اصول و روش ترجمه، متن ششم

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degrees of health and wealth the other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes miserable. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons and events, and the resulting effects upon their minds.

In whatever situation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and inconveniences. In whatever company, they may find persons and conversations more or less pleasing. At whatever table, they may find meat and drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better or worse prepared. In whatever climate, they may find good and bad weather.

Under these circumstances, the people who are to be happy fix their attention on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of the drinks, the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things. Therefore, they are continually discontented themselves. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere.