饿汉眼里没有馊面包。

Hunger never saw bad bread.

当心煮过两次的肉，谨防和解的旧敌。

若交往中没有友情，有友情却无热情，有热情但缺少坚持，有坚持却不见成效，有成效又没有收益，有收益但无德行，那么，这些都毫无价值。

Relation without friendship, friendship without power, power without will, will without effect, effect without profit, & profit without virtue, are not worth a farto.

三四月的风雨，让五月更宜人。

March windy, and April rainy, makes May the pleasantest month of any.

不管是对待年轻姑娘、客人，还是阴雨天，男人3天就会感到厌倦。

After 3 days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, & weather rainy.

宴会背后，举办者总有所图。

After feasts made, the maker scratches his head.

和狗躺一起的人，身上必定有跳蚤。

He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.

愚者的心挂在嘴上，智者的嘴藏在心中。

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

没有微不足道的敌人。

There is no little enemy.

尊敬恶棍，恶棍会用刀捅你；用刀捅恶棍，恶棍会尊敬你。

Anoint a villain and he'll stab you, stab him & he'l anoint you.

和恶棍交易，既不体面也无收益。

There is neither honour nor gain, got in dealing with a villain.

任何事，若始于愤怒，必将终于羞愧。

Take this remark from Richard poor and lame, Whate's begun in anger ends in shame.

掩盖过错总要煞费苦心，而改正过错却只需花一半的心思。

What pains our Justice takes his faults to hide, With half that pains sure he might cure ‘em quite.

骑马时应紧贴马背、牢牢控制，驾驭别人时则应放松、给其自由。

If you ride a Horse, sit close and tight, If you ride a Man, sit easy and light.

空谈道理，不如聊聊利益。

Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.

有些人虽默默无闻，却拥有和伟人一样高贵的灵魂。

There have been as great Souls unknown to fame as any of the most famous.

好人心胸坦荡，神安气定；坏人心怀鬼胎，坐立不安。

A good Man is seldom uneasy, an ill one never easie.

不懂服从的人，也难以指挥他人。

He that cannot obey, cannot command.

伤口容易磨破，傲慢者容易树敌。

As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.

贪婪和幸福从未谋面，更别说相互熟识了。

Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then shou'd they become acquainted.

谨慎的荷兰人有句关于节俭的箴言：节省所有你能碰到的钱。

The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, Is to save all the Money they can touch.

空等命运垂青，下一餐在哪儿都无着落。

He that waits upon Fortune, is never sure of a Dinner.

饥荒、瘟疫、战争以及无数报复性的疾病，人类都是始作俑者。这些瘟疫、战争、饥荒的泛滥，都不足以制止我们的罪行，但妻子的智慧，却能够平息我们不安分的内心。

Famine, Plague, War, and an unnumber'd throng, Of Guilt-avenging Ills, to Man belong; It's not enough Plagues, Wars, and Famines rise, To lash our crimes, but must our Wives be wise?

倘若傲慢在前充当先锋，那么卑劣必紧随其后。

If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear.

严肃重大的问题需要深思熟虑的回答。

Weighty Questions ask for deliberate Answers.

懒惰和沉默是傻瓜的美德。

Sloth and Silence are a Fool's Virtues.

用语言报复不了他人，但却可能招来他人极大的报复。

There's small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.

蠢人只有在玩得筋疲力尽后，才会把注意力转移到正经事上。

Ever since Follies have please'd, Fools have been able to divert.

对上级谦恭是职责，对平级谦恭是礼貌，对下级谦恭是高尚。

To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.

改正一个错误胜似找到两个错误，而找到一个错误好过犯两次错误。

One Mend-fault is worth two Find faults, but one Find fault is better than two Make faults.

不全盘托出自己所知，不随意评判自己所见，就将生活得安然自在。

He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.

谨慎者的嘴里，公共事务也属于隐私。

In a discreet man's mouth, a publick thing is private.

交易面前没有朋友也没有亲人。

Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.

不要看他人的信件，不要动他人的钱包，不要偷听他人的秘密。

Nor Eye in a letter, nor Hand in a purse, nor Ear in the secret of another.

有耐心的人，能获得自己想要的一切。

He that can have Patience, can have what he will.

理智就是力量。

Force shites upon Reason's Back.

懂得好好生活的人，才称得上是大学问家。

He that lives well, is learned enough.

