窗外的芙蓉树 The Trees Outside My Window
From the window of my room， I could see a tall cotton-rose hibiscus. In spring， when green foliage was half hidden by mist， the tree looked very enchanting dotted with red blossom. This inspiring neighbor of mine often set my mind working. I gradually regarded it as my best friend.
Nevertheless， when I opened the window one morning， to my amazement， the tree was almost bare beyond recognition as a result of the storm ravages the night before. Struck by the plight， I was seized with a sadness at the thought “all the blossom is doomed to fall”. I could not help sighing with emotion： the course of life never runs smooth， for there are so many ups and downs， twists and turns. The vicissitudes of my life saw my beloved friends parting one after another. Isn’t it similar to the tree shedding its flowers in the wind？
This event faded from my memory as time went by. One day after I came home from the countryside， I found the room stuffy and casually opened the window. Something outside caught my eye and dazzled me. It was a plum tree all scarlet with blossom set off beautifully by the sunset. The surprise discovery overwhelmed me with pleasure. I wondered why I had no idea of some unyielding life sprouting over the fallen petals when I was grieving for the hibiscus.
When the last withered petal dropped， all the joyful admiration for the hibiscus sank into oblivion as if nothing was left， until the landscape was again ablaze with the red plum blossom to remind people of life’s alternation and continuance. Can’t it be said that life is actually a symphony， a harmonious composition of loss gain？
Standing by the window lost in thought for a long time， I realized that no scenery in the world remains unchanged. As long as you keep your heart basking in the sun， every dawn will present a fine prospect for you to unfold and the world will always be bringing about new hopes.
透过我房间的窗子，可以看到一株高大的芙蓉树。它在春日的薄雾中若隐若现，红花点点，甚是迷人。它总能给我灵感，使我文思泉涌。我逐渐把它当成了最好的朋友。
然而，一天早晨，当我把窗子打开时，吃惊地发现前夜的那场风雨竟将芙蓉树吹打得落红满地。霎时，那种“花开终有落”的悲凉之感袭上心头，我不禁喟叹：人生之旅，总会有各种牵绊，曲折的经历总会伴随着我们。我曾多次承受与挚友离别的伤感，这随风而逝的花朵不正是脆弱生命的真实写照吗？
那天的感触随着时间的流逝在我的记忆中逐渐被淡忘。一天，我从乡下回到家中，觉得室内的空气令人窒息，便随手将窗子打开。眼前的景象顿时让我惊呆了。一棵李子树满树都开了火红的花朵，在落日余晖的映照下显得格外漂亮。这惊奇的发现让我兴奋不已。当初我为落红的芙蓉树悲伤时，却没想到那凄凉景象背后，竟会萌生出如此顽强的生命。
当最后一片枯萎的芙蓉花瓣飘落时，人们不再对它赞美欣赏。直到李子树成长起来，那火红的花儿正向人们昭示着生命的更迭与繁衍。谁能否认生命原本就是一场得失共存的交响乐呢？
我站在窗前，不禁思绪万千。我意识到，生命中没什么恒久不变的风景，只要你的心永远朝着太阳，那么每一个清晨都会向你展现一番美景，等待你去欣赏——这个世界总会带给你新的希望。
生命中没什么恒久不变的风景，只要你的心永远朝着太阳，那么每一个清晨都会向你展现一番美景，等你去欣赏——这个世界总会带给你新的希望。
1. Nevertheless，_________I opened the window one morning， to my amazement， the tree was almost bare_________recognition as a result of the storm ravages the night . Struck by the plight， I was seized with a_________at the thought “all the blossom is doomed to ”.
2. One day_________I came home from the countryside， I found the room stuffy and casually opened the . Something outside_________my eye and dazzled me. It was a plum tree all scarlet with blossom set off beautifully by the .
3. When the_________withered petal dropped， all the joyful admiration for the hibiscus sank into oblivion as if nothing was ， until the landscape was again ablaze with the red plum blossom to_________people of life’s alternation and continuance.
1．人生之旅，总会有各种牵绊，曲折的经历总会伴随着我们。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2．那天的感触随着时间的流逝在我的记忆中逐渐被淡忘。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3．生命中没什么恒久不变的风景。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1．I was seized with a sadness at the thought “all the blossom is doomed to fall”.
be seized with：被（强烈的情感、愿望等）影响
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2．I could not help sighing with emotion...
could not help： 禁不住；忍不住
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月亮的智慧
Lesson from the Moon
佚名 / Anonymous
“When the moon is fullest it begins to wane， when it is darkest it begins to grow.”
——Chinese Proverb
There is a calm wisdom in this old saying that impressed me when I heard it first from a monk of a Buddhist monastery in China. It has often helped me to retain a good measure of equanimity under stress and hardship as well as when some unexpected success or good luck might have made me too exuberant. There is hope and consolation in the sure knowledge that even the darkest hours of pains and troubles won’t last， but also a warning against overrating the passing glories of wealth， power and great good fortune. A warning and a hope， not only for the individual， but also for governments， nations and their leaders， a brief summing up of all that history and human experience can tell us. And beyond all that we might hear in it an echo of the law and order that holds our universe in safe balance.
“月盈则亏，晦则明。”
——中国古谚
这句中国的古语里有种平静的智慧，它最初是一个中国佛教寺院中的一位和尚告诉我的，这句话给我的印象很深刻。从那时起，每当我遭遇困难阻碍，或者遇到可能使我过于兴奋的成功或好运的时候，这句话总能帮我保持镇定。这句话启示我们，不论痛苦或困难的时刻有多么暗淡，它们不会长久持续下去，我们因此会感到希望和宽慰；这句话同时也警示我们，财富、权力或鸿运当头的荣耀，都不过是过眼云烟，我们不必太放在心上。无论对于个人还是对于国家、民族乃至其领袖，这则谚语都是警示和希望，而且它还是历史与人类发展所给予我们的简要总结。除此之外，我们从这句话里面还可以聆听到使宇宙保持平衡状态的法则与秩序的回声。
月盈则亏，晦则明。不论痛苦或困难的时刻有多么暗淡，它们不会长久持续下去；财富、权力或鸿运当头的荣耀，也都不过是过眼云烟。
1. There is a calm wisdom in this old_________ that impressed me when I heard it first from a monk of a Buddhist monastery in China. It has often helped me to retain a good_________ of equanimity_________ stress and hardship as well as when some unexpected success or good luck might have_________ me too exuberant.
2. A warning and a_________， not only for the individual， but also for governments， nations and their leaders， a brief summing up of all that history and human experience can_________ us. And beyond all that we might hear in it an_________ of the law and order that holds our universe in safe_________.
1. 月盈则亏，晦则明。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 这句话启示我们，不论痛苦或困难的时刻有多么暗淡，它们不会长久持续下去，我们因此会感到希望和宽慰。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 除此之外，我们从这句话里面还可以聆听到使宇宙保持平衡状态的法则与秩序的回声。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. And beyond all that we might hear in it an echo of the law and order that holds our universe in safe balance.
beyond all：首先，首要地
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2. ...a brief summing up of all that history and human experience can tell us.
sum up：总结，概括；总计
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喜悦的能力
The Faculty of Delight
查理？爱德华？蒙太古 / Charles Edward Montague
Among the mind’s powers is one that comes of itself to many children and artists. It need not be lost， to the end of his days， by any one who has ever had it. This is the power of taking delight in a thing， or rather in anything， everything， not as a means to some other end， but just because it is what it is， as the lover dotes on whatever may be the traits of the beloved object. A child in the full health of his mind will put his hand flat on the summer turf， feel it， and give a little shiver of private glee at the elastic firmness of the globe. He is not thinking how well it will do for some game or to feed sheep upon. That would be the way of the wooer whose mind runs on his mistress’s money. The child’s is sheer affection， the true ecstatic sense of the thing’s inherent characteristics. No matter what the things may be， no matter what they are good or no good for， there they are， each with a thrilling unique look and feel of its own， like a face； the iron astringently coop under its paint， the painted wood familiarly warmer， the clod crumbling enchantingly down in the hands， with its little dry smell of the sun and of hot nettles； each common thing a personality marked by delicious differences.
The joy of an Adam new to the garden and just looking round is brought by the normal child to the things that he does as well as those that he sees. To be suffered to do some plain work with the real spade used by mankind can give him a mystical exaltation： to come home with his legs， as the French say， reentering his body from the fatigue of helping the gardener to weed beds sends him to sleep in the glow of a beatitude that is an end in itself...
在心智的各种能力中，有一种能力对于许多儿童和艺术家来说是与生俱来的，而且一旦获得它，就终身不会失去。这种能力就是对一件事物，甚至对每件事物都感到喜悦的能力。之所以感到喜悦，并不是因为那件事物是达到其他目的的手段，只是因为这件事情本身，正如一个情人觉得他所喜爱的对象是十全十美一样。一个心智健康的儿童也许会把他的手放在夏天的草地上，抚摸着它，他觉得坚实的大地也有点弹性，因而打心眼里感到欣喜。他并不会考虑这草地对于人们玩游戏或用来放羊会有多大好处。如果这样的话，那就是一心贪图钱财的追求者的恶劣行径了。但这孩子内心的喜悦却是至真至纯的，是对这件事物的内在特性感到真正的心醉神迷。不管这些事物是什么，也不管它们对什么有用或者没用，它们自然地存在着，有着自己动人的外观与感觉，就像一张面孔那样。油漆下面冰凉的钢铁，温暖可亲的彩色木料，拿在手中一揉就碎的令人着迷的土块，微微含着日晒与荨麻的干燥气味。各种普通的事物都有着可爱的差别，因而都突显了其独特的性格。
初到伊甸园的亚当左右张望，充满喜悦，这正是一个正常的儿童在做什么或看什么时所感到的欣喜之情。如果让他拿起人们使用的真正的铲子去做点普通的劳动，那他肯定会感到一种神秘的喜悦。当他经过一番辛劳，帮助园丁把花园里的杂草除掉，两只脚像缩进身体里似的走了回来（像法国人说的那样），他会在一片纯粹的喜悦之光的照耀下安然睡去……
难道喜悦也要有能力才可以做到吗？喜悦对于每个人来说意义都是不同的，对于小孩子来说，喜悦是发自内心的，是干干脆脆的，而对于那些一味金钱至上的人们来说，喜悦只是他们劣行的帮凶。
1. This is the_________of taking delight in a thing， or_________in anything， everything， not as a means to some other end， but just because it is_________it is， as the lover dotes on whatever may be the traits of the beloved object.
