登陆注册
14833600000099

第99章

We have abundant illustrations, in our own day, of the fact that the highest intellectual power is not incompatible with the active and efficient performance of routine duties. Grote, the great historian of Greece, was a London banker. And it is not long since John Stuart Mill, one of our greatest living thinkers, retired from the Examiner's department of the East India Company, carrying with him the admiration and esteem of his fellow officers, not on account of his high views of philosophy, but because of the high standard of efficiency which he had established in his office, and the thoroughly satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the business of his department.

The path of success in business is usually the path of common sense. Patient labour and application are as necessary here as in the acquisition of knowledge or the pursuit of science. The old Greeks said, "to become an able man in any profession, three things are necessary - nature, study, and practice." In business, practice, wisely and diligently improved, is the great secret of success. Some may make what are called "lucky hits," but like money earned by gambling, such "hits" may only serve to lure one to ruin. Bacon was accustomed to say that it was in business as in ways - the nearest way was commonly the foulest, and that if a man would go the fairest way he must go somewhat about. The journey may occupy a longer time, but the pleasure of the labour involved by it, and the enjoyment of the results produced, will be more genuine and unalloyed. To have a daily appointed task of even common drudgery to do makes the rest of life feel all the sweeter.

The fable of the labours of Hercules is the type of all human doing and success. Every youth should be made to feel that his happiness and well-doing in life must necessarily rely mainly on himself and the exercise of his own energies, rather than upon the help and patronage of others. The late Lord Melbourne embodied a piece of useful advice in a letter which he wrote to Lord John Russell, in reply to an application for a provision for one of Moore the poet's sons: "My dear John," he said, "I return you Moore's letter. Ishall be ready to do what you like about it when we have the means.

I think whatever is done should be done for Moore himself. This is more distinct, direct, and intelligible. Making a small provision for young men is hardly justifiable; and it is of all things the most prejudicial to themselves. They think what they have much larger than it really is; and they make no exertion. The young should never hear any language but this: 'You have your own way to make, and it depends upon your own exertions whether you starve or not.' Believe me, &c., MELBOURNE."Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, always produces its due effects. It carries a man onward, brings out his individual character, and stimulates the action of others. All may not rise equally, yet each, on the whole, very much according to his deserts. "Though all cannot live on the piazza," as the Tuscan proverb has it, "every one may feel the sun."On the whole, it is not good that human nature should have the road of life made too easy. Better to be under the necessity of working hard and faring meanly, than to have everything done ready to our hand and a pillow of down to repose upon. Indeed, to start in life with comparatively small means seems so necessary as a stimulus to work, that it may almost be set down as one of the conditions essential to success in life. Hence, an eminent judge, when asked what contributed most to success at the bar, replied, "Some succeed by great talent, some by high connexions, some by miracle, but the majority by commencing without a shilling."We have heard of an architect of considerable accomplishments, - a man who had improved himself by long study, and travel in the classical lands of the East, - who came home to commence the practice of his profession. He determined to begin anywhere, provided he could be employed; and he accordingly undertook a business connected with dilapidations, - one of the lowest and least remunerative departments of the architect's calling. But he had the good sense not to be above his trade, and he had the resolution to work his way upward, so that he only got a fair start. One hot day in July a friend found him sitting astride of a house roof occupied with his dilapidation business. Drawing his hand across his perspiring countenance, he exclaimed, "Here's a pretty business for a man who has been all over Greece!" However, he did his work, such as it was, thoroughly and well; he persevered until he advanced by degrees to more remunerative branches of employment, and eventually he rose to the highest walks of his profession.