贫穷、诗歌以及新的荣誉称号，使人变得荒唐可笑。

Poverty, Poetry, and new Title of Honour, make Men ridiculous.

把秘密告诉他人，就等于向对方出卖了自己的自由。

懂得休息的人比会攻城掠地者更强大。

He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.

爱情和权力不能与他人分享。

Love & lordship hate companions.

认清哪些事情是荣耀的，是获得荣耀的捷径。

The nearest way to come at glory, is to do that for conscience which we do for glory.

没有什么比拥有一个谨慎忠诚的朋友更好的了。

No better relation than a prudent & faithful Friend.

越破的车轮，噪音越大。T

he worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.

只有在一个地方扎根安居，树木才会长得茂盛，家庭才会兴旺发达。

I never saw an oft-transplanted tree, Nor yet an oft-removed family, That throve so well as those that settled be.

应该把高谈阔论者的耳朵剪掉，因为他们根本不需要。

世上最高尚的问题是：我能做些什么善事？

The noblest question in the world is What Good may I do in it?

阅读使人充实，沉思使人深刻，交谈使人清晰。

Reading makes a full Man, Meditation a profound Man, discourse a clear Man.

写作要引经据典，说话则应通俗易懂。

Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.

如果你不想死后被人遗忘，那就写些值得一读的作品，或做些值得被书写的事情。

If you wou'd not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.

不要出卖美德以获取财富，也不要出卖自由以获取权势。

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power.

婚前睁大双眼，婚后睁只眼闭只眼。

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.

既然连自己的舌头都管不住，又怎能去管别人的呢？

Since I cannot govern my own tongue, tho' within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongues of others?

讨价还价并不丢脸，贪小便宜才可耻。

‘Tis less discredit to abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty Gettings.

如果你做了不该做的事，那就得听不愿听的话。

If you do what you should not, you must hear what you would not.

与其活得长，不如活得精彩。

若有人奉承我，我也会奉承他，将其视为我最好的朋友一样夸赞。

If any man flatters me, I'll flatter him again; tho' he were my best Friend.

只有有教养的人才知道如何承认错误，或认识到自身错误。

None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in an error.

开玩笑无法化敌为友，但却可能化友为敌。

You canst not joke an Enemy into a Friend; but thou may'st a Friend into an Enemy.

不要吝啬那些让你毫无损失的东西，比如待人礼貌、给人忠告和鼓励。

Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, & countenance.

当心那些不轻易发怒的人：他们一旦为某事生气，就很难再高兴起来。

Beware of him that is slow to anger: He is angry for something, and will not be pleased for nothing.

不要把自己所知、所欠、所有、所能都全盘托出。

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.

对一切显而易见的美视而不见，却对每一处小瑕疵耿耿于怀，这是嫉妒心在捣鬼。

To all apparent Beauties, blind, Each Blemish, strikes, an envious Mind.

我们总发现别人身上的缺点，并指责他们被蒙蔽了双眼。抓住他人身上的小瑕疵不放，却对自身更大的缺点视而不见。

In other men we faults can spy, And blame the mote that dims their eye; Each little speck and blemish find; To our own stronger errors blind.

和别人说话时，看着对方的眼睛；听别人说话时，看着对方的嘴巴。

When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; When he speak to thee, look on his mouth.

观察所有人，尤其是你自己。

Observe all men; thy self most.

追求美德并拥有美德，剩下的事就交给上天吧。

Seek Virtue, and, of that possest, To Providence, resign the rest.

当你被人善待，铭记之；当你善待他人，忘却之。

When befriended, remember it:

伟大的灵魂和慷慨怜悯可以融化铁石心肠，但懦弱的暴君从未察觉。

Great souls with gen'rous pity melt; Which coward tyrants never felt.

不轻易赞美，也不轻易贬损。

Neither praise nor dispraise, till seven Christmasses be over.

将不满藏心底，若四处抱怨，只会遭受他人鄙视，徒增更多不满。

Let thy discontents be thy Secrets; if the world knows them, ‘twill despise thee and increase them.

批评他人过失时，先审视检讨自身。

Befor you remark another's Sin, Bid your own Conscience look within.

不要过分强调感恩，否则，它会反戈一击。

Don't overload Gratitude; if you do, she'll kick.

如果厄运未至，那么恐惧只是徒劳；如果厄运降临，恐惧也只能徒增痛苦。

如果不想让敌人知道你的秘密，那在朋友面前也要保密。

If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.

