It is more a matter of luck than of skill.The things we remember best are those better forgotten.Memory is not only unruly,leaving us in the lurch when most needed,but stupid as well,putting its nose into places where it is not wanted.In painful things it is active,but neglectful in recalling the pleasurable.Very often the only remedy for the trouble is to forget it,and all we forget is the remedy.Nevertheless one should cultivate good habits of memory,for it is capable of making existence a paradise or an inferno.The happy are an exception who enjoy innocently their simple happiness.
188.学会遗忘
遗忘,与其说是靠技巧,还不如说是凭运气。我们记得最牢的,总是那些最应该忘掉的事情。记忆,不仅难以驾驭,在我们最需要的时候把我们留在困境中,而且还很愚蠢,总是把它的鼻子伸进那些我们不希望被探测的地方嗅来嗅去。在痛苦的事情上它很积极,但在我们回忆赏心乐事的时候它总是漫不经心。对烦恼来说,唯一的治疗方法常常是忘掉它,而我们所忘掉的一切,恰恰是这剂良药。然而,一个人还应该培养良好的记忆习惯,因为它既能把生活变成天堂,也能使之成为地狱。幸福只是一个例外,只有那些天真无邪地享受他们的简单快乐的人才会得到。
第218章 Many things of taste one should not possess oneself.
One enjoys them better if they are another's rather than one's own.The owner has the good of them first day,for all the rest of the time they are for others.You take a double enjoyment in other men's property,being without fear of spoiling it and with the pleasure of novelty.Everything tastes better for having been without it-even water from another's well tastes like nectar.Possession hinders enjoyment and increases annoyance,whether you lend or keep.You gain nothing except keeping things for or from others,and by this means gain more enemies than friends.
189.有滋有味的东西不必自己拥有
如果它们是别人的东西,你从中得到的享受胜过自己的。拥有者不过是第一天享受它们的好处,而在其余的所有时间里,它们都是为别人而准备的。从别人的财产中,你可以得到双倍的享受,既不用担心弄坏它,又能得到新奇的乐趣。每件有滋有味的东西,都因为不曾拥有而滋味更佳——即使是来自别人井里的水,味道也像甘露一样。占有,总是妨碍享受,徒增烦忧,无论你借出还是厮守。这些东西,你要么是为别人保管,要么是不让他人染指,除此之外,你什么也得不到,由此,你得到的更多的是敌人,而不是朋友。