美腿与丑腿 The Handsome and Deformed Leg
[美国]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 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 betterworse 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 very Person, they may discover fine Features Defects, good bad qualities.