The Handsome and Deformed Leg
本杰明·富兰克林 / Benjamin Franklin
There are two sorts of people in the world, who with equal degrees of health and wealth, and the other comforts of life, become, the one happy, and the other miserable. This arises very much from the different views in which they consider things, persons, and events; and the effect of those different views upon their own minds.
In whatever situation Men can be placed, they may f?ind conveniences and inconveniences: In whatever company, they may f?ind persons and conversation more or less pleasing; At whatever table, they may meet with meats and drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better and worse dressed; In whatever climate they will f?ind good and bad weather; Under whatever government, they may f?ind good and bad laws, and good and bad administration of those laws. In every poem or work of genius they may see faults and beauties. In almost every face and every person, they may discover f?ine features and defects, good and bad qualities.
Under these circumstances, the two sorts of people above mentioned f?ix their attention, those who are to be happy, on the conveniencies of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-dressed dishes, the goodness of the wines, the f?ine weather; and etc., and enjoy all with chearfulness. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contraries. Hence they are continually discontented themselves, and by their remarks sour the pleasures of society, offend personally many people, and make themselves everywhere disagreeable. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. But as the disposition to criticize, and be disgusted, is perhaps taken up originally by imitation, and is unawares grown into a habit, which though at present strong may nevertheless be cured when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their felicity; I hope this little admonition may be of service to them, and put them on changing a habit, which though in the exercise it is chief?ly an act of imagination yet has serious consequences in life, as it brings on real griefs and misfortunes. For as many are offended by, nobody well loves this sort of people, no one shows them more than the most common civility and respect, and scarcely that; and this frequently puts them out of humour, and draws them into disputes and contentions. If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank of fortune, nobody wishes them success, or will stir a step, or speak a word, to favour their pretensions. If they incur public censure or disgrace, no one will defend or excuse, and many join to aggravate their misconduct, and tender them completely odious. If these people will not change this bad habit, and condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without fretting themselves and others about the contraries, it is good for others to avoid an acquaintance with them; which is always disagreeable, and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one f?inds one’s self entangled in their quarrels.