2. No matter_________the things may be， no matter what they are good or_________good for， there they are， each with a thrilling unique_________and feel of its own， like a face； the iron astringently coop_________its paint， the painted wood familiarly warmer， the clod crumbling enchantingly down in the hands， with its little dry_________of the sun and of hot nettles； each common thing a personality marked by delicious differences.
1. 他并不会考虑这草地对于人们玩游戏或用来放羊会有多大好处。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 但这孩子内心的喜悦却是至真至纯的，是对这件事物的内在特性感到真正的心醉神迷。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 各种普通的事物都有着可爱的差别，因而都突显了其独特的性格。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. This is the power of taking delight in a thing， or rather in anything， everything， not as a means to some other end…
take in：接受；让……进入；拘留；欺骗
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2. That would be the way of the wooer whose mind runs on his mistress’s money.
run on： （脑子里）总是想着；运行于；涉及；继续
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哨 子
The Whistle
本杰明？富兰克林 / Benjamin Franklin
I received my dear friend’s 2 letters， one for Wednesday and one for Saturday. This is again Wednesday. I do not deserve one for today， because I have not answered the former. But， indolent as I am， and averse to writing， the fear of having no more of your pleasing epistles， if I do not contribute to the correspondence， obliges me to take up my pen； and as Mr. B. has kindly sent me word that he sets out tomorrow to see you， instead of spending this Wednesday evening， as I have done its namesakes， in your delightful company， I sit down to spend it in thinking of you， in writing to you， and in reading over and over again your letters.
I am charmed with your description of Paradise， and with your plan of living there； and I approve much of your conclusion， that， in the meantime， we should draw all the good we can from this world. In my opinion we might all draw more good from it than we do， and suffer less evil， if we would take care not to give too much for whistles. For to me it seems that most of the unhappy people we meet with become so by neglect of that caution.
You ask what I mean？ You love stories， and will excuse my telling one of myself.
When I was a child of 7 years old， my friends， on a holiday， filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children； and being charmed with the sound of a whistle， that I met by the way in the hands of another boy， I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home， and went whistling all over the house， much pleased with my whistle， but disturbing all the family. My brothers， and sisters， and cousins， understanding the bargain I had made， told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth； put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money； and laughed at me so much for my folly， that I cried with vexation； and the reflections gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This， however， was afterwards of use to me， the impression continuing on my mind； so that often， when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary things， I said to myself， “Don’t give too much for the whistle.”And I saved my money.
As I grew up， came into the world， and observed the actions of men， I thought I met with many， very many， who gave too much for the whistle.
When I saw one too ambitious of court favor， sacrificing his tine in attendance on levees， his repose， his liberty， his virtue， and perhaps his friends， to attain it， I have said to myself， this man gives too much for his whistle.
When I saw another fond of popularity， constantly employing himself in political bustles， neglecting his own affairs， and ruining them by that neglect， he pays， indeed， said I， too much for his whistle.
If I knew a miser， who gave up every kind of comfortable living， all the pleasure of doing good to others， all the esteem of his fellow-citizens， and the joys of benevolent friendship， for the sake of accumulating wealth， poor man， said I， you pay too much for your whistle.
When I met with a man of pleasure， sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind， or of his fortune， to mere corporeal sensations， and ruining his health in their pursuit， mistaken man， said I， you are providing pain for yourself， instead of pleasure； you give too much for your whistle.
If I see one fond of appearance， or fine clothes， fine houses， fine furniture， fine equipages， all above his fortune， for which he contracts debts， and ends his career in a prison， Alas！ say I， he has paid dear， very dear， for his whistle.
When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband， what a pity， say I， that she should pay so much for a whistle！
In short， I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things， and by their giving too much for their whistles.
Adieu， my dear friend， and believe me ever yours very sincerely and with unalterable affection.
我亲爱的朋友，我已经收到你的两封来信，周三、周六各一封。时光飞逝，一眨眼，又到了周三。我今天不再祈求收到你的来信，因为以前的信，我还没来得及回复。我承认自己懒惰，又不爱写信，可是如果不回信的话，我又怕自己再也收不到你那令人开心的来信。想到这里，我便不得不拿起笔来了。B先生好心地告诉我，他想明日去你的家中拜访，而不是在今天晚上。坐在桌前心里想着与你快乐的接触，我整个晚上都在想念你，给你写回信，并反复阅读你的来信。
我着迷于你对天堂的描述，羡慕你去那里生活的计划，并认可你的大部分观点，在这样的基础上，我们一定要最大限度地从这个世界中吸取所有的善。在我看来，如果我们注意不在哨子上付出太大的代价，我们很有可能从这个世界吸取更多的善，遭受更少的恶。因为对我来说，我们所见过的闷闷不乐的人中，大部分是由于对这一警示不予理睬而酿成了大祸。
你或许会问，我说的是什么意思？你喜欢听故事，那么请允许我讲一个发生在我身上的故事。
故事发生在我7岁那年。因为是假日，我的口袋被几位朋友塞满了铜币。我赶忙直奔一家儿童玩具店。在去往商店的路上，我看到一个小男孩手中有只哨子。他吹出的哨音婉转动听，我情不自禁地着迷了。于是，我掏出所有的钱换了他那只哨子。然后，回到家后，我便吹着哨子四处游荡。我对自己的哨子爱不释手，而全家人却因为哨声苦不堪言。我的哥哥、姐姐、堂兄、堂姐、表兄、表姐得知了我买哨子的价钱后，告诉我，我买这只哨子多花了3倍的价钱，还告诉我用那些剩下的钱可以买到哪些好东西，并肆意嘲笑我的愚蠢。我懊恼地哭了起来。这件事带给我的苦恼，远多于哨子带给我的快乐。
不过，这件事一直留在我的记忆中，给我日后的人生带来了很多益处。从那以后，每当我想去买一些不必要的东西时，就对自己说，不要为哨子支付太多金钱，于是我便能省下钱。
长大后，步入社会，遇到了很多人，观察人们的行为，最后我发现，他们都为自己的哨子付出了过高的代价。
当我看见一个过分热衷于趋炎附势，为寻求会见掌权之人，而不惜牺牲自己的睡眠、自由、德行甚至朋友的人时，我便对自己说，这个人为了他的哨子付出了昂贵的代价。
当我看见另一个人醉心于名望，一次又一次投身于政界的纷扰之中，忽视了自己的分内之事，最后因这种忽视而毁了自己的人生时，我说，他确实为哨子付出了昂贵的代价。
当我得知一个守财奴，为了积累财富，宁愿放弃舒适的生活、行善的乐趣、同胞的尊重和友爱带来的欢愉时，我会说，可怜的人啊，为了哨子，你付出了昂贵的代价。
当我遇到一个沉湎于享乐，为了追求肉体上的享受，牺牲一切精神或物质上值得称道的改进，甚至不惜毁掉自己健康的人时，我说，误入歧途的人啊，你是有福不享，自讨苦吃，为了哨子，你付出了昂贵的代价。
当我看到一个人追求外在，或沉迷于精致的服装、豪华的住宅、富丽的家具、漂亮的马车，入不敷出、债台高筑，最后被投进监狱时，我说，天哪！为了哨子，他付出了如此昂贵的代价。
当我看到一个美丽动人、性情温顺的女孩，嫁给一个粗野、残忍的丈夫时，我说，真是可惜，为了哨子，她付出了昂贵的代价。
总之，我认为，人类所遭受的大部分不幸，都是因为他们对事物的价值作出了错误的评估，是因为他们为哨子付出了过高的代价。
再见，我亲爱的朋友。请相信，我永远是你真诚的朋友，对你的情感持久不变。
有时候，期望越高，失望越大。擦亮眼睛，对事物的价值作出正确的评估，就不会付出过高的代价。
1. When I was a_________ of 7 years old， my friends， on a holiday， filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a_________ where they sold toys for children； and being charmed with the sound of a_________， that I met by the way in the hands of another boy， I voluntarily offered and gave_________ my money for one.
2. This， however， was afterwards of use to me， the_________ continuing on my mind； so that often， when I was tempted to buy some_________ things， I said to myself， “Don’t give too much for the_________.”And I saved my money.
3. As I grew up，_________ into the world， and observed the actions of men， I thought I met with many， very many， who gave too_________ for the whistle.
1. 坐在桌前心里想着与你快乐的接触，我整个晚上都在想念你，给你写回信，并反复阅读你的来信。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 你喜欢听故事，那么请允许我讲一个发生在我身上的故事。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 总之，我认为，人类所遭受的大部分不幸，都是因为他们对事物的价值作出了错误的评估，是因为他们为哨子付出了过高的代价。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. I sit down to spend it in thinking of you， in writing to you， and in reading over and over again your letters.
over and over again：再三，一再，多次，反复
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. For to me it seems that most of the unhappy people we meet with become so by neglect of that caution.
neglect of：疏忽
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一座好谷仓
It Was a Good Barn
佚名 / Anonymous
An old friendship had grown cold. Where once there had been closeness， there was only strain. Now pride kept me from picking up the phone.
Then one day I dropped in on another old friend who had a long career as a minister and counselor. We were seated in his study—surrounded by maybe a thousand books and fell into deep conversation about everything from small computers to the tormented life of Beethoven.
The subject finally turned to friendship and how perishable it seems to be these days. I mentioned my own experience as an example. “Relationships are mysteries，” my friend said， “Some endure. Others fall apart.”
