博炮作文网

第17章 给儿子的信 1（第1页）

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u000fLettertoHisSon

F。D。斯坦厄普

F。D。Stanhoe

Dearboy，

Theartofleasingisaverynecessaryonetoossess，butaverydifficultonetoacquire。Itcanhardlybereducedtorules；andyourowngoodsenseandobservationwillteachyoumoreofitthanIcan。“Doasyouwouldbedoneby，”isthesurestmethodthatIknowofleasing。Observecarefullywhatleasesyouinothers，androbablythesamethingsinyouwillleaseothers。Ifyouareleasedwiththecomlaisanceandattentionofotherstoyourhumors，yourtastes，oryourweaknesses，deenduonit，thesamecomlaisanceandattentiononyourarttotheirswillequallyleasethem。Takethetoneofthecomanythatyouarein，anddonotretendtogiveit；beserious，gay，oreventrifling，asyoufindtheresenthumorofthecomany；thisisanattentionduefromeveryindividualtothemajority。Donottellstoriesincomany；thereisnothingmoretediousanddisagreeable；ifbychanceyouknowaveryshortstory，andexceedinglyalicabletotheresentsubjectofconversation，tellitinasfewwordsasossible；andeventhen，throwoutthatyoudonotlovetotellstories，butthattheshortnessofittemtedyou。

Ofallthingsbanishtheegotismoutofyourconversation，andneverthinkofentertainingeolewithyourownersonalconcernsorrivateaffairs；thoughtheyareinterestingtoyou，theyaretediousandimertinenttoeverybodyelse；besidesthat，onecannotkeeone’sownrivateaffairstoosecret。Whateveryouthinkyourownexcellenciesmaybe，donotaffectedlydislaythemincomany；norlabor，asmanyeoledo，togivethatturntotheconversation，whichmaysulyyouwithanoortunityofexhibitingthem。Iftheyarereal，theywillinfalliblybediscovered，withoutyourointingthemoutyourself，andwithmuchmoreadvantage。Nevermaintainanargumentwithheatandclamor，thoughyouthinkorknowyourselftobeintheright；butgiveyouroinionmodestlyandcoolly，whichistheonlywaytoconvince；and，ifthatdoesnotdo，trytochangetheconversation，bysaying，withgoodhumor，“Weshallhardlyconvinceoneanother；norisitnecessarythatweshould，soletustalkofsomethingelse。”