Industry Is a Substitute for Genius
亨利·沃德·比彻/Henry Ward Beecher
勤奋是一个人成为天才的必需品。只要勤奋，我们自身的潜能就能得到最大限度的发掘——正如莫扎特的音乐和富尔顿的发明让我们感到神奇一样。所以，我们称他们为天才。人们认为天才生来就具有某种常人不具备的天赋，而且还认为这种天赋与后天的努力没有任何联系。假如果真如此，那么天才是不是用不着学习和钻研，就能知道世间的一切呢？
天才在毫无准备的情况下就能出口成章，用不着计算就能得出运算结果，用不着反省就能够思想深邃。天才在汲取知识时好像根本不会遇到任何困难，就像普通人在晚上会做梦一样简单。世间是否真的有这种所谓的天才呢？或许吧！
其实从本质上来讲，天才与普通人并没有太多差别——每个人都要用时间去解决日常生活中的事情，所以我们最需要的是判断力和勤奋。想拥有高智商就一定要敢于探求真理，并对某些真理表示怀疑。然而，这项工作并不时常发生。
事实上，大多数人每天只需完成一些与我们的生活息息相关的事情即可，并不需要研究那些难以解决的事情。所以，拥有勤奋的精神和爱岗敬业的精神要比使自己成为所谓的天才更符合实际。在各行各业中，普通人可以发挥自己的才能，任何天才可以做的事，勤奋的人几乎都可以去做。而所谓的天才如果缺少了勤奋，未必能够心想事成。
勤劳之人可以拥有强健的肌肉，并且从不会被邋遢的坏习惯所束缚，更不会畏惧困难。
或许大家正沉浸在勤劳所带来的快乐之中，然而我们必须再次提到懒惰这一陋习。
在某种程度上，所有懒惰的人都喜欢依赖他人，而不肯依靠自身的力量去努力工作。不过，他们并不在意别人是否失去了什么，别人是否面临破产的危机；他们所做的保证只会让曾经信任他们的人失望至极。他们向别人借了东西之后便不再归还，于是他们只能依靠乞求来获得自己想要的东西。这种恶习就如同不停前行的水流，没有人知道它何时能停止。假如你身边有这种人，那么他极有可能扰乱你的工作，让你感到失望、失去耐心，甚至使你的计划不能正常进行。所以，你最明智的选择就是避开这种人！
然而，我知道大部分人在阅读这篇文章的时候通常会将这种恶习完全归咎于别人，认为与自己无关。而这也恰恰是我所担心的——你正在给自己找借口，认为自己的某些行为仅仅是在享受悠闲时光，而不是懒惰的行为。或许你认为自己根本没有做错，但是请不要再自我蒙蔽了，假如你依旧坚持这种好逸恶劳的生活，那么你必定会自毁前程。而且，假如你固执己见，那么你永远不会在这条路上找到停车场，等待你的只会是悬崖！
Industry is a substitute for Genius， where one or more faculties exist in the highest state of development and activity， as the faculty of music in Mozart， invention in Fulton， we call their possessor a genius. But a genius is usually understood to be a creature of such rare facility of mind， that he can do anything without labor. According to the popular notion， he learn without study， and knows without learning.
He is eloquent without preparation； exact without calculation； and profound without reflection. A genius is supposed to receive it as the mind receives dreams. Such minds may exist.
The occupations of the great man， and of the common man， are necessarily， for the most part， the same； for the business of life is made up of minute affairs， requiring only judgment and diligence. A high order of intellect is required for the discovery and defence of truth； but this is an unfrequent task.
The vast bulk of men are required to discharge the homely duties of life； and they have less need of genius than of intellectual industry and patient enterprise. In the ordinary business of life， industry can do anything with genius can do； and very many things which it cannot.
Industry has a firmer muscle， is less annoyed by delays and repulses.
From enjoying the pleasant walks of industry we turn reluctantly to explore the paths of indolence.
All degrees of indolence incline a man to rely upon others， and not upon himself. His carelessness is somebody's loss； his neglect is somebody's downfall； his promises are a perpetual stumbling block to all who trust them.If he borrows， the article remains borrowed； if he begs and gets， it is as the letting out of waters—no one knows when it will stop. He spoils your work； disappoints your expectations； exhausts your patience； and hangs a dead weight upon all your plans； and the very best thing an honest man can do with a lazy man， is to get rid of him.
In reading these strictures upon indolence， you will abhor it in others， without suspecting it in yourself. While you read， I fear you are excusing yourself； you are supposing that your leisure has not been laziness； or that， with your disposition， and in your circumstances， indolence is harmless. Be not deceived： if you are idle， you are on the road to ruin； and there are few stopping places upon it. It is rather a precipice， than a road.