[英國]勞埃德·莫裏斯/Lloyd Morris
勞埃德·莫裏斯（1613-1680），英國作家，作品富於機智幽默。著有《格言集》等。
本文以演繹的手法論述快樂對人的影響。作者先借梅斯菲爾德的詩引出“快樂”與“智慧”的關係，接著以人在快樂時的種種心理反應，點出快樂無處不在。最後再給予肯定的結論：快樂是智慧的開端。
“The days that make us happy make us wise.”
-John Masefield
When I first read this line by England's Poet Laureate, it startled me. What did Masefield mean?Without thinking about it much, I had always assumed that the opposite was true. But his sober assurance was arresting. I could not forget it.
Finally, I seemed to grasp his meaning and realized that here was a profound observation. The wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not fogged by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind spots caused by fear.
Active happiness-not mere satisfaction or contentment-often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has accompanied it. The grass is greener, bird songs are sweeter, the shortcomings of your friends are more understandable and more forgivable. Happiness is like a pair of eyeglasses correcting your spiritual vision.
Nor are the insights of happiness limited to what is near around you. Unhappy, with your thoughts turned in upon your emotional woes, your vision is cut short as though by a wall. Happy, the wall crumbles.
The long vista is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you-people, thoughts, emotions, pressures-are now fitted into the larger scene. Every thing assumes a fairer proportion. And here is the beginning of wisdom.
“快樂的日子，使我們聰明。”
——約翰·梅斯菲爾德
第一次讀到英國桂冠詩人梅斯菲爾德這行詩的時候，我非常驚訝，它真正的寓意是什麽呢？不仔細考慮的話，我一直認為這句詩倒過來才對。不過他的冷靜與自信卻俘獲了我，所以我一直無法忘記這句詩。