Gazing out his window to the wooded Vermont hills， he pointed toward a neighboring farm， “Used to be a large barn over there.” Next to a red-frame house were the footings of what had been a sizable structure.
“It was solidly built， probably in the 1870s. But like so many of the places around here， it went down because people left for richer lands in the Midwest. No one took care of the barn. Its roof needed patching； rainwater got under the eaves and dripped down inside the posts and beams.
“One day a high wind came along and the whole barn began to tremble. You could hear this creaking， first， like old sailing-ship timbers， and then a sharp series of cracks and a tremendous roaring sound. Suddenly it was a heap of scrap lumber.
“After the storm blew over， I went down and saw these beautiful， old oak timbers， solid as could be. I asked the fellow who owns the place what had happened. He said he figured the rainwater had settled in the pinholes， where wooden dowels held the joints together. Once those pins were rotted， there was nothing to link the giant beams together.”
We both gazed down the hill. Now all that was left of the barn was its cellar hole and its border of lilac shrubs.
My friend said he had turned the incident over and over in his mind， and finally came to recognize some parallels between building a barn and building a friendship： no matter how strong you are， how notable your attainments， you have enduring significance only in your relationship to others.
“To make your life a sound structure that will serve others and fulfill your own potential，” he said， “you have to remember that strength， however massive， can’t endure unless it has the interlocking support of others. Go it alone and you’ll inevitably tumble.”
“Relationships have to be cared for，” he added， “like the roof of a barn. Letters unwritten， thanks unsaid， confidences violated， quarrels unsettled—all this acts like rainwater seeping into the pegs ，weakening the link between the beams.”
My friend shook his head. “It was a good barn. And it would have taken very little to keep it in good repair. Now it will probably never be rebuilt.”
Later that afternoon I got ready to leave. “You wouldn’t like to borrow my phone to make a call， I don’t suppose？” He asked.
“Yes， ” I said， “I think I would. Very much.”
昔日的友情逐渐淡漠，曾经的亲密无间，如今只有剑拔弩张了。现在，强烈的自尊心让我无法拿起电话。
后来，有一天，我去拜访另一位老朋友，他做了多年的外交官和法律顾问，他的书房里堆放着上千本书籍。我们坐在那里无话不谈，从小型计算机聊到了贝多芬历经磨难的一生。
最后，话题又转到友谊上，谈到现在的友情似乎很容易变质，我举例提到了自己的经历。朋友说：“关系是神秘的，有些能耐久，有些却易破裂。”
他凝视着窗外那郁郁葱葱的弗蒙特山丘，指着附近的一个农场说道：“那儿曾是一个大谷仓。”我看到，在一栋红木屋旁，有一个庞大建筑物的地基。
“它是一座坚固的建筑物，大概建于19世纪70年代。因为人们往中西部更富饶的地区迁移，它就像这儿的许多建筑物一样，慢慢地塌陷了。这个谷仓无人照管，仓顶需要维修了，雨水流到屋檐下，渗进柱子和横梁里。
“有一天，刮起了大风，整个谷仓开始摇晃起来，刚开始，你能听到那种吱吱的响声，就像古老的木制帆船所发出来的声音，然后是一连串刺耳的断裂声，紧接着是巨大的轰鸣声，转眼间，它就成了一堆碎裂的木头了。
“暴风雨过后，我下山去看，发现这些漂亮的老橡木还是那么结实。当时我问谷仓的主人是怎么回事。他说，估计是雨水渗进了木钉孔里，而正是这些木钉使它们结合在一起的。这些钉子一旦腐烂，巨大的横梁就没法连接了。”
我们向山下望去，昔日的谷仓如今就只剩下一个地窖口和一堆丁香灌木丛了。
我的朋友说，他反复琢磨这件事，终于认识到，建造谷仓和建立友谊之间有些相似之处：不论你多么强大，不论你的成就多么辉煌，只有在与他人交往的过程中，你才有长久的价值。
“要创造健全的生活，就应该为他人服务，同时发挥自身的潜能。”他说，“必须记住，没有他人的支持，不论你的力量多么强大，也不可能持久。孤身挺进，势必栽跟头。”
“关系就像谷仓顶一样，需要精心维护。”他补充道，“不通信，不表示感谢，就会有损于彼此间的信任，使争执得不到解决。所有这些行为就像雨水渗进钉子眼里，削弱了横梁之间的连接力。”
朋友摇了摇头，说：“这是一座好谷仓，只要好好维护，不需要花多少精力就能保存下来。而现在，也许再也不能重建了。”
黄昏时分，我准备离开了。“你不想借用一下我的电话吗？”他说。
“是的，”我说，“我想，我非常希望。”
1. It was solidly_________， probably in the 1870s. But like so many of the_________ around here， it went down because people_________ for richer lands in the Midwest. No one_________care of the barn. Its_________ needed patching； rainwater got under the eaves and dripped down inside the posts and beams.
2. My friend said he had_________ the incident over and over in his_________， and finally came to recognize some parallels between building a barn and building a_________： no matter how strong you are， how notable your attainments， you have enduring significance_________ in your relationship to others.
3. My friend shook his head. “It was a good_________. And it would have taken very_________ to keep it in good repair. Now it will probably never be_________.”
1. 不论你多么强大，不论你的成就多么辉煌，只有在与他人交往的过程中，你才有长久的价值。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 要创造健全的生活，就应该为他人服务，同时发挥自身的潜能。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 关系就像谷仓顶一样，需要精心维护。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Then one day I dropped in on another old friend who had a long career as a minister and counselor.
drop in：顺便走访（某人）
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Suddenly it was a heap of scrap lumber.
a heap of：许多，大量；一大堆
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去伪存真
Peeling Away Artifice for the Pure Original
佚名 / Anonymous
Sarah came running in. “Look what I found.” Over the top of the paper I was reading came a crispy， crumbling long object that caused me to jump. It was a snake skin that had been shed by one of our many garden snakes.
“Isn’t it beautiful？” said my wide-eyed 7-year-old daughter.
I stared at the organic wrapper and thought to myself that it really wasn’t that beautiful， but I have learned never to appear nonchalant or jaded with children. Everything they see for the first time is elementary to their sense of beauty and creativity； they see only merit and excellence in the world until educated otherwise.
“Why does it do this？” Sarah asked.
Robert， ever the innocent comedian， said， “We have a naked snake in our garden！”
I also try to customize every opportunity to teach my children that there is almost always something beyond the obvious； that there is something else going on besides what they see in front of them.
“Snakes shed their skin because they need to renew themselves.” I explained. As is so often the case in my family， the original subject leads to another and another， until we are discussing something quite different.
“Why do they need to renew themselves？” Sarah asked.
Robert quipped， “Cos they don’t like who they are and they want to be someone else.”
Sarah and I politely ignored her brother. I suddenly remembered an article on this page many years ago where the writer was expressing her concept of renewal. She used layers of paper over a wall to describe how we hide our original selves， and said that by peeling away those layers one by one， we see the underlying original beneath.
“We often need to shed our skins， those coatings and facades that we cover ourselves with.” I said to my now absorbed daughter. “We outgrow some things and find other stuff unwanted or unnecessary. This snake no longer needs this skin. It is probably too stiff and crinkly for him and he probably doesn’t think he looks as smart in it as he once did. Like buying a new suit.”
Of course， I’m sure this explanation won’t sit well with bonafide naturalists. But Sarah was getting the point. As we talked， I knew that she began to comprehend， albeit slightly， that renewal is part of progress； that we need to take a good look at ourselves， our rooms， schoolwork， creativity and spirituality， and see what we need to keep and what we need to cast off. I was careful to point out that this is a natural process， not one to be forced.
“Snakes don’t peel off their skirl when they feel like it.” I explained. “It happens as a natural consequence of their growth.”
“I see. Dad.” said Sarah and jumped off my lap， grabbed the snakeskin， and ran off.
I hoped she would remember this. That often， in order to find our real selves underneath the layers of community and culture with which we cloak ourselves year after year， we need to start examining these layers. We need to gently peel some away， as we recognize them to be worthless， unnecessary， or flawed； or at best， store the discarded ones as mementoes of our promotion to a better vitality or spirit.
萨拉跑进屋来，喊道：“看，我发现了什么。”我正读着报纸，突然上方冒出一条长长的皱巴巴的看起来好像要碎了的东西。我立刻吓得跳了起来。那是一张蛇皮，是我们花园中的一条蛇蜕下来的。
“它不漂亮吗？”我7岁的眼睛大大的女儿问道。
我盯着那条蛇皮，心里想它真的称不上漂亮。但我明白，永远不能对孩子显露出自己的冷漠或厌烦。他们第一次看到的每件事物，对于培养他们的美感和创造性都很重要。在接受社会教育之前，他们的眼里只有美好和优秀。
萨拉问：“蛇为什么要蜕皮？”
生来就具有喜剧天分的罗伯特说：“我们花园里有一条光着身子的蛇。”
我也尝试利用每一个机会，教导孩子们知道：事物往往不是表象所能掩盖的，除了我们所见的，还有一些更深层次的东西。
我解释说：“蛇蜕皮是因为它们要更新自己。”正如往常一样，最初的话题会导致接二连三的新问题，直到我们所谈论的与起先的话题毫不相干。
萨拉问：“蛇为什么要更新自己呢？”
罗伯特诙谐地说：“因为它们不喜欢做自己，它们想要变成别人。”
萨拉和我礼貌地岔开了她哥哥的话题。我忽然记起，很多年前的报纸上曾有一篇文章，作者阐述了她对更新的看法。她用墙上的层层壁纸来比喻我们掩藏真实的自我，她说一层一层地剥掉那些伪装的外表，我们就看到了最里层的真我面目。
我告诉聚精会神的小女儿：“我们经常需要‘蜕皮’，要脱掉身上那些装饰。当我们成熟之后，就发现某些东西不需要也不必要了。这条蛇不再需要这张皮，也许是蛇觉得它太僵硬、太多皱纹了；也许是它觉得，这张皮穿在身上不再像以前那么光滑了，蜕下一层皮就像买了一件新衣服一样。”
当然了，我确定这一解释不能得到真正的博物学家的认可，但萨拉理解了我的意思。在我们的交谈中，我知道萨拉开始领会“更新是进步的一部分”这个道理，即便只是细微地理解。她领会了：我们需要好好审视自我、房间、功课，注重创造性以及精神追求；明白了我们需要保留什么，摆脱什么。我小心地指出：这是自然过程，并非被迫的。
我解释说：“蛇喜欢自己的皮时，就不会蜕掉它。这是它们成长的自然结果。”
萨拉说：“爸爸，我明白了。”接着便从我腿上跳下去，拿着蛇皮跑开了。
我希望她能记住这个道理，那就是：我们长年累月地把自己层层包围在人情世故中，为了寻找掩藏在底下的真正自我，我们需要检验判断这些外衣，当认识到有些东西是没有价值的、不必要的或者是有缺陷的，就把它们剥去；或者，最好把那些剥去的东西保存下来，以提醒激励我们不断创新，精神上不断完善。
我们长年累月地把自己层层包围在人情世故中，为了寻找掩藏在底下的真正自我，我们需要检验判断这些外衣。
1. Everything they see for the_________ time is elementary to their sense of beauty and creativity； they see only merit and excellence in the world_________ educated otherwise.
