美文欣赏——生活学习工作

发布者: 艾米 | 发布时间: 2006-11-10 21:13| 查看数: 69237| 评论数: 129|

第十四篇

The Flight of youth青春的飞逝

Richard Henry Stoddard/理查德.亨利.斯托达德

There are gains for all our losses. 我们失去的一切都能得到补偿，

There are balms for all our pain; 我们所有的痛苦都能得到安慰；

But when youth,the dream,departs 可是梦境似的青春一旦消逝，

It takes something from our hearts, 它带走了我们心中的某种美好，

And it never comes again. 　从此一去不复返。

We are stronger, and are better, 我们变得日益刚强、更臻完美，

Under manhood’s sterner reign; 在严峻的成年生活驱使下；

Still we feel that something sweet 可是依然感到甜美的情感，

Following youth, with flying feet, 已随着青春飞逝，

And will never come again. 不再返回。

Something beautiful is vanished, 美好已经消逝，

And we sigh for it in vain; 我们枉自为此叹息；

We behold it everywhere, 尽管在天地之间，

On the earth, and in the air, 我们处处能见青春的魅力，

But it never comes again! 可是它不再返回！

Quickie 发表于 2006-12-14 12:05:34

don't waste your youth.

艾米 发表于 2006-12-15 22:23:39

第十五篇

Life is full of choices

来源：中国日报网站

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I'd be twins!" He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don' t get it. You can' t be positive all the time. How do you do it?"

Michael replied, each morning I wake up and say to myself 'Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right. It isn't that easy." I protested.

"Yes it is, " Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life. " I reflected on what Michael said.

Soon thereafter, I left the big enterprise that I had worked in for years to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often though about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling off 60 feet from a communications tower.

After l8 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued, "... the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the operation room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, l read 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me" said Michael. "She asked me if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I said. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled", 'Gravity'" Over their laughter, I told them, 'I'm choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'."

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I 1eamed from him that every day we have a choice to live fully. Attitude is everything.

选择积极地生活

迈克尔总是乐呵呵的，你总能听到他说些积极上进的话。他似乎生来就积极进取。他这样告诉他的员工：“每天早晨醒来，我对自己说，迈克尔，今天你有两种选择，选择心情愉快，选择心情恶劣，我选择心情愉快；有不愉快的事情发生，选择成为一个牺牲品，或是选择从中吸取教训，我选择吸取教训。” 迈克尔从60英尺的大楼上摔下，却活了下来，当有人问及他当时的想法，他是这样回答的：“我告诉我的手术医生，‘我选择活着，我愿意做任何手术。’”

选择接受生活的积极面也许是人生中最为明智的选择，其实，每个人都有机会充实、健康的活着，关键取决于你的人生态度。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-15 22:28 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-16 12:56:50

第十六篇

A Little Piece of Me

　　 When he told me he was leaving I felt like a vase which has just smashed. There were pieces of me all over the tidy, tan tiles. He kept talking, telling me why he was leaving, explaining it was for the best, I could do better, it was his fault and not mine. I had heard it before many times and yet somehow was still not immune; perhaps one did not become immune to such felony.

　　He left and I tried to get on with my life. I filled the kettle and put it on to boil, I took out my old red mug and filled it with coffee watching as each coffee granule slipped in to the bone china. That was what my life had been like, endless omissions of coffee granules, somehow never managing to make that cup of coffee.

　　Somehow when the kettle piped its finishing warning I pretended not to hear it. That’s what Mike’s leaving had been like, sudden and with an awful finality. I would rather just wallow in uncertainty than have things finished. I laughed at myself. Imagine getting all philosophical and sentimental about a mug of coffee. I must be getting old.

　　And yet it was a young woman who stared back at me from the mirror. A young woman full of promise and hope, a young woman with bright eyes and full lips just waiting to take on the world. I never loved Mike anyway. Besides there are more important things. More important than love, I insist to myself firmly. The lid goes back on the coffee just like closure on the whole Mike experience.

