The Handsome and Deformed Leg
本杰明·富兰克林 / Benjamin Franklin
本杰明·富兰克林（1706—1790），18世纪美国最伟大的科学家，著名的政治家和文学家。他生于北美洲的波士顿，幼年家境贫穷，一生只受过两年正式教育。八岁入学，十岁辍学，此后又当了近十年的印刷工人。但他自学从未间断过，从自然科学、技术方面的读物到著名科学家的论文以及名家作品，无不涉猎。
1726年，他出版了《穷查理历书》，当时被译成十二种文字，畅销欧美各国，也奠定了他在文学上地位。独立战争爆发后，他参加了第二届大陆会议和《独立宣言》的起草工作。
1790年4月17日，深夜11点，富兰克林溘然逝去。他一生最真实的写照是他自己所过的一句话“诚实和勤勉，应该成为你永久的伴侣。”本文是作者于1780年创作的，当时他正在法国为国事奔走，却仍然有闲情雅致写这种轻松的文章，此文足以窥见作者美国式的幽默和机智。
Practicing for Better Learning
Read the article quickly and answer the following questions.
What is the most important thing for us in this article?
There are two sorts of people in the world, who with equal degrees of health ＆ 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 find conveniences ＆ inconveniences: In whatever company, they may find persons ＆ conversation more or less pleasing; At whatever table, they may meet with meats ＆ drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better＆ worse dressed; In whatever climate they will find good and bad weather; Under whatever government, they may find good ＆ bad laws, and good ＆ bad administration of those laws. In every poem or work of genius they may see faults and beauties. In almost every face ＆every person, they may discover fine features ＆ defects, good ＆ bad qualities.
Under these circumstances, the two sorts of people above mentioned fix 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 fine weather; ＆ etc., and enjoy all with chearfulness. Those who are to be unhappy think ＆ 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, ＆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 chiefly 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 finds one’s self entangled in their quarrels.