2. “We often_________ to shed our skins， those coatings and facades that we cover ourselves with.” I said to my now absorbed daughter. “We outgrow some things and find other stuff unwanted or_________. This snake no longer needs this_________. It is probably too stiff and crinkly for him and he probably doesn’t think he looks as smart in it as he once did.Like_________ buying a new suit.”
3. “Snakes don’t peel off their skirl_________ they feel like it.” I explained. “It_________ as a natural consequence of their_________.”
1. 事物往往不是表象所能掩盖的，除了我们所见的，还有一些更深层次的东西。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 正如往常一样，最初的话题会导致接二连三的新问题，直到我们所谈论的与起先的话题毫不相干。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 罗伯特诙谐地说：“因为它们不喜欢做自己，它们想要变成别人。”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. ...and said that by peeling away those layers one by one， we see the underlying original beneath.
one by one：一个接一个地
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ...and see what we need to keep and what we need to cast off.
cast off：丢弃；放开，使自由；脱下
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
伟大与渺小
Random Thoughts
约翰？博因顿？普里斯特利 / John Boynton Priestley
This matter of other people’s learning and accom-plishments has been worrying me for some time. I never read the life of any important person without discovering that he knew more and could do more than I could ever hope to know or to do in half a dozen lifetimes. To begin with， unless these people chance to be obvious invalids like Stevenson or Chehov， they are always tremendous athletes， with surprising strength， powers of endurance， and so forth.
They could all walk and run and climb our heads off， even when they were 70. Then they all have the gift of tongues. You never catch a glimpse of them sitting down to learn a new language， not even running an eye over its irregular verbs， yet it is admitted that they speak any number with an astonishing fluency and purity of accent. They never confine themselves to one science， but are inevitably masters of several. The big book of Nature they know by heart. Only the other day I was reading an account of a great novelist， a most sophisticated and subtle person， and was told that he knew the name and habits and history of every wild flower and plant and tree and bird in the country. Nor is that all. There is not one of these bigwigs who is not ( I quote the customary phrases ) a sensitive and accomplished musician， or an extraordinarily fine amateur water-colorist， or the possessor of a magnificent prose style. We are always told that， had circumstance been different， their talents were such that they need only have given their serious attention to one or other of these arts to have procured for themselves lasting and perhaps worldwide reputations. So runs the legend of the eulogists.
I am baffled. How is it done？ I ask the question again， my voice rises to a scream of envy and vexation. Consider what is involved in this matter (so lightly touched upon and dismissed) of music or water-color painting or fine writing， what years of serious application， of drudgery at the keyboard， the easel， or the writing desk. It is one thing to strum on the piano， as you and I do， faking the left hand passages as we go along， or to daub a few patchy water colors， or to paste on to clumsy prose some old spangles of rhetoric， and it is quite another thing to be an accomplished musician or artist or writer. If the first were meant， I could understand it； but the second and as a mere recreation， too！ And then to add the athleticism， the sciences， the tongues， the natural history！ I am bewildered and crushed. The very idle rumour of fellow-creatures so wonderfully gifted makes me dwindle in my own estimation to the size of a gnat.
一直以来，对别人的渊博学识及深厚造诣，我感到很忧虑。只要随便读一读某位重要人物的传记，我就总会发现，他的学问和才能就算我活六辈子也休想学到和做到。第一个理由是，除了像史蒂文森或契诃夫那样明显体弱多病的人以外，他们总是像卓越的运动员一样，有着惊人的气力和耐力。
他们即使年届七旬，在走路、跑步、翻山越岭时，都走在他人前面。并且，他们也都是语言方面的天才。你从来没有看见他们坐下来学习一种新的语言，甚至连不规则动词表也没见他们浏览过，但是他们都可以讲几种语言，不仅流利，而且发音纯正。他们一般都精通几门学科，而且不会使自己局限在某一门科学里，大自然这部巨著被他们熟记在心。不久以前，我还读到一位杰出的小说家的事迹。他是一位非常老练且细致的人，据说他熟悉乡村每一种野花野草、树木和禽鸟的名称、习性和生活史。除此之外，请原谅我用一些套话来形容，这些大人物都是富于灵感的音乐大师，或是精妙绝伦的业余水彩画家，或是风格优美的文体家。更使我们感到惊讶的是，尽管他们的境遇不同，只要他们认真从事这门或那门艺术，凭着他们的才能，日后都会获得不朽的声誉，甚至还会享誉全球。这些对他们的描述总是神乎其神。
但是我非常困惑。他们凭什么做得到？我再次想问这个问题，甚至嫉妒和烦恼得要遥问苍天。我们应该仔细地想一想，一首乐曲、一幅水彩画或一篇美妙的文章究竟意味着什么（这一点却被他们轻轻带过或略而不谈），这需要很多年专心致志地在键盘上、在画架上或者在写字台上辛勤工作才能有所成就。而像你我这样胡乱弹奏钢琴曲，同时还用左手插入即兴的过门，或者不管色彩是否协调蘸上水彩乱涂几笔，或者在一篇粗制滥造的散文里贴上几句闪闪烁烁的陈词滥调，是不会成为一个有成就的音乐家、画家或作家的。要是成功指的是前者，我可以理解；但是如果指的是后者呢？——尚且还不过是作为一种业余的消遣！更不用说他们还要从事体育运动、研究各门科学、学习各种语言，甚至自然史！这使我迷惑不解，佩服得五体投地。这就是使我觉得自己越来越渺小，小得像个小蚊虫的原因。而他们有如此神奇的天赋，正像传说中讲的那样。
茫茫宇宙，广阔的大自然，我们在其中都是那么渺小。不论多么伟大的人，都会发出这样的感慨！我们渺小，但有存在的价值。一切伟大与渺小都是相对的！
1. The big_________of Nature they know by heart._________ the other day I was reading an account of a great novelist， a most sophisticated and subtle person， and was told that he_________the name and habits and history of every wild_________and plant and tree and bird in the country.
2. We are_________told that， had circumstance been ， their talents were such that they need only have given their serious_________to one or other of these arts to have procured for themselves lasting and perhaps world-wide reputations. So_________the legend of the eulogists.
3. The very idle rumour of fellow-creatures so wonderfully_________makes me dwindle in my own estimation to the_________of a gnat.
1. 你从来没有看见他们坐下来学习一种新的语言，甚至连不规则动词表也没见他们浏览过。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 大家都认为他们随便就可以讲几种语言，不仅流利，而且发音纯正。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 这使我迷惑不解，佩服得五体投地。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. To begin with， unless these people chance to be obvious invalids like Stevenson or Chehov， they are always tremendous athletes…
to begin with：首先；第一；原先
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. …they are always tremendous athletes， with surprising strength， powers of endurance， and so forth.
and so forth：等等；诸如此类
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
微笑的力量
The Smile
佚名 / Anonymous
Many Americans are familiar with The Little Prince， a wonderful book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This is a whimsical and fabulous book and works as a children’s story as well as a thought—provoking adult fable. Far fewer are aware of Saint-Exupery’s other writings， novels and short stories.
Saint-Exupery was a fighter pilot who fought against the Nazis and was killed in action. Before World War II， he fought in the Spanish Civil War against the fascists. He wrote a fascinating story based on that experience entitled The Smile. It is this story which I’d like to share with you now. It isn’t clear whether or not he meant this to be autobiographical or fiction. I choose to believe it to be the former.
He said that he was captured by the enemy and thrown into a jail cell. He was sure that from the contemptuous looks and rough treatment he received from his jailers he would be executed the next day. From here， I’ll tell the story as I remember it in my own words.
“I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous and distraught. I fumbled in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes， which had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands， I could barely get it to my lips. But I had no matches. They had taken those.
“I looked through the bars at my jailer. He did not make eye contact with me. After all， one does not make eye contact with a thing， a corpse. I called out to him ‘Have you got a light？’ He looked at me， shrugged and came over to light my cigarette.
“As he came close and lit the match， his eyes inadvertently locked with mine. At that moment， I smiled. I don’t know why I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness， perhaps it was because， when you get very close， one to another， it is very hard not to smile. In any case， I smiled. In that instant， it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between our two hearts， our two human souls. I knew he didn’t want to， but my smile leaped through the bars and generated a smile on his lips， too. He lit my cigarette but stayed near， looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile.
“I kept smiling at him， now aware of him as a person and not just a jailer. And his looking at me seemed to have a new dimension， too. ‘Do you have kids？’ He asked.
“‘Yes， here， here.’ I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family. He， too， took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes filled with tears. I said that I feared that I’d never see my family again， never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes， too.