紧闭的嘴巴飞不进苍蝇。

Speak and speed: the close mouth catches no flies.

有智慧的人谨慎小心，懂得如何触及宗教、信誉或心灵的话题。

You will be careful, if you are wise; How you touch Men's Religion, or Credit, or

有智慧的人谨慎小心，懂得如何触及宗教、信誉或心灵的话题。

You will be careful, if you are wise; How you touch Men's Religion, or Credit, or Eyes.

啊，愚蠢的人！当时间和忠告这两件珍宝放在你面前时，你却丢失一个，扔掉另一个。

Ah simple Man! When a boy two precious jewels were given thee, Time, and good Advice; one you have lost, and the other thrown away.

注意！无所敬畏的人，骗人也会毫无顾忌。

Beware, beware! He'll cheat ‘ithout scruple, who can without fear.

上至国王下到奴隶，都不要对其说轻蔑之语，因为即便是小小的蜜蜂，也拥有并会使用那一根刺。

Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, The meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting.

让所有人都认识你，但不要让人彻底看透你。水浅会被人任意践踏。

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.

谁是强者？那些能克服自身坏习惯的人。谁是富人？那些享受生命、知足常乐的人。

Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad Habits. Who is rich? He that rejoices in his Portion.

锋芒毕露的人是愚蠢的。

He's a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.

没有礼貌，任何别的优点都难以弥补。

A Man without ceremony has need of great merit in its place.

走错了路，就要立即改正；走了正道，也要步步谨慎。仔细观察思考做事的方式、动机和目的，不断完善自我。倘若我们心地纯洁、为人正直，我们的目的就会明确清晰、正大光明，没有任何虚荣和矫饰。如成功，我们感谢上帝；若失败，我们甘心受罚，充满希望隐居山林，只俯首于上帝。

当即拒绝我，就算帮了我。

Do me the Favour to deny me at once.

真正的伟人既不会在小人物面前作威作福，也不会在帝王面前卑躬屈膝。

A true great Man will neither trample on a Worm, nor sneak to an Emperor.

把伤痛写在尘土上，将恩惠刻在石头上。

Write Injuries in Dust, Benefits in Marble.

和自己比赛，很可能赢得比赛。

Strive to be the greatest Man in your Country, and you may be disappointed; Strive to be the best, and you may succeed: He may well win the race that runs by himself.

不打听秘密者是明智的，不泄露秘密者是可信赖的。

It is wise not to seek a Secret, and Honest not to reveal it.

怀疑或许没错，但四处散布你的猜疑则可能铸成大错。

Suspicion may be no Fault, but shewing it may be a great one.

灵感女神垂青于早晨。

The Muse love the Morning.

傻瓜可能会犯两次同样的错误，他改正到一半就放弃了。

Two Faults of one a Fool will make; He half repairs, that owns & does forsake.

一知半解的人总爱高谈阔论，但很少说到点上。

Half Wits talk much but say little.

语言可以卖弄才智，但只有行动才能表达真意。

Words may shew a man's wit, but actions his meaning.

西塞罗说，吃不了苦头，成不了强者。其实还可以加上这么一条：吃不了素食，亦吃不了苦头。暴饮暴食，会使人精力涣散、身心愚钝。

傲慢先蒙住人的双眼，然后再驱使他奔跑。

Presumption first blinds a man, then sets him a running.

怀有仁慈心的高尚之人，只要看到美好善举，不管身在何处，都会感到无比愉悦。

知足使穷人富有，不满使富人贫穷。

Content makes poor men rich; Discontent makes rich Men poor.

不轻信、不争辩、不打赌、不放债，如此，你将一生太平。

Neither trust, nor contend, nor lay wagers, nor lend; And you'll have peace to your Lives end.

给年轻人一个忠告：选定最优的生活方式，习惯将使之愉悦无比。但很多人根本就没有这么做，他们没有制定任何人生计划，以实现有价值的目标，而永远只是从一件事晃荡到另一件事。

It was wise counsel given to a young man, Pitch upon that course of life which is most excellent, and CUSTOM will make it the most delightful. But many pitch on no course of life at all, nor form any scheme of living, by which to attain any valuable end; but wander perpetually from one thing to another.

