题上所说的一切。他频繁提到我，可能会让其他人感到厌烦；但我的虚荣心对此感到非常高兴，尽管我知道他归于我的智慧连十分之一都不是我自己的，而是我从各个时代和国家的智慧中收集来的。然而，我决定从中受益；尽管我最初决定买料子做一件新外套，但我离开时决定再穿旧的久一点。读者，如果你也这样做，你的收益将和我一样大。我一如既往地为你服务，

Richard Saunders.