“Suddenly， without another word， he unlocked my cell and silently led me out. Out of the jail， quietly and by back routes， out of the town. There， at the edge of town， he released me. And without another word， he turned back toward the town.
“My life was saved by a smile.”
Yes， the smile is the unaffected， unplanned， natural connection between people. I tell this story in my work because I’d like people to consider that underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves， our dignity， our titles， our degrees， our status and our need to be seen in certain ways and underneath all that， remains the authentic， essential self. I’m not afraid to call it the soul. I really believe that if that part of you and that part of me could recognize each other， we wouldn’t be enemies. We couldn’t have hate or envy or fear. I sadly conclude that all those other layers， which we so carefully construct through our lives， distance and insulate us from truly contacting others. Saint-Exupery’s story speaks of that magic moment when two souls recognize each other.
I’ve had just a few moments like that. Falling in love is one example. And looking at a baby. Why do we smile when we see a baby？ Perhaps it’s because we see someone without all the defensive layers， someone whose smile for us we know to be fully genuine and without guile. And that baby-soul inside us smiles wistfully in recognition.
在美国，安东尼？圣？埃克苏佩里的《小王子》几乎家喻户晓。小孩子觉得那是个神奇的童话，成年人则认为那是个哲理故事，发人深省。至于圣？埃克苏佩里的其他作品和故事，很少有人知道。
圣？埃克苏佩里是名空军士兵，参加过反纳粹战争，在执行任务时不幸身亡。“二战”前，他参加了西班牙内战，抗击法西斯，以此为素材，他写了篇感人至深的《微笑》。现在，我们就来回味这个故事。故事是否真实无从考证，我宁愿相信那是作者的亲身所历。
作者说，他被敌人俘虏并关进了监狱，看到看守那轻蔑的眼神、粗暴的态度，他肯定自己明天就会命丧九泉。下面，我根据我的回忆，用我的语言把这个故事讲给你们听。
“明天便是我的末日，一想到这儿，我就恐惧慌乱、狂躁不安起来。我翻遍所有的口袋，终于找到了一支烟。我的手颤抖着，好不容易才把它放到嘴里，但没有火柴，全被他们搜走了。
“透过铁栏，我看见外面的警卫。他并不看我，毕竟，我只是他们眼里的一件‘物品’、一具‘尸体’。我冲他喊道：‘能借个火吗？’他看着我，耸了耸肩，走过来点燃我的香烟。
“他靠近我，给我点火，无意间，他扫了我一眼，不知怎地，我笑了起来。也许是紧张，也许是人与人近距离接触时，很难不笑出来，不管出于何种原因，那一瞬，我笑了。这笑，犹如一朵跳跃的火花，打破了心灵的隔膜，拉近了两个人的灵魂。我知道他本来并没打算微笑，但我的微笑好像越过了铁栏，启动了他的双唇，他竟然也笑了。他帮我点燃了香烟，并未立刻离开，而是注视着我，依旧笑着。
“我也笑着，仿佛他是我的朋友，而非看守。他的表情似乎柔和了许多，‘你有小孩吗？’他问道。
“‘有，有，你看。’说着，我摸出皮夹，哆哆嗦嗦地掏出了家人的照片。他也拿出家人的照片，并开始讲述他的计划和梦想。我的眼里噙满了泪水，我说，我恐怕以后再也见不到家人，无法看着孩子长大成人了。听到这些，他也流下了泪水。
“突然，没有说一句话，他打开牢门，带我出去，悄悄地从后面的小路将我带出了城。在城市的边缘，他放了我，什么也没说，便转身回去了。
“是微笑拯救了我。”
是的，微笑是联结人与人之间自然、真挚、难以预料的纽带。在这里，我之所以讲述这个故事，是希望人们能认识到：为了维护尊严、头衔、身份、地位和形象，我们建立了层层保护屏障，来掩饰自己。在这些掩饰之下，人人都有一个真实的本我，姑且就叫它灵魂吧。我坚信，如果我们能以诚相待，世间将会成为友爱之邦，仇恨、嫉妒、恐惧会消失殆尽。遗憾的是，我们生活中精心建立起来的保护膜使我们彼此疏远了，失去了真正的交流沟通。圣？埃克苏佩里的故事，讲述了那个神奇的瞬间——那个人与人之间心际相通的时刻。
那个神奇的瞬间，我也曾历经过，比如，坠入情网，还有，看着婴儿的笑脸。为何我们看到婴儿就会绽放笑容？或许就是那不设防的心、那纯真的笑，顷刻间打破了我们的心理防线。
1. At that moment， I_________. I don’t know_________ I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness， perhaps it was because， when you get very close， one to another， it is very_________ not to smile. In any case， I smiled. In that instant， it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between our two hearts， our two human_________.
2. I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my_________. He，_________， took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes filled with_________. I said that I feared that I’d_________ see my family again， never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his_________， too.
1. 小孩子觉得那是个神奇的童话，成年人则认为那是个哲理故事，发人深省。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 这笑，犹如一朵跳跃的火花，打破了心灵的隔膜，拉近了两个人的灵魂。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 是的，微笑是联结人与人之间自然、真挚、难以预料的纽带。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Far fewer are aware of Saint-Exupery’s other writings， novels and short stories.
aware of：意识到；明白；察觉；小心
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Saint-Exupery was a fighter pilot who fought against the Nazis and was killed in action.
fight against：与……做斗争；反对……
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
两枚硬币的价值
A Trick
佚名 / Anonymous
A young man， a student in one of our universities， was one day taking a walk with a professor， who was commonly called the students’ friend， from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.
As they went along， they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes， which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by， and who had nearly finished his day’s work.
The student turned to the professor， saying， “Let us play the man a trick： we will hide his shoes， and conceal ourselves behind those bushes， and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them.”
“My young friend，” answered the professor， “we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich， and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe， and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him.”
The student did so， and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by.
The poor man soon finished his work， and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes； but feeling something hard， he stooped down to feel what it was， and found the coin.
Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin， turned it round， and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides， but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket， and proceeded to put on the other shoe； but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.
His feelings overcame him； he fell upon his knees， looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving， in which he spoke of his wife， sick and helpless， and his children without bread， whom the timely bounty， from some unknown hand， would save from perishing.
The student stood there deeply affected， and his eyes filled with tears. “Now，” said the professor， “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick？”
The youth replied， “You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words， which I never understood before： ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
一天，我们大学里一个年轻的学生和一位教授一起散步。这位仁慈的教授常被学生称为朋友，他对那些急切希望得到指教的学生非常友善。
途中，他们看到一双旧鞋放在路边，便猜测鞋子可能是某个在附近田地里劳作的穷人的，他一天的劳动可能就快结束了。
学生转过头对教授说：“我们愚弄他一下吧，把他的鞋先藏起来，然后躲到灌木丛后，等着看他找不到鞋子会是怎样困惑的表情。”
“年轻的朋友，”教授答道，“我们永远不该拿穷人取乐。如果你富有，就应该去帮助穷人，那样会让你获得更大的快乐。我们在每只鞋里各放一枚硬币，然后躲起来看他对这一意外发现有何反应。”
学生按教授说的做了，然后他们躲到附近的灌木丛中。
很快，那个穷人的劳动结束了，他走出田地，来到放外套和鞋子的小路上。他边穿外套，边把一只脚伸到鞋子里，但是感觉到鞋里有硬东西，他便弯下腰摸那是什么，他发现那竟是一枚硬币。
他吃惊地看着那枚硬币，又看另一面，如此看了又看。然后，扫视了一下周围，一个人影都看不到。他把这枚硬币装进口袋，又去穿另一只鞋，结果又发现了另一枚硬币，他更惊讶了。
他感动至极，双膝跪地，仰望上苍，大声地表达着自己的感激之情——正是陌生人的解囊相助，使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。
那名学生被深深地感动了，他的眼里饱含着泪水。“喏，”教授说，“这难道不比恶作剧更使你快乐吗？”
年轻人答道：“您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。现在，我终于明白了那句我一直都不理解的话：‘给予比接受更幸福。’”
赠人玫瑰，手有余香。如果你有能力，就应该去帮助别人，那样会让你获得更大的快乐。
1. “My young friend，” answered the professor， “we should_________ amuse ourselves at the expense of the_________. But you are rich， and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a_________ into each shoe， and then we will hide ourselves and watch_________ the discovery affects him.”
2. The poor man soon_________ his work， and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his_________； but feeling something_________， he stooped down to feel_________ it was， and found the coin.
3. The student stood there_________ affected， and his eyes filled with tears. “Now，” said the professor， “are you not much better_________ than if you had played your intended_________？”
1. 这位仁慈的教授常被学生称为朋友。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 正是陌生人的解囊相助，使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor.
at the expense of：在损害……情况下，以……为代价；由……承担费用
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes...
slip into：匆忙穿上；（使）滑进；塞进
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
接受不完美的人生
The Missing Piece
佚名 / Anonymous
Once a circle missed a wedge. The circle wanted to be whole， so it went around looking for its missing piece. But because it was incomplete and therefore could roll only very slowly， it admired the flowers along the way. It chatted with worms. It enjoyed the sunshine. It found lots of different pieces， but none of them fit. So it left them all by the side of the road and kept on searching. Then one day the circle found a piece that fit perfectly. It was so happy. Now it could be whole， with nothing missing. It incorporated the missing piece into itself and began to roll. Now that it was a perfect circle， it could roll very fast， too fast to notice the flowers or talking to the worms. When it realized how different the world seemed when it rolled so quickly， it stopped， left its found piece by the side of the road and rolled slowly away.
The lesson of the story， I suggested， was that in some strange sense we are more whole when we are missing something. The man who has everything is in some ways a poor man. He will never know what it feels like to yearn， to hope， to nourish his soul with the dream of something better.
There is a wholeness about the person who has come to terms with his limitations， who has been brave enough to let go of his unrealistic dreams and not feel like a failure for doing so. There is a wholeness about the man or woman who has learned that he or she is strong enough to go through a tragedy and survive， he or she can lose someone and still feel like a complete person.
