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。8岁入学，10岁辍学，此后又当了近10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12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。
There are two sorts of people in the world,who with equal degrees o f health&wealth,and the other comforts of life,become,the one happ y,and the other miserable.This arises very much from the different vie ws 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&convers ation more or less pleasing;At whatever table,they may meet with meats&drinks of better and worse taste,dishes better&worse dressed;In w hatever climate they will find good and bad weather;Under whatever gove rnment,they may find good&bad laws,and good&bad administration o f those laws.In every poem or work of genius they may see faults and be auties.In almost every face&every person,they may discover fine feat ures&defects,good&bad qualities.