The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 38 The Rich and the Poor

[France] La Bruyère
He walked slowly and lightly, as if he was afraid of stepping on the road; his eyes were downcast, not daring to look up at the passers-by.

Jitong has a plump face with rosy complexion, drooping cheeks, deep and steady eyes; broad shoulders, a protruding belly, and firm and decisive steps.

He speaks confidently, letting the other party repeat his words, but he doesn't take what others say to him very much.He opened a large handkerchief and blew his nose loudly; he spat far away; he sneezed loudly.

He slept day and night, slept deeply, and snored when he was company.Whether eating or walking, he takes up more space than others.

When he walks with his peers, he is always in the center; when he stops, everyone stops; when he continues to walk, everyone follows, and everything follows his example.He interrupts others and corrects their mistakes; his words will not be interrupted, and people will listen to him as long as he likes to talk; everyone agrees with his opinions and believes the news he spreads.

When he sits down, you can see him buried deep in the easy chair, with his legs crossed, frowning, his hat pressed over his eyes, looking at no one;For contemporary things, he is witty, laughable, quick-tempered, arrogant, tactful, and mysterious.

He thinks he is capable, smart, and rich.

Fei Dong's eyes were sunken, his face was flushed, his body was shriveled, and his face was thin.He sleeps little and wakes up easily.

He was absent-minded, confused, and stupid when he was sober.He forgot what he knew, and forgot to say what he knew, and sometimes it was difficult to get out of it.

When he talks to people, he always speaks briefly and coldly, so as to make the other party unhappy.He doesn't make people listen to him chatter or make people laugh.No matter what people said to him, he clapped, smiled, echoed their opinions, and he ran and ran to do them a little favor.

He is easy-going, flattering, courteous; secretive and sometimes a liar.He is superstitious, prudent, and timid.He walked slowly and lightly, as if he was afraid of stepping on the road; his eyes were downcast, not daring to look up at the passers-by.He was never the type to form cliques and make big talk.

He stood behind the speaker, quietly eavesdropped on a few words, and slipped away when he was spotted.He doesn't take up space, doesn't take up space, walks with his shoulders tucked in, his hat pressed over his eyes, so that no one can see him; he is stooped and wrapped in a coat.No matter how clogged and crowded a street or hallway was, he could find a way to move through without difficulty, slipping past without being noticed.

If someone asked him to sit down, he would barely stick to the edge of the stool; when he talked, his voice was low and his pronunciation was slurred.Not responsible for public affairs, pessimistic and world-weary, not very fond of ministers and cabinets.He opened his mouth to answer.He coughed, blew his nose under his hat, and spat almost on himself; he waited until he was alone to sneeze, or did so without telling his companions.

No one has to greet and greet him: he is poor.

Heart mark notes
The reason why there are two groups of people, the rich and the poor, is that there are two kinds of thinking of the "rich" and "poor".The poor are content with being poor, but the rich are eager to be rich; the poor are afraid of fighting, but the rich dare to fight; They are right, and the rich prove themselves right with the final result; the poor lean on the crutches rewarded by others, and the rich find their own door and way; the poor are afraid of trouble, and the rich turn trouble; People always want to walk a few more laps.

One of the reasons why the world is not harmonious is that the rich are self-absorbed to be rich, and the poor are content to be poor.The rich state of the rich is disgusting and annoying, and the poor state of the poor is also sad and indisputable.They are arrogant only after giving the rich enough face, and this face is precisely given by the poor.

(End of this chapter)