Life is not a trap set for us by God so that he can condemn us for failing. Life is not a spelling bee， where no matter how many words you’ve gotten right， you’re disqualified if you make one mistake. Life is more like a baseball season， where even the best team loses one-third of its games and even the worst team has its days of brilliance. Our goal is to win more games than we lose.
When we accept that imperfection is part of being human， and when we can continue rolling through life and appreciate it， we will have achieved a wholeness that others can only aspire to. That， I believe， is what God asks of us—not “Be perfect” ， not “Don’t even make a mistake”， but “Be whole” .
If we are brave enough to love， strong enough to forgive， generous enough to rejoice in another’s happiness， and wise enough to know there is enough love to go around for us all， then we can achieve a fulfillment that no other living creature will ever know.
很久以前，一个圆失去了一角。圆想做回完整的自己，于是四处寻找那遗失的一角。但它不再是一个整圆，因此只能慢慢地滚动。它在和煦的阳光下，欣赏着路边鲜艳的花儿，与虫儿聊着天。它遇到了许多不同的角，但都不适合自己，于是将它们扔在路边，继续寻找。最终，它发现了一块最适合自己的角，兴奋不已。现在它是一个完整的圆了，不再残缺不全。它与那一角组合在一起开始滚动。它现在是一个完美的圆，因此能够快速地滚动，快到无法再欣赏美丽的花儿，不能与虫儿聊天了。当它明白速度提高之后的世界是多么不同时，它停了下来，将那一角扔在了路旁，缓慢地离开了。
我认为，这个故事告诉我们，从一种不同于以往的意义上来讲，缺憾也是一种完整。拥有一切的人在某些方面却是极度贫穷的。他永远无法知道何为向往与期盼，也不懂得用更好的梦想来滋润他的心灵。
一个人的完整在于他能为自己的极限让步，有足够的勇气放弃超乎现实的梦想，且并不因此灰心沮丧。一个男人和一个女人的完整在于他或她能坚强地走过困境，可以在失去亲人后依然能保持完整。
生活不是上帝为了责备我们的失败而设的圈套。生活也不是拼写比赛，无论你答对多少词，只要拼错一个，就丧失了比赛资格。生活更如棒球季候赛，最佳球队也许会输掉比赛三分之一的分数，而最差的球队也会有光辉灿烂的一天。我们的目标就是赢多输少。
接受不完美也是人生的一部分道理，这样我们就能在人生的道路上滚动前行并欣赏周围的一切，我们可以达到他人只能向往的圆满。我相信，那就是上帝对我们的要求——不是“完美”，也不是“毫无过错”，而是“圆满”。
如果我们勇敢地去爱，接受宽恕，大方地将快乐带给他人，清楚地明白所有的爱都围绕在我们身边，我们就能达到圆满，那是其他生物所无从知晓的。
从某种意义上来说，人生的缺憾本身就是一种完美。过于完美的人生，往往因为路途太顺而错失了欣赏路边风景的机会；过于完美的人，从来不懂何为期盼，更体会不到满足的快乐，他们的人生是如此单调。所以不要再为自己的缺憾而耿耿于怀，努力去克服吧，在这过程中，你会得到比结果本身更重要的东西。
1. Now that it was a_________ circle， it could roll very fast， too fast_________ notice the flowers or talking to the worms. When it realized how_________ the world seemed when it rolled so quickly， it stopped， left its found_________ by the side of the road and rolled slowly away.
2. The lesson of the story， I suggested， was that in some strange_________ we are more whole when we are missing something. The man who has everything is in some ways a_________ man. He will never know what it feels_________ to yearn， to hope， to nourish his soul with the dream of something better.
3. Life is more like a baseball season， where even the best team_________ one-third of its games and even the_________ team has its days of brilliance. Our goal is to win more games_________ we lose.
1. 它在和煦的阳光下，欣赏着路边鲜艳的花儿，与虫儿聊天。
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 一个人的完整在于他能为自己的极限让步，有足够的勇气放弃超乎现实的梦想，且并不因此灰心沮丧。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 我相信，那就是上帝对我们的要求——不是“完美”，也不是“毫无过错”，而是“圆满”。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Life is not a spelling bee， where no matter how many words you’ve gotten right ...
no matter how：不管怎样
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. We will have achieved a wholeness that others can only aspire to.
aspire to：渴求，向往
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
打开另一扇门
Another Door
佚名 / Anonymous
When I come across a good essay in reading newspapers， I am often inclined to cut and keep it. But just as I am about to do so I find the article on the opposite side is as much interesting. It may be a discussion of the way to keep in good health， or advice about how to behave and conduct oneself in society. If I cut the front essay， the opposite one is bound to suffer damage， leaving out half of it or keeping the text without the subject. As a result， the scissors would stay before they start， or halfway done when I find out the regretful consequence that inevitably causes my repentance.
Sometimes two things are to be done at the same time， both deserving your attention. You can only take up one of them. The other has to wait or be given up. But you know the future is unpredictable —the changed situation may not allow you to do what is left behind. Thus you are caught in a fix and feel sad. How come that nice opportunities and brilliant ideas should gather around all at once. It may happen that your life changes dramatically on your preference of one alternative to the other.
In fact that is what life is like： we are often faced with the two opposite aspects of a thing which are both desirable like newspaper cutting. It often occurs that our attention is drawn to one thing only after we are engaged in another. The former may be more important than the latter and give rise to a divided mind. I still remember a philosopher’s remarks： “When one door shuts， another opens in life.” So a casual or passive choice may not be a bad one.
Whatever we do in our lifetime， wherever life’s storm tosses us， there must be something we can achieve， some shore we can land， that opens up new vistas to us. Don’t forget God always keeps an alternative door open for every one. While the front door is closed， there must be another open for you.
读报的时候，看到一篇好文章，总想把它剪下来收藏。就在我拿起剪刀准备剪的时候，才发现反面的文章也很有趣，它要么是讨论如何保持健康，要么是建议你怎样为人处世。假如你剪了这面的文章，那面的文章势必会损坏，只留下一半或缺少文章题目。因此，举起的剪刀往往停留在半空舍不得再剪，继而不可避免地后悔、遗憾。
有时候，在同一时间有两件事要做，并且这两件事都值得你去关注。你只能选择其中一个，另一件事只能等到以后再做，或者干脆放弃。可是你知道，未来不可预知，今后的变化可能不允许你完成剩下的这件事。所以你会觉得郁闷：为什么这么好的机遇和绝妙的想法会聚集到同一个时间？很可能就是因为你选择了这件事而放弃了那件事，你的一生就会发生戏剧性的改变。
这就是生活，像剪报一样，我们经常面临正反都完美的一件事，可是当我们忙碌于这件事的时候，注意力却又被另一件事所吸引。前者或许比后者更重要，我们举棋不定。我仍然记得一位哲学家的话：“当一扇门关闭时，生活会为你开启另一扇门。”所以，不经意或被动的选择，或许并不是坏事。
不管我们做什么，不管生活的暴风雨把我们吹向何处，我们一定可以实现梦想，哪里都有我们可以落脚的海岸，因为生活会为我们开启另一扇门。当有一扇对你关闭时，一定会有另一扇为你敞开。
当一扇门关闭时，生活会为你开启另一扇门。不管生活的暴风雨把我们吹向何处，我们一定可以实现梦想，哪里都有我们可以落脚的海岸。
1. If I cut the front essay， the_________ one is bound to suffer damage， leaving out half of it or keeping the text without the subject._________ a result， the scissors would stay before they start， or halfway done_________ I find out the regretful consequence that inevitably causes my repentance.
2. Thus you are_________ in a fix and feel sad. How come that nice opportunities and brilliant ideas should gather around all at_________. It may_________ that your life changes dramatically on your preference of one alternative to the other.
3. Whatever we do in our lifetime，_________ life’s storm tosses us， there must be something we can achieve， some shore we can_________， that opens up new vistas to us.
1. 读报的时候，看到一篇好文章，总想把它剪下来收藏。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 当我们忙碌于这件事的时候，注意力却又被另一件事所吸引。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 当有一扇对你关闭时，一定会有另一扇为你敞开。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. When I come across a good essay in reading newspapers...
come across：偶遇；无意中发现；讲得清楚明白
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. It often occurs that our attention is drawn to one thing only after we are engaged in another.
be engaged in：参与；从事；忙于
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
那片羽毛随风飘散
Feather in the Wind
佚名 / Anonymous
A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She regretted immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back. What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused. In an effort to undo what she had done， she went to an older， wiser woman in the village， explained her situation， and asked for advice.
Listening to her， the older woman sensed the younger woman’s distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could never alleviate her pain， but she could teach. She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman. She said， “Tonight， take your best feather pillows and put a single feather on the doorstep of each house in town before the sun rises.”
The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore， even though the feather pillows were very dear to her. All night long， she labored alone in the cold. Finally the sky was getting light， she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose， she returned to the older woman.
“Now，” said the wise woman， “Go back and refill your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps. Then everything will be as it was before.”
“You know that’s impossible！ The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps！” The young woman was surprised.
“That’s true.” said the older woman， “Never forget. Each of your words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken， no amount of effort， regardless how heartfelt or sincere， can never return them to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard them most of all in the presence of those you love.”
