120 philosophical essays you must read in your life

Chapter 22

Chapter 1 Section 21 The Rich and the Poor

[France] La Bruyère
Jitong has a plump face with rosy complexion, drooping cheeks, deep and steady eyes; broad shoulders, a protruding belly, and firm and decisive steps.

He speaks confidently, letting the other party repeat his words, but he doesn't take what others say to him very much.He opened a large handkerchief and blew his nose loudly; he spat far away; he sneezed high.

He slept day and night, slept deeply, and snored when he was company.Whether eating or walking, he takes up more space than others.

When he walks with his peers, he is always in the center; when he stops, everyone stops; when he continues walking, everyone follows; everything follows his example.He interrupts others and corrects their mistakes; his words will not be interrupted, and people will listen to him as long as he likes to talk; everyone agrees with his opinions and believes the news he spreads.

When he sits down, you can see him buried deep in the easy chair, with his legs crossed, frowning, his hat pressed over his eyes, looking at no one;For contemporary things, he is witty, laughable, quick-tempered, arrogant, tactful, and mysterious.He thinks he is capable, smart and rich.

Fei Dong's eyes were sunken, his face was flushed, his body was shriveled, and his face was thin.He sleeps little and wakes up easily.

He was absent-minded, confused, and stupid when he was sober.He forgot what he knew, and forgot to say what he knew, and sometimes it was difficult to get out of it.

When he talked with people, he always spoke briefly and coldly, thinking that he would make the other party unhappy.He doesn't make people listen to him chatter or make people laugh.No matter what people said to him, he clapped, smiled, echoed their opinions, and he ran to do them a little favor.

He is easy-going, flattering, courteous; secretive and sometimes a liar.He is superstitious, prudent, and timid.He walked slowly and lightly, as if he was afraid of stepping on the road; his eyes were downcast, not daring to look up at the passers-by.He was never the type to form cliques and make big talk.

He stood behind the speaker, quietly eavesdropped on a few words, and slipped away when he was spotted.He doesn't take up space, doesn't take up space, walks with his shoulders tucked in, his hat pressed over his eyes, so that no one can see him; he is stooped and wrapped in a coat.No matter how clogged and crowded a street or hallway was, he could find a way to move through without difficulty, slipping past without being noticed.

If someone asked him to sit down, he would barely stick to the edge of the stool; when he talked, his voice was low and his pronunciation was slurred.Not responsible for public affairs, pessimistic and world-weary, not very fond of ministers and cabinets.He opened his mouth to answer.He coughed, blew his nose under his hat, and spat almost on himself; he waited until he was alone to sneeze, or did so without telling his companions.

No one has to greet and greet him: he is poor.

【Together with you】

The reason why the world is disharmonious is that the rich are self-absorbed and the poor are content to be poor.

The rich state of the rich is disgusting and annoying, and the poor state of the poor is also sad and indisputable.

They are arrogant only after giving the rich enough face, and this face is precisely given by the poor. 

(End of this chapter)