美腿與醜腿 The Handsome and Deformed Leg
[美國]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 of health wealth, and the other comforts of life, become, the one happy, and the other miserable. This arises very much from the different views 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 Conversation more or less pleasing;At whatever table, they may meet with Meats Drinks of better and worse taste, dishes betterworse dressed;In whatever climate they will find good and bad weather;Under whatever government, they may find good bad laws, and good bad administration of those laws. In every poem or work of genius they may see faults and beauties. In almost every Face very Person, they may discover fine Features Defects, good bad qualities.