你还没有确立自己的人生目标， 并为之努力奋斗吗？你还没有找到射箭的靶心吗？或是像个小孩追逐吃腐肉的乌鸦， 用弹丸和石子，从一棵树追逐到另一棵树， 徒劳无功，活得像个无所准备的临时过客？有病要及时医， 因为当水肿病肆虐，并蔓延至全身时， 再哭喊着四处求医就已经太晚了， 即便倾尽家产， 访遍再多的医生也换不回健康了。可怜的人，你要了解自己内心的想法。你为何要执迷于他人为你设定的人生， 以及人类崇高的道德目标？认识你自己，你的社会地位或阶层等， 英明的造物主都已为你安排好。投入其中、心怀审慎地主导你的命运吧。

据说，骄傲是好人最难摆脱的恶习。它变化多端，用各种扮相伪装自己，甚至有时会戴上谦逊的面具。如果有些人以衣着整洁得体为傲，就会有另一些人对此不屑一顾，并总是表现得不修边幅。

PRIDE is said to be the last vice the good man gets clear of. It is a meer Proteus, and disguises itself under all manner of appearances, putting on sometimes even the mask of humility. If some are proud of neatness and propriety of dress; others are equally so of despising it, and acting the perpetual sloven.

忽视可以消减伤害， 而报复只会增加伤痛。

Neglect kills Injuries, Revenge increases them.

侮辱敌人，你比敌人更低劣；报复敌人，你也只是和他同属一类；宽恕敌人，你将超越于他。

Doing an Injury puts you below your Enemy; Revenging one makes you but even with him; Forgiving it sets you above him.

问心无愧，就会无所畏惧。

Keep Conscience clear, Then never fear.

想领先他人，就必须先发制人。本应该上午完成的事情，却拖到下午才做，这不仅是管理不善，而且也是性格懒惰的表现。

He that would be beforehand in the World, must be beforehand with his Business: It is not only ill Management, but discovers a slothful Disposition, to do that in the Afternoon, which should have been done in the Morning.

当日事当日就要仔细完成。拖延常会出意外，未来捉摸不定，命运如女人般变幻无常。

PRECEPT Ⅱ. What can be done, with Care perform to Day, Dangers unthought-of will attend Delay; Your distant Prospects all precarious are, And Fortune is as fickle as she's fair.

有三样东西坚硬难破：钢铁、钻石以及自知之明。

There are three Things extremely hard, Steel, a Diamond and to know one's self.

能控制自身情感的人，是自己的主人，反之则只能沦为情感的奴隶。

He is a Governor that governs his Passions, and he a Servant that serves them.

零让其他数字更有意义，谦逊使其他美德更加突出。

A Cypher and Humility make the other Figures & Virtues of ten-fold Value.

做到既贫穷又诚实正直很难，但很光荣。就像空袋子几乎不可能直立，但若能，必定是结实牢固的。

It is hard ( but glorious ) to be poor and honest: An empty Sack can hardly stand upright; but if it does, It is a stout one!

能经受住他人责难并努力改善的人，即便不聪明，也离聪明不远了。

He that can bear a Reproof, and mend by it, if he is not wise, is in a fair way of being so.

换个角度看，无知也可能转化为虔诚。

That Ignorance makes devout, if right the Notion.

写作是一个多么绝妙的发明啊！通过写作，人们可以不开口就能表达自己的思想。和远在千里之外的人对话，甚至与后人交流。遗憾的是，如此非凡的艺术品未能保留下其创造者的姓名与生平。

换床治不好发烧，换工作也改善不了不满的心境。

Discontented Minds, and Fevers of the Body are not to be cured by changing Beds or Businesses.

贫穷但光明磊落，死去时也不会有麻烦事端。

Poor Plain dealing! Dead without Issue!

玻璃、瓷器和名誉，易碎但永远修补不好。

Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd, and never well mended.

年轻人鲁莽自信，年长者谦逊多虑。就像玉米穗，未成熟时笔直挺立，但成熟结穗后，便低下了头。

Youth is pert and positive, Age modest and doubting: So Ears of Corn when young and light, stand bolt upright, but hang their Heads when weighty, full, and ripe.

得意时露恶癖，逆境中显德行。

注：

作者富兰克林，一般管它叫《穷理查历书》。他说“我尽力把它编写得既有趣又有用，主要劝导人把勤奋、节俭当作致富手段，进而培养美德，这些谚语包含着历代多国的智慧，我把它们收集起来，编成一篇连贯的文章，当作一位逛拍卖市场的智叟的演说，放在历书的卷首。把所有的零散的忠言集中起来能给人留下更深刻的印象。”

更多阅读：《富兰克林自传》笔记