“A man；” says Dr。 Johnson； “should spend part of his time with the laughers。”
Humor was Lincoln’s life…preserver； as it has been of thousands of others。 “If it were not for this；” he used to say； “I should die。” His jests and quaint stories lighted the gloom of dark hours of national peril。
“Next to virtue；” said Agnes Strickland； “the fun in this world is what we can least spare。”
“I have fun from morning till night；” said the editor Charles A。 Dana to a friend who was growing prematurely old。 “Do you read novels； and play billiards； and walk a great deal？”
Gladstone early formed a habit of looking on the bright side of things； and never lost a moment’s sleep by worrying about public business．
There are many out…of…door sports，and the very presence of nature is to many a great joy。 How true it is that； if we are cheerful and contented； all nature smiles with us—the air seems more balmy； the sky more clear，the earth has a brighter green； the trees have a richer foliage； the flowers are more fragrant； the birds sing more sweetly； and the sun； moon； and stars all appear more beautiful。 “It is a grand thing to live—to open the eyes in the morning and look out upon the world； to drink in the pure air and enjoy the sweet sunshine； to feel the pulse bound，and the being thrill with the consciousness of strength and power in every nerve； it is a good thing simply to be alive； and it is a good world we live in； in spite of the abuse we are fond of giving it。”
Upon every side of us are to be found what one has happily called—unworked joy mines．
And he who goes “prospecting” to see what he can daily discover is a wise man； training his eye to see beauty in everything and everywhere．
“One ought； every day；” says Goethe；“at least to hear a little song，read a good poem； see a fine picture； and； if it were possible； to speak a few reasonable words。” And if this be good for one’s self； why not try the song； the poem； the picture； and the good words； on some one else？ Shall music and poetry die out of you while you are struggling for that which can never enrich the character； nor add to the soul’s worth？Shall a disciplined imagination fill the mind with beautiful pictures？ He who has intellectual resources to fall back upon will not lack for daily recreation most wholesome。。．
In the world of books； what is grand and inspiring may easily bee a part of every man’s life。 A fondness for good literature，for good fiction； for travel； for history； and for biography—what is better than this？
自由
沃尔特？惠特曼
大部分人不仅彻底曲解了“自由”的含义，更可怕的是，我有时觉得还没有见过一个能恰当了解“自由”的人。整个宇宙是一个亘古不变的法则。对于堕落和愚昧无知的人，甚至对芸芸众生来说，自由就是避开法律，而这肯定是不能实现的。比世俗的所有财富更珍贵的是自由，自由意味着从教会神学的痛苦禁闭和悲观的狭隘中脱离出来；自由意味着在礼仪、服饰、家具上的随心所欲；自由意味着从地方流行的愚蠢和束缚中脱离出来；自由意味着彻彻底底地从党派小圈子和政治运作的旧例中脱离出来；其中最为重要的是，当我们每个人差不多都（我们常常大声叫喊着要自由）受控于罪恶、恶习、欲望时，自由意味着自我从奴役的严酷压迫中彻底脱离出来。我们可以获得这样的自由吗？自由是真正的民主，高度的民主。从出生到死亡，这无法阻挡的法则都在束缚着我们，束缚着我们的一举一动、分分秒秒。可是，说起来有些矛盾，我们却一直想方设法要逃脱，拥有真正的自由意志。奇怪得很，可是唯有学习法则并默默地服从法则，我们才能获得自由。意志是伟大的！人类自由的灵魂是伟大的！伟大得无法形容。当意志力达到完美，理解并服从法则，那时候，仅仅是那时候，人们才能获得真正的自由。这是因为自由的法则无比高尚。同其他法则一样绝对，不，比其他法则还要绝对。肤浅的人认为自由意味着从一切法则的约束中脱离出来。而智者则截然相反，他们从中意识到了威力无穷的众法之法，它是有意识的意志力、局部的个人准则与通用的、持久的、没有意识的法则的融合。而这种法则经历了所有时代，写进了整个历史，被证明是恒久不变的。这种法则为整个客观世界指明了道德方向，为人类的生活保证了最后的尊严。
■ 心灵小语
自由比一切财富更为珍贵！芸芸众生；谁不渴望生活的自由、心灵的自由、行动的自由？我们无时无刻不在想方设法摆脱一切世俗的束缚；寻求真正的自由。然而；只有理解并服从法则；才能获得真正的自由。自由——这自然界恒久不变的至高法则，在冥冥之中；为整个客观世界指明了道德方向。