The necessity of labour may, indeed, be regarded as the main root and spring of all that we call progress in individuals, and civilization in nations; and it is doubtful whether any heavier curse could be imposed on man than the complete gratification of all his wishes without effort on his part, leaving nothing for his hopes, desires or struggles. The feeling that life is destitute of any motive or necessity for action, must be of all others the most distressing and insupportable to a rational being. The Marquis de Spinola asking Sir Horace Vere what his brother died of, Sir Horace replied, "He died, Sir, of having nothing to do." "Alas!" said Spinola, "that is enough to kill any general of us all."Those who fail in life are however very apt to assume a tone of injured innocence, and conclude too hastily that everybody excepting themselves has had a hand in their personal misfortunes.

同类推荐
  • My Lady Caprice

    My Lady Caprice

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 许黄门先生文集

    许黄门先生文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大慧度经宗要

    大慧度经宗要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • El Dorado

    El Dorado

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 達海叢書·附錄

    達海叢書·附錄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 萌娃出没请注意

    萌娃出没请注意

    胆小害羞的夏天在二十岁那年做了她这辈子最大胆的一件事,她偷溜进偶像的酒店房间想与偶像春风一度,借个儿子玩玩。如她所愿,果然怀了,还是龙凤双胞胎。这可把夏天给乐坏了,她想,她着也算是儿女双全了,正好正好。她原本想带着儿女就这样一家三口幸幸福福的过小日子,可是,三年后突然出现在她眼前的那个男人是怎么回事,怎么和她家宝贝长一个样……随着一系列的事情发生,已为人母的夏天发现了一个大秘密————丫的!老娘当年进错了房间该肿么破啊!!!
  • 万魔同行之空魔

    万魔同行之空魔

    空:唉!我这么打拼到底是为什么呢?宝:保护弱者!空:没事找事,没意思!宝:我辈立尊称王。空:无趣!没那个闲心了。宝:那,守护亲人?空:那也是早就完成的事了。宝:那是为什么?空(耸肩):谁知道!宝:.............
  • 缘音,这首曲为你而作

    缘音,这首曲为你而作

    叶缘音出生在音乐世家里,她从懂事起,一直接触着音乐,她希望自己能成为钢琴家。可好景不长,她的父亲出了意外去世了,她和母亲只能相依为命。虽然如此,但她仍然没放弃自己的梦想,她会完成自己的梦想吗?
  • 神龙谣

    神龙谣

    天子脚下风吹雨,乾坤殿上步步棋。万妖谷中神龙现,人生不尽唏嘘。
  • 我与他的邂逅

    我与他的邂逅

    这个是我做梦时梦到的,很难忘,我都为他悲哀。
  • 修仙者在校园

    修仙者在校园

    一个懦弱的穷学生,再一次被同班的恶霸打伤后,被一个老者遇见,老者给了它一本书,随后就消失不见,因为这本书他成为一代强者,在学校调戏美女老师,追班花,追校花,,
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 花样美男1

    花样美男1

    小女猪花雅男被男友说服改名闯入了中国人气偶像团体A.H.Man成为其中一员,遇上了高冷的大Boss花臣男、暖男帅哥花亚男和孩子般喜怒无常的Samuel。女扮男装的她在团队里发生一连串的趣事。在一个不小心下,被大Boss和队员花亚男发现其真实身份。两人奋力维护,并在不知不觉中产生情愫......另一边花臣男的神秘前女友突然回国,暗里百般刁难花美男(花雅男),明里又威胁花臣男和她重归于好,本已对大Boss产生感情的她又该何去何从??????然而冥冥之中又是什么让三个花样美男发现了自己的真实身份成为了兄弟,又是什么让花美男狠心放下花臣男离他而去??????
  • 九世传说之圣院

    九世传说之圣院

    主人公牧九修炼九世轮回决,九世巅峰轮回,本书讲述第三世轮回于地球,以大法力拯救地球。。。。
  • 夏棠

    夏棠

    深情不及久伴,厚爱无需多言,程诺用了两年时间才从伤痛里走出来,一颗心像从冰水里捞出来一样,再也没有温度,直到那个男人出现,他是温暖的太阳,照亮她的黑夜,伴她前行。