It is odd to watch with what feverish ardor the Americans pursue prosperity and how they are ever tormented by the shadowy suspicion that they may not have chosen the shortest route to get it.

　　Americans cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach, as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them. They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight.

　　An American will build a house in which to pass his old age and sell it before the roof is on; he will plant a garden and rent it just as the trees are coming into bearing; he will clear a field and leave others to reap the harvest; he will take up a profession and leave it, settle in one place and soon go off elsewhere with his changing desires. If his private business allows him a moment’s relaxation, he will plunge at once into the whirlpool of politics. Then, if at the end of a year crammed with work he has a little spare leisure, his restless curiosity goes with him traveling up and down the vast territories of the United States. Thus he will travel five hundred miles in a few days as a distraction from his happiness.

　　Death steps is in the end and stops him before he has grown tired of this futile pursuit of that complete felicity which always escapes him.

　　参考译文：

　　1 美国人以疯狂的热情追求繁荣，却又常常拿不准自己是否真正选中了求富贵的最佳捷径，因此深受其苦。见到美国人如此生活，旁观者真是百思不解。

　　美国人紧紧抓住尘世中的东西不放，好像深信他们永远也不会死似的。可一旦利益近在咫尺，美国人却又追求得如此迫不及待，好像人生短促，岂能不及时行乐。他们什么都抓在手里，却又什么都抓不紧，因此为求新欢乐，常常便在匆忙中丢了旧爱好。

　　一个美国人会为安度晚年去兴建一幢房子，却又会在房顶还没架上屋梁时就把它卖掉;他会在花园里植树栽花，却又会在花园快要硕果累累时把它租给别人;他会在农田中播种耕耘，却又会把收获让给他人;他会热衷于一门专业，却又会马上将其放弃;他会在某处安家落户，却又会情移念转，另寻安身之地。如果管理自家店铺后仍有片刻闲暇，美国人会一头栽进政治纷争的旋涡之中。时值岁尾年首，终年忙碌的美国人竟会见缝插针，不忘休闲。于是他那永不休止的好奇之心，会与他一起同游美国辽阔的大地，几日内纵横数百里河山，聊以消遣，暂将快乐置于一旁。

　　终于，死亡来临了。死亡阻止了他，在他求欢乐兴致仍浓之际。他没有达到目的，极致的快乐总是与他擦肩而过。