一天，一个善良的女人说了一些话，伤害了多年的好友。话刚出口，她就后悔了，若能收回已说出口的话，她愿意付出一切代价。她的话不但深深地伤害了朋友，自己也因此痛苦不堪。为了弥补自己的过失，她求助于村里的一位有智慧的老妇人，向她诉说了自己的苦恼。
从这个年轻女人的话里，老妇人能体会到她的苦恼，因此，她决定帮她一把。同时，她也知道，自己虽不可能减轻她的痛苦，但至少可以让她吸取教训。结果将会取决于这个年轻女人的性格。于是，老妇人说：“今夜，你将最好的羽绒枕头拿出来，天亮之前，在镇上每一户人家的门阶上放一根羽毛。”
尽管这个年轻女人舍不得那些珍贵的羽绒枕头，但她还是匆忙回家，准备按老妇人的话去做。整整一夜，她顶着寒风，一个人奔忙于镇上。终于在天快亮时，她把最后一根羽毛放在了最后一幢房子的门阶上。日出之时，她又来到老妇人那里。
这位智慧长者说：“现在回去，将你放在门阶前的羽毛收齐装进枕头。然后，一切就会恢复从前的样子。”
年轻女人惊呼：“那怎么可能！我把羽毛一放在门阶上，风马上就将它吹走了！”
老妇人说：“没错。所以，你得记住，你所说的每一句话就像风中的羽毛一样。一旦说出口，不论你怎样努力，也不管你如何有诚意，都再也收不回来。说话要慎重，在你爱的人面前尤其要注意这点。”
古语云：“覆水难收”，事后想办法补救固然是好的，但事情已经随着时间的流逝而不可逆转了。如果真的要自己问心无愧，就要在说每一句话、做每一件事之前三思，尊重别人，也尊重自己，为自己留下无悔的记忆，也为别人带去温暖。
1. What she_________ hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused. In an_________ to undo what she had done， she went to an older， wiser woman in the village， explained her situation， and asked for_________.
2. The young woman hurried_________ to prepare for her chore， even though the feather pillows were very_________ to her. All night long， she labored alone in the cold. Finally the sky was getting light， she placed the_________ feather on the steps of the last house. Just_________ the sun rose， she returned to the older woman.
1. 你所说的每一句话就像风中的羽毛一样。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 一旦说出口，不论你怎样努力，也不管你如何有诚意，都再也收不回来。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 说话要慎重，在你爱的人面前尤其要注意这点。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. She regretted immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back.
take back：收回；撤回
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Choose your words well and guard them most of all in the presence of those you love.
in the presence of：在……面前
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
内心深处的波纹
The Splashes of Life
佚名 / Anonymous
My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm when I was about 7， and he told me to throw a stone into the water. He told me to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked me to think of myself as that stone.
“You may create lots of splashes in your life， but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures.” he said.
“Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles.
“You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both.”
That was the first time I realized that each person created the inner peace or discord that flowed out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict， hatred， doubt or anger.
We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside， whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world， creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.
7岁时，祖父带我到农场的鱼塘玩。他让我往水中扔一粒石子，并叫我细心观察激起的波纹。而后，他就要求我把自己也看成那粒石子。
“生活中，你可能会激起很多波纹，这些波纹会打破周围的平静。”他说。
“你要记住，一定要对自己激起的波纹负责，因为它们会触及他人的波纹，并对其产生影响。
“那些愤怒和嫉妒的波纹会向外传递你的消极情绪，所以，你应该对它们负责，你应该将自己平和静谧的波纹传递给别人。”
那时，我第一次意识到，每个人平和或躁动的心情都会传递给整个世界。如果我们的内心充斥着矛盾、仇恨、怀疑和愤慨，就不可能创造一个和平的世界。
不论是否把内心的情感表达出来，我们都在无意中向外传递着自己的喜怒哀乐。不论我们的内心激起的波纹是哪一种，都会波及他人，与他们的生命波纹共振，创造美好或不和谐的生活。
1. Remember that you are responsible for what you_________ in your circle and that circle will also_________ many other circles.
2. The splash that comes_________ anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for_________.
3. That was the first_________ I realized that each person created the inner_________ or discord that flowed out into the world. We cannot create world peace_________we are riddled with inner conflict， hatred， doubt or_________ .
1. 他让我往水中扔一粒石子，并叫我细心观察激起的波纹。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 生活中，你可能会激起很多波纹，这些波纹会打破周围的平静。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 每个人平和或躁动的心情都会传递给整个世界。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles.
be responsible for：对……负责；是……的原因
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world， creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.
spill out：（使）溢出；（使）溅出；突然涌出；说出（真相、内情）
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
有裂痕的罐子
The Cracked Pot
佚名 / Anonymous
A water bearer in India had 2 large pots. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master’s house it had leaked much of its water and was only half full.
For a full 2 years this went on daily， with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course， the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure， it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself， and I want to apologize to you.” “Why？” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of？” “I have been able， for these past 2 years， to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws， you have to do all of this work， and you don’t get full value from your efforts. ” the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot， and in his compassion he said， “As we return to the master’s house， I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed， as they went up the hill， the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path， and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail， it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load， and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot， “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path， but not on the other pot’s side？ That’s because I have always known about your flaw， and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path， and every day while we walk back from the stream， you’ve watered them. For 2 years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are， he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
印度有一个挑水工。他有两个大罐子，其中一个罐子做工精细，从不漏水；另一个上面则有一道裂缝。每当挑水工回到雇主家时，有裂缝的罐子里的水就只剩一半了。
这样过了整整两年，这个挑水工每天挑到雇主家的水仅有一罐半。当然，那个完好的罐子为自己的成就甚感自豪。而那个可怜的、有裂缝的罐子因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已。
痛苦了两年后，一天，那个有裂缝的罐子在小溪边对挑水工说：“我很惭愧，想向你道歉。”“为什么？”挑水工问，“你惭愧什么呢？”“为这两年来只能让你挑回一半的水。因为我身上的这个裂缝，每次你在回雇主家的路上，水都在漏，到家时就只剩下半罐了。正是我的裂缝，你不得不多挑几次水，这样就浪费了你的部分劳动价值。”罐子说道。
挑水工对这个有裂缝的旧罐子感到很同情，他说道：“当我们返回雇主家时，我希望你能留心路旁那些美丽的花朵。”
的确如此，当他们上山时，这个有裂缝的旧罐子注意到路旁的野花，它们沐浴在阳光中，非常漂亮。它感到了一丝快乐。但到雇主家时，它又为自己漏了一半水而难过起来，于是，它再次为自己的失败向挑水工道歉。
挑水工对罐子说：“你注意到了吗？你这边沿路都有花，而另一边却没有？我早就注意到了你的裂缝，我就是利用这一点，在你这侧的路边种上花籽。每天，我们从小溪回来时，你就给它们浇了水。这两年，我就采这些漂亮的花朵来装点雇主的桌子。倘若你不漏水，他就没有这么美丽的鲜花来装饰屋子了。”
1._________ a full 2 years this went on daily， with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of_________ to his master’s house. Of course， the perfect_________ was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its_________ imperfection.
2. Indeed，_________ they went up the hill， the old cracked pot took notice_________
the sun warming the beautiful wild_________ on the side of the path， and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail， it still felt_________ because it had leaked out half its load， and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its_________.
3. I planted flower seeds on your_________ of the path， and every day while we walk back from the stream， you’ve_________ them.
1. 那个完好的罐子为自己的成就甚感自豪。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 这个有裂缝的旧罐子注意到路旁的野花，它们沐浴在阳光中，非常漂亮。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 倘若你不漏水，他就没有这么美丽的鲜花来装饰屋子了。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Of course，the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
be proud of：以……自豪；以……自负
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. That’s because I have always known about your flaw， and I took advantage of it.
take advantage of：利用；欺诈；从……中得到好处
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
人生游戏5只球
Good Thoughts to Keep in Mind
布莱恩？戴森 / Bryan Dyson
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some 5 balls in the air. You name them： work， family， health， friends， spirit. And you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it， it will bounce back. But the other 4 balls—family， health， friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these， it will be irrevocably scuffed， marked， nicked， damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.
How？
Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself to others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would to your life， for without them， life is meaningless.
Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time， you live all the days of your life.
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us each together.
Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give； the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly； and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been， but also where you are going.
Don’t forget： a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless， a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
Life is not a race， but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Yesterday is history， Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift： that’s why we call it “The Present”.
试着把生活想象成一个游戏——在空中抛接5只球。它们是：工作、家庭、健康、友谊和精神。当你尽力想把它们保持在空中时，很快，你就会发现，唯有工作是只橡皮球，抛之于地，还会反弹回来。而另外4只——家庭、健康、友谊和精神都是玻璃球，如果将其中任一只抛至地上，不可避免会留下疤痕、裂缝、受损甚至粉身碎骨，毫无办法将之复原。因而，你必须懂得维系生活的均衡。
如何维系生活的均衡呢？
切勿盲目与他人比较，而低估自身的价值。须知，人与人之间有差异，才显出个性。
切勿视他人的追求为自己的目标，唯有你自己知晓自身所需。
切勿漠视心灵深处的东西。珍视它们，如同生命；反之，生活将空洞黯然。
切勿让生命从指间悄然流逝，充斥昨日的忧伤和明天的憧憬。活在今天，将会让每个日子充满阳光。
切勿屈服认输，一息尚存，奋斗不止。
切勿妄自菲薄，我们各有所长，亦各有所短，才会彼此相依。
切勿惧怕冒险，我们因冒险而学会勇敢。
切勿以真爱难求为由而紧闭心扉。给予爱，才能得到爱；紧紧抓住爱，只会失去爱；赋予爱一双翅膀，才会令爱长驻。
切勿做生命的匆匆过客，将自己源自何方以及去往何处抛至脑后。
切勿忘怀，得到他人的理解是人生最强烈的感情需求。
切勿停止学习，知识不会成为负担，带着它，你可轻装上路。
切勿虚度时光，切勿出言不善，因为它们都覆水难收。
生活不是一场比赛，而是一段旅途，需要我们细细品味。
昨天已成历史，明天仍是未知，而今天是上帝的恩赐。所以，我们称今天为“礼物”。
生活不是一场比赛，而是一段旅途，需要我们慢慢体味。生活的重心不能偏移，重点不能忽视，生活才会平衡，有声有色。
1. You will soon understand that_________ is a rubber ball. If you drop it， it will bounce_________. But the other 4 balls—family， health， friends and spirit are made of_________. If you_________ one of these， it will be irrevocably scuffed， marked， nicked， damaged or even shattered.
2. Don’t_________ love out of your life by saying it’s_________ to find. The quickest way to receive love is to_________； the fastest way to lose love is to hold_________ it too tightly； and the best way to keep love is to give it_________.
3. Don’t run through life so fast that you_________ not only where you’ve been， but also where you are_________.
1. 切勿盲目与他人比较，而低估自身的价值。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 人与人之间有差异，才显出个性。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 昨天已成历史，明天仍是未知，而今天是上帝的恩赐。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart.
take for granted：想当然，以为……理所当然
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been...
run through：跑着穿过；贯穿；游览
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
爱才能铸就完美
Perfection
佚名 / Anonymous
In Brooklyn， New York， Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career， while others can be mainstreamed into conventional Jewish schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner， the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff， he cried out， “Where is the perfection in my son Shaya？ Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God’s perfection？”
The audience was shocked by the question， pained by the father’s anguish and stilled by the piercing query.
“I believe，” the father answered， “that when God brings a child like this into the world， the perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child.” He then told the following story about his son Shaya.
One afternoon Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball.
Shaya asked， “Do you think they will let me play？”
Shaya’s father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya’s father understood that if his son were chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging. Shaya’s father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play.
The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none， he took matters into his own hands and said， “We are losing by 6 runs and the game is in the 8th inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.”
Shaya’s father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the 8th inning， Shaya’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by 3. In the bottom of the 9th inning， Shaya’s team scored again and now with 2 outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base， Shaya was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game？ Surprisingly， Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly， let alone hit with it. However， as Shaya stepped up to the plate， the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came in and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya’s teammates came up to Shaya and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya. As the pitch came in， Shaya and his teammate swung the bat and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman， Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game.
Instead， the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field， far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling， “Shaya， run to first. Run to first！” Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base， the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman that would tag out Shaya， who was still running. But， the right fielder understood what the pitcher’s intentions were， so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head. Everyone yelled， “Run to second， run to second.” Shaya ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. As Shaya reached second base， the opposing shortstops ran to him， turned him in the direction of third base and shouted， “Run to third.” As Shaya rounded third， the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming， “Shaya， run home！” Shaya ran home， stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero， as he had just hit a “grand slam” and won the game for his team.
“That day，” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face， “those 18 boys reached their level of God’s perfection.”
查斯是纽约布鲁克林的一所学校，它是专门为有学习障碍的孩子开办的。一部分孩子会在这里完成整个学业，而另一部分孩子会转入常规的犹太学校。一次，在查斯的筹款晚宴上，一位学生家长发表了一篇让现场所有人都难以忘怀的演讲。他首先称赞了学校和尽责的教职工，接着大喊道：“我儿子沙亚什么地方是完美的？上帝所做的一切都是尽善尽美的。其他孩子能够理解事物，而我的孩子却不能，也不能像他们那样牢记生活常识和数字。上帝所谓的完美在哪里？”
这一问，震惊了全场观众。他们深切地感受到这位父亲的痛苦，同时如此尖锐的质问也让他们愣住了。
“我认为，”这位父亲自己答道，“当上帝将这样的孩子带到世界上时，人们对这个孩子的态度就是他所寻求的完美。”接着，他讲了以下这个关于沙亚的故事。
一日午后，沙亚和父亲经过公园时，看到沙亚认识的一些男孩正在玩棒球。
沙亚问：“你认为他们会不会让我玩？”
父亲清楚儿子对运动一窍不通，而且多数男孩也不会想让沙亚加入他们的队伍。但他也明白，如果儿子能被接受，那将会给儿子带来快乐的归属感。因此，他走到球场内的一个男孩面前，询问能否让沙亚加入。
男孩环顾四周，想从队友那里得到意见，但没人回应。于是，他决定自己做主，说：“我们现在落后6分，但比赛已经是第8局了。我认为他可以加入我们队，我们会尽量让他第9局上场。”
沙亚的父亲喜出望外，沙亚也露出了灿烂的笑容。男孩们让他戴上手套打中外野手。第8局下半场时，尽管沙亚队赢得了几轮，但依旧落后3分。第9局下半场时，沙亚队又得分了。此时，出局的有两个垒手，满垒还拥有一个垒位打点，那是绝对有希望获胜的。按照计划，轮到沙亚上场了。如此关键的时刻，他们会放弃获胜的希望而让沙亚击球吗？出乎意料的是，他们把球棒递到了沙亚手中。沙亚连如何拿好球棒都不知道，更不用说击球了，因此所有人都明白，胜利是不可能了。当沙亚向垒板走去时，投手移动了几步，放低手，轻轻将球缓慢地投了过来，这样沙亚最起码有可能碰到球。第一次投球过来时，沙亚笨拙地抡了一下球棒，但没有击中。于是，一个队友走过来和沙亚一起握着球棒，面朝投手，等待着第二次投球。投手向前挪了几步，轻轻地将球朝沙亚投过来。球过来时，沙亚和他的队友一起挥动球棒，打出了一个很慢的滚地球。投手接起这个轻柔的滚地球，他本可以轻易地把它传给一垒手，这样沙亚就会出局，比赛也就会结束。
相反，投手拿到球后，高高地抛出一个大弧线，将球投到了右半场，这样一垒手根本接不着。所有人都开始喊：“沙亚，跑到一垒，跑到一垒！” 此前，沙亚还从未跑到过一垒去。他匆匆地跑过垒线，惊奇地睁大了眼睛。当他跑到一垒时，右外野手已接到球了。他本可以把球传给二垒手，这样就可以把奔跑中的沙亚触杀出局。但右外野手明白投手的意思，因此把球往远处抛去，甚至远高过了二垒手的头。人们都在喊：“跑到二垒，跑到二垒。”于是沙亚跑向二垒，同时队员已经疯狂地冲到他前面朝着本垒将垒围了起来。沙亚跑到二垒时，对方的游击手向他跑来，将他引向三垒并喊道：“往三垒跑。”当沙亚转到三垒时，两队的男孩都在他后面大喊：“沙亚，跑回本垒！”沙亚跑到本垒，站在本垒板上。18个男孩把他当做英雄举在肩膀上，因为他刚打了一个“满垒全垒打”，为自己这一队赢得了比赛。
“那一天，”这位父亲轻声说着，眼泪顺着脸颊淌了下来，“那18个孩子达到了上帝所创造的完美。”
无论我们处在怎样的境遇里，爱永远是上帝赐予我们的最温暖人心的力量。
1. “I believe，” the father answered， “that when God_________ a child like this into the world， the perfection that he seeks is in the way people_________ to this child.” He then told the following_________about his son Shaya.
2. Shaya’s father_________ that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya’s father understood that_________ his son were chosen to play it would give him a comfortable_________ of belonging. Shaya’s father approached one of the boys in the field and_________ if Shaya could play.
3. Shaya ran home， stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their_________ and made him the_________， as he had just hit a “grand slam” and_________ the game for his team.
1. 上帝所做的一切都是尽善尽美的。
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2. 人们对这个孩子的态度就是他所寻求的完美。
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3. 沙亚的父亲喜出望外，沙亚也露出了灿烂的笑容。
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1. At a Chush fund-raising dinner， the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
deliver a speech：发表讲话；发表演讲
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2. Getting none， he took matters into his own hands...
take matters into one’s own hands：亲自出马；自己动手
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关于铅笔的一则寓言
A Parable of the Pencil
佚名 / Anonymous
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside， just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know，” he told the pencil， “before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget， and you will become the best pencil you can be.
“One： You will be able to do many great things， but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.
“Two： You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time， but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
“Three： You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
“Four： The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.
“And five： On every surface you are used on， you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition， you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember， and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget， and you will become the best person you can be.
One： You will be able to do many great things， but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two： You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time， by going through various problems in life， but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three： You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four： The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And five： On every surface you walk through， you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation， you must continue to do your duties.
Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
铅笔被放入盒子前，铅笔制造商把它拿到一旁。
他告诉铅笔：“在我将你送到世界各地前，你要知道5件事，并时刻铭记在心，永远不要忘怀。这样，你才能成为最好的铅笔。
“第一，你能做出许多伟大的事情。前提是，你必须允许别人用手握住你。
“第二，有时，你会体验被削尖的痛楚，但这种经历会让你变得更优秀。
“第三，你要能改正自己可能犯下的任何错误。
“第四，内芯是你身体最重要的部分。
“第五，你必须在被使用的每一个表面留下痕迹。不论在何种情况下，你都得继续写下去。”
铅笔明白了这些道理，并许诺永远铭记。然后，它胸怀这个目标进入了盒子。
现在，换位思考一下，把自己假想为铅笔。永远记住它们，永不忘却，这样你就能成为最出色的人。
第一，你能成就丰功伟业，但你必须允许上帝对你的掌控，并允许他人因觊觎你的天赋而接近你。
第二，你会经历生活中的各种艰难险阻，不时体验磨难的痛苦。但是，你需要它们，这样你才能变得更坚强。
第三，你要能纠正自己可能犯下的任何错误。
第四，内在品质是你的最大财富。
第五，你必须在你所有途经之地，留下足迹。不论何种情况，你都必须尽职尽责。
让这则关于铅笔的寓言来激励你，让你知道自己是独一无二的。你与生俱来的目标，只有你自己才能实现。
永远别让自己气馁，不要认为自己的生命微不足道，且无法改变。
1. You will experience a painful sharpening from_________ to time， but you’ll_________ it to become a better pencil.
2. Now replacing the place of the pencil_________ you. Always remember them and_________ forget， and you will become the best person you can be.
3. On every surface you walk_________， you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation， you must continue to do your_________.
1. 内在品质是你的最大财富。
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2. 你与生俱来的目标，只有你自己才能实现。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 永远别让自己气馁，不要认为自己的生命微不足道，且无法改变。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time， but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.
from time to time：有时；不时；偶尔
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2. You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time， by going through various problems in life...
go through：遭受；经历
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