　　He doesn’t haunt my dreams as I feared that night. Instead I am flying far across fields and woods, looking down on those below me. Suddenly I fall to the ground and it is only when I wake up that I realize I was shot by a hunter, brought down by the burden of not the bullet but the soul of the man who shot it. I realize later, with some degree of understanding, that Mike was the hunter holding me down and I am the bird that longs to fly. The next night my dream is similar to the previous nights, but without the hunter. I fly free until I meet another bird who flies with me in perfect harmony. I realize with some relief that there is a bird out there for me, there is another person, not necessarily a lover perhaps just a friend, but there is someone out there who is my soul mate. I think about being a broken vase again and realize that I have glued myself back together, what Mike has is merely a little part of my time in earth, a little understanding of my physical being. He has only, a little piece of me.

生命的过客

　　当他告诉我他要离开的时候，我感觉自己就像花瓶裂成了碎片，跌落在茶色瓷砖地板上。他一直在说话，解释着为什么要离开，说什么这是最好的，我可以做得更好，都是他的错，与我无关。虽然这些话我已经听上好几千遍了，可每次听完都让我很受伤，或许在这样巨大的打击面前没有人能做到无动于衷。

　　他走了，我尝试着继续过自己的生活。我烧开水，拿出红色杯子，看着咖啡粉末一点点地落入骨灰瓷的杯子里。这正是我自己的鲜活写照，不断地往下掉咖啡粉末，却从来没有真正地泡成一杯咖啡。

　　水开了，水壶发出警报声，我假装没有听见。迈克的离去也是一样，突如其来，并且无可挽回。要知道，我宁愿忍受分与不分的煎熬，也不愿意以这样的方式被宣判“死刑”。想着想着我就哑然失笑，自己竟然为一杯咖啡有如此多的人生感怀，我自己一定是老了。

　　可是镜子里回瞪着我的那个女孩还是那么年轻啊！明目皓齿，充满了前途与希望，光明的未来在向她招手。没关系的，反正我也从来没有爱过迈克。何况，生命中还有比爱更重要的东西在等待着我，我对自己坚持说。我将咖啡罐的盖子盖好，也将所有关于迈克的记忆尘封起来。

　　那天晚上，出乎意料的是，他并没有入到我的梦中。在梦里，我飞过田野和森林，俯瞰着大地。突然间，我掉了下来……醒来后才发现原来自己被猎人打中了，但是令我坠落的不是他的子弹，而是他的灵魂。我后来才渐渐明白，原来迈克就是那个使我坠落的猎人，而我是那只渴望飞翔的小鸟。到了第二天晚上，我仍然做了类似的梦，但是猎人不见了，我一直在自由地飞翔，直到遇上另外一只小鸟和我比翼双飞。我开始意识到，总有那么一只鸟，那么一个人在前面等我，这个人可能是我的爱人，可能只是朋友，但一定是知我懂我的人，这令我感觉如释重负。我想起曾经觉得自己像花瓶一样裂开了，才意识到原来自己已经把自己修理好了。迈克只是我生命过程中的小小过客，他仅仅了解我的表面，他仅仅是我生命中的小小一部分。

艾米 发表于 2006-12-18 14:02:35

第十七篇

The Joy of Living Joy in living comes from having fine emotions, trusting them, giving them the freedom of a bird in the open. Joy in living can never be assumed as a pose, or put on from the outside as a mask. People who have this joy don not need to talk about it; they radiate it. They just live out their joy and let it splash its sunlight and glo

w into other lives as naturally as bird sings.

　　We can never get it by working for it directly. It comes, like happiness, to those who are aiming at something higher. It is a byproduct of great, simple living. The joy of living comes from what we put into living, not from what we seek to get from it.

