登陆注册
4720600000115

第115章

To provide for others and for our own comfort and independence in old age, is honourable, and greatly to be commended; but to hoard for mere wealth's sake is the characteristic of the narrow-souled and the miserly. It is against the growth of this habit of inordinate saving that the wise man needs most carefully to guard himself: else, what in youth was simple economy, may in old age grow into avarice, and what was a duty in the one case, may become a vice in the other. It is the LOVE of money - not money itself -which is "the root of evil," - a love which narrows and contracts the soul, and closes it against generous life and action. Hence, Sir Walter Scott makes one of his characters declare that "the penny siller slew more souls than the naked sword slew bodies." It is one of the defects of business too exclusively followed, that it insensibly tends to a mechanism of character. The business man gets into a rut, and often does not look beyond it. If he lives for himself only, he becomes apt to regard other human beings only in so far as they minister to his ends. Take a leaf from such men's ledger and you have their life.

Worldly success, measured by the accumulation of money, is no doubt a very dazzling thing; and all men are naturally more or less the admirers of worldly success. But though men of persevering, sharp, dexterous, and unscrupulous habits, ever on the watch to push opportunities, may and do "get on" in the world, yet it is quite possible that they may not possess the slightest elevation of character, nor a particle of real goodness. He who recognizes no higher logic than that of the shilling, may become a very rich man, and yet remain all the while an exceedingly poor creature. For riches are no proof whatever of moral worth; and their glitter often serves only to draw attention to the worthlessness of their possessor, as the light of the glowworm reveals the grub.

The manner in which many allow themselves to be sacrificed to their love of wealth reminds one of the cupidity of the monkey - that caricature of our species. In Algiers, the Kabyle peasant attaches a gourd, well fixed, to a tree, and places within it some rice.

The gourd has an opening merely sufficient to admit the monkey's paw. The creature comes to the tree by night, inserts his paw, and grasps his booty. He tries to draw it back, but it is clenched, and he has not the wisdom to unclench it. So there he stands till morning, when he is caught, looking as foolish as may be, though with the prize in his grasp. The moral of this little story is capable of a very extensive application in life.

The power of money is on the whole over-estimated. The greatest things which have been done for the world have not been accomplished by rich men, nor by subscription lists, but by men generally of small pecuniary means. Christianity was propagated over half the world by men of the poorest class; and the greatest thinkers, discoverers, inventors, and artists, have been men of moderate wealth, many of them little raised above the condition of manual labourers in point of worldly circumstances. And it will always be so. Riches are oftener an impediment than a stimulus to action; and in many cases they are quite as much a misfortune as a blessing. The youth who inherits wealth is apt to have life made too easy for him, and he soon grows sated with it, because he has nothing left to desire. Having no special object to struggle for, he finds time hang heavy on his hands; he remains morally and spiritually asleep; and his position in society is often no higher than that of a polypus over which the tide floats.

同类推荐
  • 童子礼

    童子礼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重阳教化集

    重阳教化集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孙真人摄养论

    孙真人摄养论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 安南传

    安南传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汤头歌诀

    汤头歌诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爱你,是我的地老天荒

    爱你,是我的地老天荒

    【全文完】“老公,是你说的只要我喜欢的都尽管带回家,包包,衣服,化妆品...喏,还有一个帅哥!”盛世掀桌,是谁说的,娶了她,她就是他的独家玩具,无人敢碰。事实证明,不把他放在眼里的人不只是顾阑珊:“先生,这是快递给顾小姐的玫瑰花,请签收。”“少爷,一个男人站在楼下给太太唱了一夜情歌。”本书已出版,出版名为《爱你,是我的地老天荒》,当当网,淘宝都有卖
  • 拿破仑传

    拿破仑传

    本书主要讲述了法国近代史上非常优秀的军事统帅、伟大的政治家拿破仑跌宕起伏的传奇人生。他出身卑微,却以小人物跻身影响法国政局,影响法国历史,乃至欧洲格局的伟大政治家、军事家,缔造了无数个动人心魄的传奇故事。他是传奇般的人物。
  • TF余生与你们一起走

    TF余生与你们一起走

    最好的年纪里遇见最好的你,定不辜负这美好的青春年华,最难得的是能够有一生一世不离不弃陪伴着你的人,当缘分落在每个人身上,总是让人捉摸不透是好是坏,也许这个人是你最讨厌的人,甚至是你们互相拿着炸药包想要炸死对方的人,可缘分就是这样奇妙,成为一生的牵绊。有时怦然心动也许连自己也不能理解为什么会这样,当成熟稳健的大哥【王俊凯】,一直以高冷著称的千总【易烊千玺】和亲近友善的二源【王源】三人将会发生或遇到什么样蜿蜒曲折的故事呢,他们会找到对的人吗,而经历的风风雨雨他们互相又能否有所成长。
  • 远山堂剧品

    远山堂剧品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我有阳光和你

    我有阳光和你

    她,正当惨遭背叛时,遇到了他,却无意惹得朋友反目、阴谋乍现。明明她只是答应了他当假女友哄奶奶高兴高兴,可。。。一场车祸,老太太重病难治,他与她为了能让奶奶瞑目,一纸婚书假定终生。。。——————————————————“小晚,嫁我好吗?我定用一生守护于你。”鲜艳的深红玫瑰和闪亮的钻石戒指在眼前,他单膝跪地,十分温柔。所有人都等着她的回答。她却笑了笑,望了眼轮椅上虚弱的奶奶,心里狠狠地告诉自己:不许感动,这只是一场假戏而已。孰不知,这场所谓的‘假戏’,他用尽了真情!
  • 无敌小农女

    无敌小农女

    【推荐新文《美食田园:夫君是恶霸》】穿越到一个又傻还丑的小农女身上,凤小小直叹命苦。二八少女人难嫁,万般无奈之下她爹只好在路边捡了一个男人回来,问她:“我的姑娘耶,这个男人俊不俊呐?”凤小小流着口水:“俊。”成亲第一天,陌生男人说:“收起你的口水给爷滚远点。”凤小小说:“他们说成亲就是两个人一起睡的意思。”后来,男人说:“媳妇,成亲就是要一起睡。”凤小小:“你以前不是这么说的……”一身医术在手,凤小小带着全家脱贫攻坚,从此奔上了小康之路。【大家记得收藏啊!宠文!】
  • 妾色

    妾色

    “你是不是该给我一个解释?”他冷眸微眯,席卷起暴风雨般的危险。与他成亲一年,两个月前暴病去世的女人此刻竟然悠闲的逛着街,而她身边四五岁的男娃为何该死的越看越像他?这个女人到底还有多少事瞒着他?“公子,我们认识吗?”明眸轻抬,她一脸的无辜,一脸的茫然,那神情竟是比她身边的小娃儿还要纯净上几分。男娃儿双眸轻眨,虽然娘亲伪装的能力所向披靡,只是,此刻他觉的眼前的这个男人太过危险,绝不会上当,这次娘亲只怕、、、、“秦可儿,我不介意用行动来好好告诉你,我们到底认不认识。”果然,下一刻,如暴风狂袭,他已经近到眼前,他倒要看看这个女人还要装到什么时候?而他所谓的行动、、、、绝宠篇:“秦、可、儿。”惊起的怒吼,急步而来的他一脸的冰冷,酝酿着惊心动魄的风暴,她知不知这么做的危险?众人幸灾乐祸,谁都知道惹了这位爷绝没好下场,此刻他这般狂怒而来,接下来,她只怕骨头都不剩、、、、“夫君,我错了。”转身,回眸,前一刻还冷若冰霜,雷厉风行的女子瞬间化身柔弱清白合,楚楚动人,小鸟依人,清莹的眸子无辜的望向他。“娘子,咱能换一招吗?”顷刻间,随着一声无奈的轻叹,冷冽的冰霜已化为柔情似水的宠爱与疼惜。每次都这般,偏偏他每次都无力招架。“好呀。”顿时,笑颜如花,她轻挽起他的手臂,理所当然的回应,“等我想到比这招更管用的,咱就换一下。”他唇角轻抽,她这是明目张胆的承认想方设法的糊弄他?!他到底娶了怎么样的一个女人?众人一个个晃瞎了眼,瞬间呆若木鸡,难以置信,这真的是那个冷酷无情,人人敬畏的男人?从此,众所皆知,号称冷面阎王的他宠妻宠到了极致,即便前一刻他怒火滔天,只要她一个弱弱的撒娇,他便没有了一点办法,半点脾气。她:冷,足以冰封千里。笑,顷刻春暖花开。静,宛若人间仙子。动,瞬息风云变换。外加,“一点”腹黑,一点可爱,一点娇萌,当然,这只是针对他才会有的。谁能告诉他,这是他的幸?还是不幸?
  • 压倒绝色王爷

