本傑明·富蘭克林/Benjamin Franklin
本傑明·富蘭克林（1706—1790），18世紀美國最偉大的科學家，著名的政治家和文學家。他生於北美洲的波士頓，幼年家境貧窮，一生隻受過兩年正式教育。8歲入學，10歲輟學，此後又當了近10年的印刷工人。但他自學從未間斷過，從自然科學、技術方麵的讀物到著名科學家的論文以及名家作品，無不涉獵。
1726年，他出版了《窮查理曆書》，當時被譯成12種文字，暢銷歐美各國。也奠定了他在文學上地位。獨立戰爭爆發後，他參加了第二屆大陸會議和《獨立宣言》的起草工作。
1790年4月17日，深夜11點，富蘭克林溘然逝去。他一生最真實的寫照是他自己所過的一句話“誠實和勤勉，應該成為你永久的伴侶。”本文是作者於1780年創作的，當時他正在法國為國事奔走，卻仍然有閑情雅致寫這種輕鬆的文章，此文足以窺見作者美國式的幽默和機智。
There are two sorts of people in the world,who with equal degrees o f health&wealth,and the other comforts of life,become,the one happ y,and the other miserable.This arises very much from the different vie ws 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&convers ation more or less pleasing;At whatever table,they may meet with meats&drinks of better and worse taste,dishes better&worse dressed;In w hatever climate they will find good and bad weather;Under whatever gove rnment,they may find good&bad laws,and good&bad administration o f those laws.In every poem or work of genius they may see faults and be auties.In almost every face&every person,they may discover fine feat ures&defects,good&bad qualities.