乔治·克拉森/George Clason
Good King Sargon was lamenting the state of the city. The rich were getting richer and poor poorer. All of the gold of the city has found its way into the hands of“a few very rich men of our city.”
“Why should so few men be able to acquire all the gold?”said the King.
“Because they know how,”replied the Chancellor.“One may not condemn a man for succeeding because he knows how.”
“Who knows best in all our city how to become wealthy, Chancellor?”Asked the King.
“Your question answers for itself, your majesty. Who has amassed the greatest wealth in Babylon? Arkad.”replied the Chancellor.
Arkad was invited to appear before the King. The start of the conversation sums up the topic.
“How makes you so wealthy?”asked the King.
“Only a great desire for wealth. Besides this, nothing.”stated Arkad.
“Is there any secret to acquiring wealth? Can it be taught?”asked the King.
“It is practical, your majesty. That which one man knows can be taught to others.”replied Arkad.
The King wished for the knowledge that Arkad had accrued to be shared with the city folk. The King selected the“Chosen Hundred”to sit with Arkad.
The great man stood before the hundred and explained how he had had nothing as a youth other than an empty purse. He sought every remedy for a lean purse and found seven. The Seven Cures for a Lean Curse.
1. Start your purse to fattening.
“For every ten coins you placest within your purse take out for use but nine. Your purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in your hand and bring satisfaction to your soul.”
2. Control your expenditures.
“Budget your expenses that you might have coins to pay for your necessities, to pay for your enjoyments and to gratify your worthwhile desires without spending more than nine-tenths of your earnings.”
3. Make your gold multiply.
“Put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as flocks of the field and help to bring to you income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into your purse.”
4. Guard your treasures from loss.
“Guard your treasure from loss by investing only where your principle is safe. Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect your treasure from unsale investments.”
5. Make of your dwelling a profitable investment:“Own your own home.”
6. Insure a future income.
7. Increase your ability to earn.
“Cultivate your own powers, to study and become wiser, to become more skilful, to act as to respect yourself.”
Arkad ended his lecture urging the hundred that there is more gold than you can dream of, abundance for all, so go forth“grow wealth yourself, as is your right.”
巴比伦的明君萨贡王,始终担心自己臣民的生活。那里的富人越来越富,穷人却越来越穷。全城的金子都跑到了少数富人的囊中。
“为什么财富只掌握在少数人手里呢?”国王问道。
“因为他们懂得生财之道,任何人都不能谴责那些懂得如何成功的人。”大臣回答说。
“你知道谁是巴比伦城内最精通致富之道的人吗?”国王问道。
“陛下,你的问题里就有答案。您想想看,巴比伦最富有的人是谁呢?当然是阿卡德了。”大臣回答道。
于是,阿卡德便被请到萨贡王面前,并就积累财富问题进行了一番探讨。
“你是怎样积累这么多钱的,阿卡德?”国王问道。
“只靠一颗迫切渴望获得财富的心,除此之外别无其他。”阿卡德回答道。
“那么,是否有获得财富的奥秘呢?这个奥秘可以传授给别人吗?”国王继续问道。
“陛下,任何懂得致富之道的人都可以将这个奥秘告诉他人——那是个很实用的奥秘。”阿卡德回答道。
萨贡王希望阿卡德能够将致富秘诀拿出来与世人共享。于是,他选派了一百位大臣坐在阿卡德面前。
阿卡德站在众人面前,详细讲述了自己发财的原因。他总结了七条,并将摆脱贫困的七大要领教给了大臣们:
第一,先让你的钱包鼓起来。
“如果你将十枚硬币放进钱包里,那么你最多只能花九个,这样一来,你的钱包不久之后就会再次鼓起来。把它握在手里,感受它逐渐增加的重量,你会有一种满足感,你的灵魂也不再空虚。”
第二,学会做预算。
“学会做预算,以防不时之需时手足无措。除此之外,它可以使你在能够承受得起的范围内实现你的欲望。”
第三,让你的钱不断升值。
“让每一枚硬币的价值都发挥最大作用,如果你能使它们像田地里的牲畜一样不断繁殖,金钱就会源源不断地流入你的钱包。”
第四,谨慎投资,避免损失。
“如果你的计划尚不成熟,千万不要盲目地进行投资,首先应该向智者咨询,确定计划切实可行后再付诸行动,智者的话可以使你的财产不受损失。”
第五,拥有属于自己的房子,让你的住宅变成可盈利的投资。
第六,为将来作好准备。
第七,不断提高自己的赚钱能力。
“通过不断学习努力提升自身能力,不仅使自己更加聪明,而且还要有实际技能,要相信自己确实具备这样的能力。”
最后,阿卡德强调说:“朋友们,巴比伦有无数黄金等待着你们去挖掘,黄金的数量会远远超出你们的想象,它足以使所有人丰衣足食。因此,努力去做吧,你们一定能行!”
贫困并不可怕,关键是你有没有摆脱贫困的决心。
lament [l?'ment] v.悲叹;悔恨;哀悼;痛惜
She always laments her misfortunes.
她总是悲叹自己的不幸。
amass [?'m?s] v.积聚;积累
You should amass a fortune.
你正在积聚财富。
remedy ['remidi] n.治疗;补救;赔偿
Patience is the remedy for every trouble.
耐心是医治任何烦恼的良药。
budget ['b?d?it] v.安排;预定;把……编入预算
You have to budget your time.
你必须把你的时间安排一下。
那里的富人越来越富,穷人却越来越穷。
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如果你将十枚硬币放进钱包里,那么你最多只能花九个。
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如果你的计划尚不成熟,千万不要盲目地进行投资。
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The start of the conversation sums up the topic.
sum up:总结;计算……的总数;概述
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Put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as flocks of the field and help to bring to you income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into your purse.
put to:靠岸;应用
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