生活的乐趣

生活之乐趣来源于良好的情绪，信赖这些情绪，并任由它们如同鸟儿高翔于天空般地自由自在。生活的乐趣是无法靠姿态摆出来的，也无法用戴上一张面具来伪装。拥有这种乐趣的人们无需挂在嘴边，他们自然会焕发出快乐的气息。他们自己生活在快乐当中，也将这样的快乐自然而然地感染着他人，犹如是鸟儿就必将歌唱。

直接追求生活的乐趣却只会使乐趣远离我们，它与幸福一样青睐胸有大志的人们。生活过得高雅、简单便会产生出乐趣。它是我们对生活的投入，而非所求。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-18 14:04 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-19 13:03:55

第十八篇

Big Rocks人生的大石头 One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. 一天，时间管理专家为一群学生讲课。他现场做了演示，给学生们留下了一生都难以磨灭的印象。 As he stood in front of the group of overachievers he said, "OK, time for a quiz." He pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth jar and set it on the table in front of him.He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. Whenthe jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" 站在那些高智商高学历的学生前面，他说：“我们来做个小测验”，拿出一个一加仑的广口瓶放在他面前的桌上。随后，他取出一堆拳头大小的石块，仔细地一块放进玻璃瓶。直到石块高出瓶口，再也放不下了，他问道：“瓶子满了？” Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes." The time management expert replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel inand shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.He then asked the group once more, "Is this jar full?" 所有学生应道：“满了！”。时间管理专家反问：“真的？”他伸手从桌下拿出一桶砾石，倒了一些进去，并敲击玻璃瓶壁使砾石填满下面石块的间隙。“现在瓶子满了吗？”他第二次问道。 By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. Hestarted dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"但这一次学生有些明白了，“可能还没有”，一位学生应道。“很好！”专家说。他伸手从桌下拿出一桶沙子，开始慢慢倒进玻璃瓶。沙子填满了石块和砾石的所有间隙。他又一次问学生：“瓶子满了吗？” "No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour itin until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he lookedat the class and asked, "What is the point of thisillustration?" One eager student raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some morethings in it!" “没满！”学生们大声说。他再一次说：“很好！”然后他拿过一壶水倒进玻璃瓶直到水面与瓶口平。抬头看着学生，问道：“这个例子说明什么？”一个心急的学生举手发言：“无论你的时间多少，如果你确实努力，你可以做更多的事情！” "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is if you don't putthe big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Time with your loved ones, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause,teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these big rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all." “不！”时间管理专家说，“那不是它真正的意思，这个例子告诉我们：如果你不是先放大石块，那你就再也不能把它放进瓶子了。那么，什么是你生命中的大石头呢？也许是你的道德感、你的梦想？还有你的---切切记得先去处理这些大石块，否则，一辈子你都不能做！” 我们可曾问过自己这个问题：人一生的“大石头”是什么？找出自己人生的“大石头”，然后把它们先放进我们人生的瓶子中！

艾米 发表于 2006-12-21 12:55:36

第十九篇

Success in Life

Success means different things for different people. Some may equate it with fame, some with wealth and still some with accomplishments. For me, it means fulfilling one's dreams. Whatever your dreams are, you have a goal there and then focus all your attention on it. Dreams bring you hope and happiness. In the process of struggling for it, you cry, sweat, complain or even curse, but the joy of harvesting makes you forget all the pains and troubles you have gone through. So an old proverb says that the sweetest fruit is one that has undergone the bitterest ordeal.

There are several keys to success. First, your goal must be practical and practicable. If you set your goal too high, chances are that you will never attain it. Next, you have to make a plan of doing it. You can take some steps to realize it. Since the process is quite tough, you need to be diligent, patient and persevering. Even if you meet with some difficulties or frustrations, just take them in your stride. You can always tell yourself that there is nothing insurmountable. With this will and determination, success is sure to wait for you at the end of the tunnel!

