The-Fine-Art-of-Putting-Things-Off

UnitTwoTheFineArtofPuttingThingsOffLordChesterfieldLordChesterfield(1694-1773),Englishstatesman,oratorandauthor.Hisliteraryreputationrestuponhisletterstohisillegitimateson,PhilipStanhope,whowasborninHollandin1732.Theletters,filledwithwitandworldlywisdom,werepublishedunderthetitleLetterstoHisSon(1774)Dr.JohnsonJohnsonSamuel(1709–1784),Englishpoet,critic,andmanofletters,theliterarydictatorofEnglandinthelatterhalfoftheeighteenthcenturyandoneofthemostfamouspersonalitiesofhistime.HeisbestknownforhisDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage(1755),whichisinsomerespectsaninnovationinlexicography.Hehadthestrongestinfluenceofanyofhiscontemporariesontheliterarythoughtandstyleofthelatterpartoftheeighteenthcentury.QuintusFabiusMaximusCunctatorQuintusFabiusMaximusCunctator(d.203B.C.),RomangeneralwhosecautiousdelayingtacticsduringtheearlystagesoftheSecondPunicWar(218-201B.C.)gaveRometimetorecoveritsstrengthandtaketheoffensiveagainsttheinvadingCarthaginianarmyofHannibal(247-163B.C.),whosworeeternalenmitytoRome.Fabianism,awordderivedfromFabius,hascometomeanagradualorcautiouspolicy.ARomanpoliticianandsoldier(c.275BC-203BC).HisnicknameCunctatormeansdelayerinLatin,andreferstohistacticsindeployingthetroopsduringtheSecondPunicWar.Fabiuswaswell-awareofthemilitarysuperiorityoftheCarthaginians,andwhenHannibalinvadedItalyherefusedtomeethiminapitchedbattle.InsteadhekepthistroopsclosetoHannibal,hopingtoexhausthiminalongwarofattrition.FabiuswasabletoharasstheCarthaginians,limitingHannibal'sabilitytowreakdestructionwhileconservinghisownmilitaryforce.TheRomanswereunimpressedwiththisdefensivestrategyandatfirstgaveFabiushisnicknameasaninsult.费边主义19世纪后期，流行于英国的一种主张采取渐进措施对资本主义实行点滴改良的资产阶级社会主义思潮。它是英国费边社（FabianSociety）的思想体系和机会主义路线。1884年一部分知识分子创立了费边社，该社成员认为社会改革应循序渐进，故以公元前3世纪古罗马一位因主张等待时机、避免决战的战略而著名的将军费边的名字命名社名。其学说故称为“费边社会主义（FabianSocialism）”简称“费边主义（Fabianism）”。MosesMoses(flourishedca.14thcenturyto13thcenturyB.C.),Hebrewprophetandlawgiver,andfounderoftheHebrewnation.Accordingtothebiblicalaccount,MoseshadtheexperienceofseeingGod,whocommandedhimtoleadtheHebrewsoutofEgypttoCanaan.MoseswastogivethismessagetoPharaoh,rulerofancientEgypt.ButbecauseMoseswasastammerer,hisbrotherAaronwastobehisspokesman.FaustAccordingtolegend,FaustwasawanderingscholarinGermany.Hewasknownforhismagicdeeds.AfterFaust’sdeath,peoplebegantotellmoreandmoreofhismagicdeeds.Faustianencounters“Faustianencounters”refertoFaust’sencounterswiththedevilMephistopheles.Naturallytheyareundesirable.Similarly,mostpeopleareunwillingtovisitbarbers,doctors,anddentists,sotheauthorsayslike“Faustianencounters”.JeanCollinsKerr1923–2003,Americancomicauthorandplaywright.Kerrhadaknackforfindingwryhumorintheworldsofmarriage,suburbia,andshowbusiness.HernovelPleaseDon'tEattheDaisies(1957)wasmadeintoamovieandatelevisionseries.HerotherbooksincludeTheSnakeHadAlltheLines(1960)andHowIGottoBePerfect(1978).AmongherplaysareMary,Mary(1961),PoorRichard(1964),FinishingTouches(1973),andLunchHour(1980).GoetheGoethe(1749-1832),thegreatGermanpoet,dramatist,andnovelist,turnedthelegendintoadramaticpoem.InGoethe’sFaust,theherohadmanyencounterswithMephistopheles,thedevil.PresentRichardNixonPresentRichardNixon(1969-1972),morespecifically,theburglarizingoftheDemocraticPartynationalheadquartersintheWatergateapartmentcomplexinWashington,D.C.,in1972.theantecedentsofWatergatewerestepstakenbyNixonfrom1967to1971allegedlyinthecauseofnationalsecurity.IntelligenceoperativeswerehiredbytheWhiteHouse.TheFederalBureauofInvestigationbegantotapthetelephonesofofficialsandnewsmeninordertodiscoverwhowasleakingsecretinformationtothepress.ThetermWatergatehascometodenotenotmerelytheoriginalbreak-inbutmoreorlessrelatedallegationsofmisconduct,includingthepurchaseofgovernmentalfavourswithcampaigncontributions,theuseofgovernmentagenciestoharasspoliticalopponents,andanextralegalintelligenceunitsetupintheWhiteHouse.WatergateWatergate(1972)PoliticalscandalPresidentRichardNixonTheburglarisingoftheDemocraticPartynationalheadquartersintheWatergateapartmentcomplexinWashington,D.C.ThefirstresignationofaU.S.presidentdesignationofamajorUnitedStatespoliticalscandalthatbeganwiththeburglaryandwiretapping窃听oftheDemocraticParty’scampaignheadquarters,laterengulfedPresidentRichardM.Nixonandmanyofhissupportersinavarietyofillegalacts,andculminatedinthefirstresignationofaU.S.president.TheburglarywascommittedonJune17,1972,byfivemenwhowerecaughtintheofficesoftheDemocraticNationalCommitteeattheWatergateapartmentandofficecomplexinWashington,D.C.TheirarresteventuallyuncoveredaWhiteHouse-sponsoredplanofespionage间谍againstpoliticalopponentsandatrailofcomplicity同谋thatledtomanyofthehighestofficials,includingNixonhimself,whoauthorizedtheevent.水门事件在1972年的总统大选中，为了取得民主党内部竞选策略的情报，1972年6月17日，以美国共和党尼克松竞选班子的首席安全问题顾问詹姆斯·麦科德（JamesW.McCord,Jr.）为首的5人闯入位于华盛顿水门大厦的民主党全国委员会办公室，在安装窃听器并偷拍有关文件时，当场被捕。BlenheimPalaceBlenheimPalace,nearOxford,standsinaromanticparkcreatedbythefamouslandscapegardener'Capability'Brown.ItwasbuilttohonourthemanconsideredBritain'sgreatestsoldier,JohnChurchill,first