通过观察，这些爱好争论，反驳和驳斥的人们在自己的事务中一般都很不幸。他们有时会取得胜利，但从来得不到人们的善意对待，而这些善意对待要比赢得争论更为有用
——富兰克林自传
1734年
劝人需谈利益，勿摆道理。
Would you persuade, speak of interest,not of reason.
不要以技能好坏评价别人，而要注重人所拥有的品质。
Don't value a man for the quality he is of,but for the qualities he possesses.
1739年
耳不闻朋友恶言，嘴不说敌人坏话。
Hear no ill of a friend，nor speak any of an enemy.
对别人，不要舍不得赞美、劝告和鼓励，因为这些都不会花你一分钱。
Be not niggardly of what costs there nothing，as courtesy, counsel，and countenance.
你所知晓的、所亏欠的、所拥有的以及力所能及的一切，你都不应该和盘托出。
Proclaim not all thou knowest,all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou can'st.
倾城之貌、举国之力和万贯之财实则并无大用；喂心术正则无敌。
Great beauty,great strength,and great riches,are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all.
1740年
对任何一种显而易见的美，人们都选择性看不见；而对每一处瑕疵，都能招惹嫉妒心。
To all apparent beauties blind,each blemish strikes an envious mind.
1743年
人在鸿运当头、顺风顺水时定要谦恭明智，因为高高在上者会陨落，卑贱低微者亦会崛起：但当傲慢自大之辈自云端堕落至耻辱深渊时，境地再凄凉也会无人问津。
In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise, the greatest may fall,and the lowest may rise: but insolent people that fall in disgrace, are wretched and nobody pities their case.
要让所有人都认识你，但不要让人看懂你：因为人总会随意螳过浅水滩，而心思浅的人也总被欺负。Let all men know there, but no man know thew thoroughly: Men freely Ford that see the shallows.
1748年
施舍的多并非真大方，明智给予才是真慷慨。
Liberality is not giving much but giving wisely.
吃什么都能充饥，喝什么都能解渴，听什么都觉得悦耳，看什么画作、雕塑、建筑都觉得欢欣，任何书籍或朋友都能让他乐在其中，这样的人可真是幸福啊!
而除了美丽、秩序、优雅和完美之外，对其他任何事物都不能忍受的人，该是需要承受多少禁欲所带来的痛苦啊！有品味的人，其实不过是口味刁钻的人罢了。
How happy is he, who can satisfy his hunger with any food, quench his thirst with any drink, please his ear with any music, delight his eye with any painting, any sculpture, any architecture, and divert his mind with any book or any company! How many mortifications must he suffer, that cannot bear anything but beauty, order, elegance and perfection! Your man of taste, is nothing but a man of distaste.
1749年
聪敏人从别人的错误中学习；愚蠢者却要自己犯错才能得到教训。
Wise men learn by others harms; Fools by their own.
智者从敌人身上得到的好处，远比愚人从朋友处得到的好处多。
The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the Fool from his friends.
1750年
善于控制自己激情的人能管理他人，而受激情支配的人只能为人所使。
He is a governor that governs his passions, and he a servant that serves them.
1755年
你若想被爱，先要爱人，也要可爱。
If you would be loved, love and be lovable.
谁聪明？以人为师的人（善于向他人学习的人）
谁强大？能管理好自己激情的人。
1756年
爱你的敌人吧，因为他们对你的过错总是直言不讳。
Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.
1757年
想在宫廷加官进爵，得先趴在地上，匍匐前进。
He that would rise at court, must begin by creeping.
1758年
沉默寡言并不时时象征智慧，喋喋不休却总代表愚蠢。
Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever folly.
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