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-21 12:56 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-22 13:49:52

第二十篇

Just One More Day（再多一天）

作者：文/Author Unknown 译/邹红云来源：新东方专稿

Just One More Day

A Letter To Santa Claus

According to our sources, the following letter was found in the 'Letters To Santa' box at the Post Office in Thompson Falls,Montana.

Dear Santa:

What do I ask this year? I have perused each ad in my mailbox, pored over the colorful ads in the newspaper. So many lovely things, and yet I need nothing.

I realize this as I walk up the hill on my strong legs. I can hear the air fill my lungs. I feel the cold on my cheeks. I smell the smoke of the fire that warms my home. I see the snow-capped mountains and the slate gray river peppered with fat geese.

I need nothing: there are people who love me. There are people who forgive my sometimes wretched temper and who touch me with loving hands. There are neighbors who smile in the store. There are shopkeepers who are tolerant when I don’t have enough money. There are kind faces in public places.

There is a fat pregnant cat who sneaks into my garage. Dogs and other cats share my hearth; I love to feel their fur with my feet. There are hawks that teach their young of flight, right there behind my house. There are deer that tiptoe into my yard and savor the fat apples in the snow.

Rows of glassed vegetables; green beans, tomatoes, peas and carrots color my pantry. And a rusty bucket of hand tools and neatly dried seeds promises next year’s riches.

I need nothing! Christmas promises already fulfilled redeem my foolish life, and occasionally I glimpse the feast that awaits me when this earthly one is done.

Today I discovered a hole in my jeans. I felt the December air slither down my leg. How mighty is the hand that sweeps the wind along the mountains. Santa, dear old soul, just give me another day like this one in my life.

再多一天一封给圣诞老人的信据提供者所说，下面这封信是在蒙大纳州汤普逊瀑布镇邮局里所设的“写给圣诞老人的信”这一邮箱中发现的。亲爱的圣诞老人：

我今年想要什么呢？我细读了塞到我信箱里的每一则广告，钻研过报纸上花花绿绿的广告。有那么多可爱的东西，但我什么也不需要。

这一点我是在迈着强健有力的双腿向山上走时意识到的。我能听到空气被吸入肺里的声音。我感受到脸颊上的寒冷。我闻到使我家充满暖意的炉火的烟味。我看到顶上白雪覆盖的群山、游满肥鹅的蓝灰色河流。

我什么也不需要：我有爱我的人们,有能原谅我有时发作的坏脾气并用充满深情的手轻抚我的人们,有在商店里微笑的邻居，有能容忍我没带够钱的店主，有在公共场所的一张张和善的面孔。

有一只胖乎乎要下崽的猫躲进了我的车库。几只狗和另外几只猫与我共享壁炉的温暖；我喜欢用脚触摸它们的皮毛。就在我家屋子的后面，有老鹰在教雏鹰飞翔。还有鹿悄悄地走进我家院子尽情享受雪地里大苹果的甘美。

一排排装在玻璃器皿中的蔬菜、四季豆、西红柿、豌豆和胡萝卜使我的食品贮藏室色彩绚丽。一只生锈的铁桶里装着手用工具和洁净的干种子，预示着明年的好收成。

我什么也不需要！早已兑现的圣诞承诺将我从愚昧的生活中解救出来，有时候，我会隐约看见在这世间的筵席结束后等待着我的那场盛宴。

今天我发现牛仔裤上有个洞。我感觉到十二月的冷风沿着腿直往下钻。那只将疾风横扫群山的手是多么的有力。圣诞老人，我亲爱的老伙计，就再多给我一天象今天这样的日子吧。（新东方专稿）（编辑：赵露）

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-22 13:51 编辑 ]

风之子_ghost 发表于 2006-12-23 10:03:46

i don't know how you can find out so many essays but they really make me to be full of energy to prepare to overcome every barrals i will face in the future.

thx,thanks for these wonderful essays.

