古代中國的書籍，從最早的竹策、葦編，到後來的線裝紙面書，都很容易産生脫線缺頁，或磨損模糊的現象；所以取讀時必須小心，輕拿輕放，有破損缺頁，應馬上補修重釘，以免繼續散失或損毀。即使是現代的平面精裝版，若不加以愛護，也一樣會破損脫落或散失流佚；那麼下回再讀用時，是否得再買呢？若是絕版書，就有錢也買不到了！因此，日用間的條理井然，整潔有序，節省的不單是時間，也是金錢。一個人是不是有成就，是不 是能做自己的主，端看他日用間是否愛惜物事，條理井然 。
Ancient Chinese books-from the earliest bamboo tablets and reed pages to later string-bound paper books-tended to fall apart and lose their pages, or the writing would fade and rub off. Thus, it was essential to treat books carefully, picking them up and setting them down gently, and immediately repairing any damage. If pages were missing, one would immediately rebind the book to prevent further loss. If one does not handle a modern hardcover book gently, even it will fall apart and lose pages, and one will have to buy another copy the next time one wants to read it. If it is out of print, however, that simply won”t be possible. Thus, the habit of being organized in one”s daily life saves not only time but money. To tell whether people are successful and in control of their own lives, observe to see how organized they are and how carefully they handle things from day to day.
好學的阿伯拉罕‧林肯，自小家境貧窮，必須半工半讀；林肯買不起許多書，大部份的書，都是他向人借來讀的。他在少年時候，就很佩服美國第一任總統喬治‧華盛頓；一天，他跟朋友借到了一本《華盛頓傳》，他看了又看，總是手不離書，書不離手。一個夜裏，大雨傾盆，他簡陋的小屋漏水，把《華盛頓傳》打濕了；書烘幹後，仍是绉绉的，書皮也顯得很髒。
Abraham Lincoln, known for his love of learning, was born in a poor family and had to work to support his schooling. Since Lincoln could not afford to buy many books, he borrowed most of them from others. As a young boy, he looked up to George Washington, the first President. One day his friend lent him a biography of Washington. He read it over and over, unable to set it down. One night during a huge downpour, the roof of his humble home leaked and the book got wet. After he dried it by the fire, the pages were all wrinkled and the cover was stained.
林肯很難過，心想：「如果把這樣的書還給朋友，以後人家有書，就再也不肯借我了！」因此他就去給人家做了叁天工，把所得的工資，買了一本新的《華盛頓傅》，然後還給朋友。他的朋友很高興林肯的這種行爲，把新書收下，卻又把書錢給他，叫他再買別的書來看。林肯感激得差點兒掉下淚來。後來他把那本淋過雨的《華盛頓傳》，天天捧著讀，把華盛頓當做自己的老師。從這個小故事看來，林肯自小就這麼珍視書籍，努力學習，又講究信用，因此終于能成就他的學問事業，解放了黑奴，當上美國的第十六任總統；這一切豈是用偶然和幸運可言的呢？
Lincoln thought in despair, "If I return the book to my friend in this shape, people will never lend me another book again!" Then he worked for three days, and used his wages to buy a new copy of the biography of Washington for his friend. His friend approved heartily of Lincoln”s deed. After taking the book, he paid Lincoln for it and told him to buy another book with the money. Lincoln was grateful almost to the point of tears. Later, he reverently held the rain-drenched biography of Washington and read it every day, regarding Washington as his teacher. From that anecdote, we see that from his childhood, Lincoln cherished books, studied hard, and was absolutely trustworthy. Thus, he succeeded in completing his studies at last, freed the black slaves, and served as the sixteenth President of the United States. How could all of that have been mere chance or luck
書籍是前人的智慧和經驗的結晶，讀書可以增長見聞，累積他人的知識學問爲己用，做起事來就事半功倍；更重要的是可以從中熏習，養成正確的觀念，良好的品德，好處真是說也說不完！可是不論中外，年代愈是古老，造書愈是不易，書籍也就愈貴，加上政治社會造成的階級製度，教育亦不能普遍；因此很多貧寒低下的人家，因爲無法就學，世代永難出頭。但是事在人爲，曆史上也多的是苦學成功的例子，像林肯，還有前面提到的黑人教育家勃克‧華盛頓。中國古代也有很多大學問家，都是以毅力和智慧來克服沒有書的困難。
Books are crystallizations of the wisdom and experiences of those who came before us. Reading broadens our perspective and enables us to adapt others” knowledge for our own use, so that we do things more efficiently. More importantly, we can develop proper concepts and good character through the influence of what we read. The benefits are endless! In every culture, the earlier we go back in history, the harder it was to make books and the more expensive they were. Due to the social and political systems in the past, education was not universal. Thus most poor and lowly famil…
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