    压倒绝色王爷

    她,在现代是遭父母遗弃的孤儿!原本以为自己会孤独地老去,却在一次突发善心地去救要被车给撞倒的小孩的途中,不幸地被车撞死了!然后华丽丽地穿越到了某个不知名的朝代了,还很好命地附身于丞相府集万千宠爱于一身的小小姐的身上!虽然身体小了点,可这不并不影响她的生活!每天都过的有滋有味,还总是不小心地把丞相府给弄得鸡飞狗跳的!以至于丞相老爹在看见她把注意力转移到当朝最红的王爷身上时,很够意思的把女儿推给了那个绝色王爷!随便她怎么闹吧,只要不是在他丞相府闹就够了!不是他当爹的狠心,实在是他招架住这个捣蛋鬼!这样的结果就是绝色王爷府遭殃了,不仅整个王爷府被她玩转在手心上,最后连王爷都被她成功压倒在身下!所以整个王爷府的人在心底无不为自个的主子大呼:可怜的王爷啊!PS:剧情慢热,中途有小虐,结局皆大欢喜★★★领养榜★★★女主【简雅】——看似脑残,其实是个捣蛋鬼&亲linglingkunming领养&绝色男们【东方辰逸】——朝鹰王朝最妖艳最绝美的王爷,绝色的面容下藏着一颗毒黑的心,是腹黑中的强手&亲苦笑着说你真贱领养&【秋子賽】——江湖第一高手,杀人只需三秒【炎彬】——武林盟主,德高望重,外冷内热,闷骚【欧阳风华】——欧阳世家最不受器重的私生子,看似风流,实专情【白晋鹏】——白家的当家人,经商世家,手段毒辣,置之死地而后生是他的风格【端木明轩】——纳西族的王位继承人,儒雅公子,无心于皇位,被逼为王【司马柏】——布朗族的王子,民族被灭,满身的仇恨,嗜血的眼睛银色发丝,犹来自地狱的死神&亲xsyx88领养&【景子扉】——腹黑男,爱调侃人,刀子嘴豆腐心&亲xqw131领养&【景子墨】——人如其名,好比淡墨的山水画,脉脉温情,让人觉得心安&&萍领养&&强烈推荐俺师傅滴文:过期爱情她爱钱,强烈的爱钱,所以在三年前,因为任宵云的一句话成了他的床伴。她爱钱,但爱的有取舍,所以在三年后,她毫不留恋的说了分手,当然称为钱货两讫也不为过。
  • 四圣真君灵签

    四圣真君灵签

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 傲娇老公抱回家

    傲娇老公抱回家

    别人家的竹马:温柔体贴帅气易扑倒鹿时家的竹马:腹黑毒舌双面易吃掉鹿时大哭,大哥你是不是拿错剧本啊?林深一把揪起“为民除害!”