Freedom
Walter Whitman
It is not only true that most people entirely misunderstand Freedom； but I sometimes think I have not yet met one person who rightly understands it。 The whole Universe is absolute Law。 To the degraded or undeveloped—and even to too many others—the thought of freedom is a thought of escaping from law—which； of course； is impossible。 More precious than all worldly riches is Freedom—freedom from the painful constipation and poor narrowness of ecclesiasticism—freedom in manners； habiliments； furniture； from the silliness and tyranny of local fashions—entire freedom from party rings and mere conventions in Politics—and better than all； a general freedom of oneself from the tyrannic domination of vices； habits； appetites； under which nearly every man of us； （often the greatest brawler for freedom）； is enslaved。 Can we attain such enfranchisement—the true Democracy； and the height of it？ While we are from birth to death the subjects of irresistible law； enclosing every movement and minute； we yet escape； by a paradox； into true free will。 Strange as it may seem； we only attain to freedom by a knowledge of； and implicit obedience to Law。 Great—unspeakably great—is the Will！ The free Soul of man！ At its greatest； understanding and obeying the laws； it can then； and then only； maintain true ； that law as absolute as any—more absolute than any—the Law of Liberty。 The shallow； as intimated； consider liberty a release from all law； from every constraint。 The wise see in it； on the contrary； the potent law of Laws； namely； the fusion and bination of the conscious will； or partial individual law； with those universal； eternal； unconscious ones； which run through all Time； pervade history； prove immortality； give moral purpose to the entire objective world； and the last dignity to human life。
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面对人生的十字路口
佛罗伦萨？斯高伏尔？西恩
我们每天都要面临不同的选择。“是该这样，还是该那样？我是要走还是留？”许多人都很茫然。于是他们跑去让别人替他们拿主意，然而又为听了他人的意见而后悔。
当然，也会有人为自己的前途进行考虑分析。他们就像经营杂货店一样经营着自己的未来。当有一天他们达到了自己的目标，往往会惊叹不已。
还有一些人会跟着感觉走，转眼之间就到了他们梦想中的天堂。
直觉，是一种高于理性思想的本能。然而，只有当你有着强烈欲望或者迫切需要的时候，这种本能才会显现出来。所以，相信自己的直觉，跟着感觉走吧！
但大多数人的这种本能还未被唤醒。所以，我们要说，唤醒沉睡的直觉吧，唤醒心中的巨人吧！
现在，你正面临着一个十字路口，到你作决定的时候了！看看你的直觉会给你一个怎样的确定答案，然后，勇敢尝试一下！
我们会发现，成功的道路上有了直觉为伴，我们变得愈加强大，愈加勇敢。
一位金融界的成功人士对他的朋友说：“我从来都是跟着感觉走的，我是一个幸运儿！”
灵感是人的一生中最重要的一种能量。人们往往会产生灵感。有了灵感，人们在工作时就会如鱼得水，应变自如。
无论何时都不要恐惧，因为它会在我们的心中萌芽。
■ 心灵小语
每个人都有迷茫彷徨的时候，当面对人生的十字路口时，你会作何选择呢？是去是留，还是盲目地听从他人的建议？跟着感觉走吧，它会指引我们，帮助我们排除万难，作出正确的选择，把我们带到成功的面前。
The Fork in the Road
Florence Scovel Shinn
Every day there is a necessity of choice （a fork in the road）。 “Shall I do this； or shall I do that？ Shall I go； or shall I stay？” Many people do not know what to do。 They rush about letting other people make decisions for them； then regret having taken their advice。
There are others who carefully reason things out。 They weigh and measure the situation like dealing in groceries； and are surprised when they fail to obtain their goal。
There are still other people who follow the magic path of intuition and find themselves in their Promised Land in the twinkling of an eye。
Intuition is a spiritual faculty high above the reasoning mind； but on the path is all that you desire or require。 So choose ye this day to follow the magic path of intuition。
In most people it is a facult