古代中国的书籍，从最早的竹策、苇编，到后来的线装纸面书，都很容易产生脱线缺页，或磨损模糊的现象；所以取读时必须小心，轻拿轻放，有破损缺页，应马上补修重钉，以免继续散失或损毁。即使是现代的平面精装版，若不加以爱护，也一样会破损脱落或散失流佚；那么下回再读用时，是否得再买呢？若是绝版书，就有钱也买不到了！因此，日用间的条理井然，整洁有序，节省的不单是时间，也是金钱。一个人是不是有成就，是不 是能做自己的主，端看他日用间是否爱惜物事，条理井然 。
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.
好学的阿伯拉罕‧林肯，自小家境贫穷，必须半工半读；林肯买不起许多书，大部份的书，都是他向人借来读的。他在少年时候，就很佩服美国第一任总统乔治‧华盛顿；一天，他跟朋友借到了一本《华盛顿传》，他看了又看，总是手不离书，书不离手。一个夜里，大雨倾盆，他简陋的小屋漏水，把《华盛顿传》打湿了；书烘干后，仍是绉绉的，书皮也显得很脏。
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.
林肯很难过，心想：「如果把这样的书还给朋友，以后人家有书，就再也不肯借我了！」因此他就去给人家做了三天工，把所得的工资，买了一本新的《华盛顿傅》，然后还给朋友。他的朋友很高兴林肯的这种行为，把新书收下，却又把书钱给他，叫他再买别的书来看。林肯感激得差点儿掉下泪来。后来他把那本淋过雨的《华盛顿传》，天天捧着读，把华盛顿当做自己的老师。从这个小故事看来，林肯自小就这么珍视书籍，努力学习，又讲究信用，因此终于能成就他的学问事业，解放了黑奴，当上美国的第十六任总统；这一切岂是用偶然和幸运可言的呢？
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
书籍是前人的智慧和经验的结晶，读书可以增长见闻，累积他人的知识学问为己用，做起事来就事半功倍；更重要的是可以从中熏习，养成正确的观念，良好的品德，好处真是说也说不完！可是不论中外，年代愈是古老，造书愈是不易，书籍也就愈贵，加上政治社会造成的阶级制度，教育亦不能普遍；因此很多贫寒低下的人家，因为无法就学，世代永难出头。但是事在人为，历史上也多的是苦学成功的例子，像林肯，还有前面提到的黑人教育家勃克‧华盛顿。中国古代也有很多大学问家，都是以毅力和智慧来克服没有书的困难。
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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