懒人闲思录

多多的懒汉和做事不紧不慢的人，但天生懒骨头却极为罕有。他并非双 手插在口袋里到处闲逛的家伙。相反，他最引人注目的特征就是：他总 是忙得不可开交。 It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen. 一个人如果没有许许多多工作需要完成，就无法彻底享受懒散度日的乐 趣。而一个人无事可做的时候，无所事事也失去了它原有的乐趣。于是 浪费时间仅仅变成了一项任务，还是最劳心费神的任务。懒散度日的感 觉就像吻一样，只有偷来的才甜美。 Many years ago, when I was a young man, I was taken very ill—I never could see myself that much was the matter with me, except that I had a beastly cold. But I suppose it was something very serious, for the doctor said that I ought to have come to him a month before, and that if it (whatever it was) had gone on for another week he would not have answered for the consequences. It is an extraordinary thing, but I never knew a doctor called into any case yet but what it transpired that another day's delay would have rendered cure hopeless. Our medical guide, philosopher, and friend is like the hero in a melodrama—he always comes upon the scene just, and only just, in the nick of time. It is Providence......