本杰明·富蘭克林,美國科學家,政治家,外交家,美國獨立宣言和憲法簽署人,作家,出版家,成功的印刷廠主。據(jù)說這13條美德是他在20歲時自己制定的,每周努力實習一項,到13周后重來一遍。(本來想翻譯,仔細看過卻覺得不如放在這里學英文)
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.
節(jié)制:不要吃得像個傻子,也不要喝得飄飄然。
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
沉默:只說那些能讓他人或自己受益的話。避免閑聊。
3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
秩序:讓東西各歸其位。給自己的事務安排好時間。
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
決心:下定決心做你應該做的。把要解決的問題成功解決掉。
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
節(jié)儉:只花對他人或自己有益處的錢,就是說不要浪費任何東西。
6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
勤奮:不要浪費時間。總應該有些有用的事來做。取消一切不必要的活動。
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
誠實:不要惡意騙人。以善意和公正為思考的出發(fā)點;而且說話也應如此。
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
正當:不應當去傷害人或因失職而使利益受損。
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
適度:避免極端??酥圃购迺矶啻蟮膫H在自己一念之間。
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
整潔:不可容忍身體、衣服和住所的污穢。
11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another‘s peace or reputation.
貞潔:僅為健康和生育的目的行房;不要在此事上犯傻,也不要軟弱,更不要有損于自己或他人的平靜與名聲。
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
冷靜:不要讓瑣事,普通或不可避免的事故來擾亂自己。
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
謙遜:向耶酥和蘇格拉底學習。
(第9條中間應該是forbear,而不是forebear。
這些美德記錄在富蘭克林的自傳當中。這個網(wǎng)站上的文本是這個寫法,其他可以Google到的幾乎全錯了。)