I'd love pretty hats and things, but I mustn't mortgage the future to pay for them.
我喜歡漂亮的帽子和衣物，但我不能為此而抵押將來。
I think that the most necessary quality for any person to have is imagination. It makes people able to put themselves in other people's places. It makes them kind and sympathetic and understanding. It ought to be cultivated in children.
我認為人最要的秉性是富有想象力。唯有這樣人們才能設身處地為別人著想，才能善良，富有同情心，而且體諒理解別人。這種秉性應該在孩提時代就加以培養。
I think that every one, no matter how many troubles he may have when he grows up, ought to have a happy childhood to look back upon. And if I ever have any children of my own, no matter how unhappy I may be, I am not going to let them have any cares until they grow up.
我認為不管人們長大後會遇到什麼麻煩，人人都應有一個幸福的童年可以回憶。如果我將來有孩子的話，不管我自己怎樣不幸，我都要讓他們無憂無慮。
Isn't this a nice thought from Stevenson?
The world is so full of a number of things,
I am sure we should all be as happy as kings.
It's ture, you know. The world is full of happiness, and plenty to go around, if you are only willing to take the kind that comes your way. The whole secret is in being pliable. In the country, especially, there are such a lot of entertaining things. I can walk over everybody's land, and look at everybody's view, and daddle in everybody's brook; and enjoy it just as much as though I owned the land--and with no taxes to pay!
史蒂文森這個看法不錯吧？
世間不寂寞，好事多多，
我們像君王，快快活活。
真的，世間充滿歡樂，隻要隨遇而安，人人都能享受。秘訣在於適應性。鄉村裏，爽心悅目的事尤其多。我可以自由自在地漫步在他人的田地之上，盡情觀賞景致，隨意在他人的小溪裏戲水，好像這一切都屬於我。不但屬於我，還不用出錢付稅。
It isn't the great big pleasure that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones--I've discovered the true secret of happiness, Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be forever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant. It's like farming. You can have extensive farming and intensive farming; well, I am going to have intensive living after this. I am going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to know I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing thtough; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not. I've decided to sit down by the way and pile up a lot of little happinesses, even if I never become a Great Author. Did you ever know such a philosopheress as I am developing into?
值得重視的倒不是那些生活中的大歡樂，而是一些小小不言的高興事。我發現了快樂的奧秘，那就是生活在現在。不要沉浸在過去的懊悔中，或期翼著未來，要盡情享受現在。比如種田，有粗放耕種和精耕細作之分。今後，我要精細地生活，享受每一秒鍾，而且在享受的時候清楚地意識到自己正在享受。很多人不是在生活，而是在賽跑。他們試圖達到遙遠的地平線上的某個目標。在拚命的奔跑中，他們上氣不接下氣，根本無暇顧及他們經過的美麗寧靜的景致。忽然有一天發現自己老了，疲憊了，而達到目標也罷，沒達到也罷，都是一回事。我打算沿途小憩，一次次積累小小的興趣，即使永遠不能成為偉大的作家也無妨。你見過我這樣的哲學家嗎？