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@fantaghiro 2016-06-30T09:02:21.000000Z 字数 23727 阅读 6751

B1U5T1 Citizen Ben's Great Virtues

文本细读 商务英语综合教程

Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winks at us. George Washington's colleagues found it hard to imagine touching the austere general on the shoulder, and we would find it even more so today. Jefferson and Adams are just as intimidating. But Ben Franklin, that genial urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those spectacles.

Benjamin Franklin is the founding father who winks at us.

George Washington's colleagues found it hard to imagine touching the austere general on the shoulder, and we would find it even more so today.

Jefferson and Adams are just as intimidating.

But Ben Franklin, that genial urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those spectacles.

He helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor and philosophical pragmatism. In foreign policy, he create an approach that wove together idealism with balance-of-power realism. In politics, he proposed seminal plans for uniting the colonies and creating a federal model for a national government. And he was the person most responsible, of all the Founders, for instilling in the new nation the virtue that is central to its role in the world struggle: that of tolerance, specifically religious tolerance.

He helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor and philosophical pragmatism.

In foreign policy, he create an approach that wove together idealism with balance-of-power realism.

In politics, he proposed seminal plans for uniting the colonies and creating a federal model for a national government.

And he was the person most responsible, of all the Founders, for instilling in the new nation the virtue that is central to its role in the world struggle: that of tolerance, specifically religious tolerance.

We can get a glimpse of his influence on the American character by looking at some outstanding virtues and traits that he, more than anyone, helped to imprint onto our national fabric.

We can get a glimpse of his influence on the American character by looking at some outstanding virtues and traits that he, more than anyone, helped to imprint onto our national fabric.

HUMILITY
When Franklin made his list of personal virtues he was intent on acquiring, he very proudly showed it around to his friends, one of whom pointed out that he had left one off. Franklin was often guilty of "pride," the friend said, citing many examples. So Franklin added "humility" to his list.

When Franklin made his list of personal virtues he was intent on acquiring, he very proudly showed it around to his friends, one of whom pointed out that he had left one off.

Franklin was often guilty of "pride," the friend said, citing many examples.

In a newspaper piece called "On Conversation," Franklin stressed the importance of deferring -- or at least giving the appearance of deferring -- to others. Otherwise, even the smartest comments would "occasion envy and disgust." His secret for how to win friends and influence people read like an ealy Dale Carnegie course: "Would you win the hearts of others, you must not seem to vie with them, but to admire them. Give them every opportunity of displaying their own qualifications, and when you have indulged their vanity, they will praise you in turn and prefer you above others ... Such is the vanity of mankind that minding what others say is a much surer way of pleasing them than talking well ourselves."

In a newspaper piece called "On Conversation," Franklin stressed the importance of deferring -- or at least giving the appearance of deferring -- to others.

Otherwise, even the smartest comments would "occasion envy and disgust."

His secret for how to win friends and influence people read like an ealy Dale Carnegie course

Would you win the hearts of others, you must not seem to vie with them, but to admire them.

Give them every opportunity of displaying their own qualifications, and when you have indulged their vanity, they will praise you in turn and prefer you above others ...

Such is the vanity of mankind that minding what others say is a much surer way of pleasing them than talking well ourselves.

COMPROMISE
Throughout his life, one of his mantras had been, "Both sides must part with some of their demands." He used this phrase many times, but never more notably than when the Constitutional Convention became deadlocked on the issue of whether the new Congress should be proportioned by population or have equal votes for each state.

Throughout his life, one of his mantras had been, "Both sides must part with some of their demands."

He used this phrase many times, but never more notably than when the Constitutional Convention became deadlocked on the issue of whether the new Congress should be proportioned by population or have equal votes for each state.

First Franklin succinctly stated the problem: "The diversity of opinions turns on two points. If a proportional representation takes place, the small States contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money will be in danger." Then he gently emphasized, in a homespun analogy that drew on his affection for craftsmen and construction, the importance of compromise: "When a broad table is to be made, and the edges of planks do not fit, the artist takes a little from both, and makes a good joint. In like manner here, both sides must part with some of their demands."

First Franklin succinctly stated the problem: "The diversity of opinions turns on two points. If a proportional representation takes place, the small States contend that their liberties will be in danger.

If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money will be in danger.

Then he gently emphasized, in a homespun analogy that drew on his affection for craftsmen and construction, the importance of compromise

When a broad table is to be made, and the edges of planks do not fit, the artist takes a little from both, and makes a good joint.

In like manner here, both sides must part with some of their demands.

Finally, he introduced some compromises suggested by others into a specific motion. Representatives to the lower House would be popularly elected and apportioned by population, but in the Senate "the Legislatures of the several States shall choose and send an equal number of "Delegates."

Finally, he introduced some compromises suggested by others into a specific motion.

Representatives to the lower House would be popularly elected and apportioned by population, but in the Senate "the Legislatures of the several States shall choose and send an equal number of "Delegates."

For Franklin, who personally believed in proportional representation, compromise was not only a practical approach but a moral one. Tolerance, humility and a respect for others required it. The near perfect document that arose from his compromise could not have been approved if the hall had contained only crusaders who stood on unwavering principle. Compromisers may not make great heroes, but they do make great democracies.

For Franklin, who personally believed in proportional representation, compromise was not only a practical approach but a moral one.

Tolerance, humility and a respect for others required it.

The near perfect document that arose from his compromise could not have been approved if the hall had contained only crusaders who stood on unwavering principle.

Compromisers may not make great heroes, but they do make great democracies.

TOLERANCE
By the end of his life, he had contributed to the building funds of each and every sect in philadelphia. During the July 4 celebrations that year, he was too sick to leave his bed, but the parade marched under his window. For the first time, as per arrangements that Franklin had overseen, "the clergy of different Christian denominations, with the rabbi of the Jews, walked arm in arm."

By the end of his life, he had contributed to the building funds of each and every sect in philadelphia.

During the July 4 celebrations that year, he was too sick to leave his bed, but the parade marched under his window.

For the first time, as per arrangements that Franklin had overseen, "the clergy of different Christian denominations, with the rabbi of the Jews, walked arm in arm."

And When he was carried to his grave two years later, his casket was accompanied by all the clergymen of the city, every one of them, of every faith.

And When he was carried to his grave two years later, his casket was accompanied by all the clergymen of the city, every one of them, of every faith.

In a world that was then, as alas it still is now, bloodied by those who seek to impose theocracies, Franklin helped to create a new type of nation that could draw strength from its religious pluralism. This comfort with the concept of tolerance -- which was based on an aversion to tyranny, a fealty to free expression, a willingness to compromise, the morality of respecting other individuals and even a bit of humor and humility -- is what most distinguishes America and its like-minded allies in the messy struggles that face up to a new century.

In a world that was then, as alas it still is now, bloodied by those who seek to impose theocracies, Franklin helped to create a new type of nation that could draw strength from its religious pluralism.

This comfort with the concept of tolerance -- which was based on an aversion to tyranny, a fealty to free expression, a willingness to compromise, the morality of respecting other individuals and even a bit of humor and humility -- is what most distinguishes America and its like-minded allies in the messy struggles that face up to a new century.

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