ologians call “works of supererogation。”
the seriousminded housemaid is not content to do what she is told to do。 s he has an unexpended balance of energy。 she wants to be a general household refo rmer。 so she goes to the desk of the titular master of the house and gives it a thorough reformation。 she arranges the papers acomording to her idea of neatness。 when the poor gentleman returns and finds his familiar chaos transformed into a hateful order； he becomes a reactionary。
the serious manager of a street railway company is not content with the simp le duty of transporting passengers cheaply and comfortably。 he wants to exercise the functions of a lecturer in an ethical culture society。 while the transporte d victim is swaying precariously from the end of a strap he reads a notice urgin g him to practise christian courtesy and not to push。
a man enters a barber's shop with the simple desire of being shaved。 but he meets with the more ambitious desires of the barber。 the serious barber is not c ontent with any slight contribution to human welfare。he insists that his client shall be shampooed； manicured； massaged； steamed beneath boiling towels； cooled off by electric fans； and； while all this is going on； that he shall have his bo ots blacked。
have you never marveled at the patience of people in having so many things d one to them that they don't want； just to avoid hurting the feelings of professi onal people who want to do more than is expected of them。 you watch the stoical countenance of the passenger in a pullman car as he stands up to be brushed。 the chances are that he doesn't want to be brushed。 he would prefer to leave the du st on his coat rather than to be compelled to swallow it。 but he knows what is e xpected of him。 it is a part of the solemn ritual of traveling。 it precedes the offering。
the fact that every man desires to be somebody else explains many of the abe rrations of artists and literary men。 the painters； dramatists； musicians； poets ； and novelists are just as human as housemaids and railway managers and porters 。 they want to do “all the good they can to all the people they can in all the ways they can。〃 they get tired of the ways they are used to and like to try new combinations。 so they are continually mixing things。 the practitioner of one art tries to produce effects that are proper to another art。
a musician wants to be a painter and use his violin as if it were a brush。he would have us see the sunset glories that he is painting for us。 a painter want s to be a musician and paint symphonies； and he is grieved because the uninstruc ted cannot hear his pictures； although the colors do swear at each other。 anothe r painter wants to be an architect and build up his picture as if it were made o f cubes of brick。 it looks like brickwork； but to the natural eye it doesn't l ook like a picture。 a prosewriter gets tired of writing prose； and wants to be a poet。 so he begins every line with a capital letter； and keeps on writing pro se。
you go to the theatre with the simpleminded shakespearean idea that the pl ay's the thing。 but the playwright wants to be a pathologist。 so you discover th at you have dropped into a gruesome clinic。 you sought innocent relaxation； but you are one of the honelect and have gone to the place prepared for you。 you m ust see the thing through。 the fact that you have troubles of your own is not a sufficient claim for exemption。
or you take up a novel expecting it to be a work of fiction。but the novelist has other views。he wants to be your spiritual adviser。 he must do something to your mind； he must rearrange your fundamental ideas； he must massage your soul； and generally brush you off。 all this in spite of the fact that you don't want t o be brushed off and set to rights。 you don't want him to do anything to your mi nd。 it's the only mind you have and you need it in your own business。
人生苦短
佚名
你们有些人听任一些不幸的误会年复一年地继续存在，打算将来有一天再去澄清；你们 有些人听任一些可怜的争执继续为害，因为你们不能现在就下定决心牺牲自己的自尊，消除 那些争执；你们有些人在大街上遇见某些人的时候，由于某种愚蠢的怨恨，故意不同他们讲 话，但是你们自己心里也知道，如果在明天早晨听说其中的某个人离开了人世，自己的心中 一定会充满羞愧和悔恨之情；你们有些人吝惜一句感激或同情的话，因而使朋友在痛苦中等 待——只要你们突然间知道、看到或感觉到“人生苦短”，那你们的心胸就会豁然开朗，不 再沉『迷』于那些无谓的计较，你会马上去做一些如果现在不做以后也许就永远没有机会去做的 事情。
the time is short
anonymous
you who are letting miserable misunderstandings run on from year to year； me aning to clear them up some day； you who are keeping wretched quarrels alive bec ause you cannot quite make up your mind that now is the day to sacrifice your pr ide and kill them； you who are passing men sullenly upon the street； not speakin g to them out of some silly spite； and yet knowing that it would fill you with s hame and remorse if you heard that one of those men were dead tomorrow morning； you who are letting your friend's heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympa thy if only you could know and see and feel； all of a sudden； that “the time is short〃 how it would break the spell！ how you would go instantly and do the thin g which you might never have another chance to do！
人是为了别人而活着
阿尔伯特。爱因斯坦
阿尔伯特。爱因斯坦（1879—1955），美国籍犹太人，20世纪最伟大的科学家。1921年获 诺贝尔物理学奖。他一生崇尚科学与民主，追求真理和光明，毕生致力于国际和平事业。
人类在这个世界上的处境真是奇怪。我们每个人都是来做一次短暂的访问，不知道自己 为何而来，然而有时候却似乎推测出一种目的。
但是从日常生活的观点来看，有一件事情我们是肯定知道的，那就是人在这个世界上是 为了别人而活着——尤其为了那些我们自身幸福寄托在他们的微笑和福祉之上的人们，以及 那些由于同情之感而使我们同他们的命运联系起来的人们。每天都有很多次，我觉察到自己 的肉体生活和精神生活是如何建立在别人——包括生者和死者——的劳动之上，以及自己必 须如何地奋发努力，从而使我从别人那里取得多少东西，我也可以把同等数量的东西给予别 人，以此作为报答。我时常怀着一种忧郁的心情，觉得自己从别人的工作中承袭得太多，因 而心里惴惴不安。
没完没了地沉思着自己生存的理由或人生的意义，从客观的观点来看，我觉得这是近乎 愚蠢的行为。可是，每个人都有—些理想作为他的抱负和判断的指南针。经常在我的眼前闪 耀发光，并使我充满了快乐的理想，就是真、善、美。我从来没有以追求舒适和幸福作为生 活的目标，建立在这个基础上的一套伦理观念，只能满足一群牲畜的需要。
man is here for the
sake of other men
albert einstein
strange is our situation here upon earth。 each of us comes for a short visit ； not knowing why； yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose。
from the standpoint of daily life； however； there is one thing we do know th at man is here for the sake of other men — above all for those upon whose smile and wellbeing our own happiness depends； and also for the countless unknown s ouls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy。 many times a day i realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fell ow men； both living and dead； and how earnestly i must exert myself in ord