艾米 发表于 2006-12-24 11:41:14

第二十一篇

A Handful of Clay

There was a handful of clay in the bank of a river. It was only common clay, coarse and heavy; but it had high thoughts of its own value, and wonderful dreams of the great place which it was to fill in the world when the time came for its virtues to be discovered.

Overhead, in the spring sunshine, the trees whispered together of the glory which descended upon them when the delicate blossoms and leaves began to expand, and the forest glowed the fair, clear colors, as if the dust of thousands of rubies and emeralds were hanging, in soft clouds, above the earth.

The flowers, surprised with the joy of beauty, bent their heads to one another, as the wind caressed them, and said: "Sisters, how lovely you have become. You make the day bright."

The river, glad of new strength and rejoicing in the unison of all its waters, murmured to the shores in music, telling of its release from icy fetters, its swift flight from the snow-clad mountains, and the mighty work to which it was hurrying --- the wheels of many mills to be turned, and great ships to be floated to the sea.

Waiting blindly in its bed, the clay comforted itself with lofty hopes. "My time will come," it said. "I was not made to be hidden forever. Glory and beauty and honor are coming to me in due season."

One day the clay felt itself taken from the place where it had waited so long. A flat blade of iron passed beneath it, and lifted it, and tossed it into a cart with other lumps of clay, and it was carried far away, as it seemed, over a rough and stony road. But it was not afraid, nor discouraged, for it said to itself: "This is necessary. The path to glory is always rugged. Now I am on my way to play a great part in the world."

But the hard journey was nothing, compared with the tribulation and distress that came after it. The clay was put into a trough and mixed and beaten and stirred and trampled. It seemed almost unbearable. But there was consolation in the thought that something very fine and noble was certainly coming out of all this trouble. The clay felt sure that, if it could only wait long enough, a wonderful reward was in store for it.

Then it was put upon a swiftly turning wheel, and whirled around until it seemed as if it must fly into a thousand pieces. A strange power pressed it and molded it, as it revolved, and through all the dizziness and pain it felt that it was taking a new form.

Then an unknown hand put it into an oven, and fires were kindled about it --- fierce and penetrating --- hotter than all the heats of summer that had ever brooded upon the bank of the river. But through all, the clay held itself together and endured its trials, in the confidence of a great future. "Surely," it thought, "I am intended for something very splendid, since such pains are taken with me. Perhaps I am fashioned for the ornament of a temple, or a precious vase for the table of a king."

At last the baking was finished. The clay was taken from the furnace and set down upon a board, in the cool air, under the blue sky. The tribulation was passed. The reward was at hand.

Close beside the board there was a pool of water, not very deep, not very clear, but calm enough to reflect, with impartial truth, every image that fell upon it. There for the first time, as it was lifted from the board, the clay saw its new shape, the reward of all its patience and pain, the consummation of its hopes --- a common flower-pot, straight and stiff, red and ugly. And then it felt that it was not destined for a king's house, nor for a palace of art, because it was made without glory or beauty or honor; and it murmured against the unknown maker, saying, "Why hast thou made me thus?"

Many days it passed in sullen discontent. Then it was filled with earth, and something --- it knew not what --- but something rough and brown and dead-looking, was thrust into the middle of the earth and covered over. The clay rebelled at this new disgrace. "This is the worst of all that has happened to me, to be filled with dirt and rubbish. Surely I am a failure."

But presently it was set in a greenhouse, where the sunlight fell warm upon it, and water was sprinkled over it, and day by day as it waited, a change began to come to it. Something was stirring within it --- a new hope. Still it was ignorant, and knew not what the new hope meant.

One day the clay was lifted again from its place, and carried into a great church. Its dream was coming true after all. It had a fine part to play in the world. Glorious music flowed over it . It was surrounded with flowers. Still it could not understand. So it whispered to another vessel of clay, like itself, close beside it, "Why have they set me here? Why do all the people look toward us?" And the other vessel answered, "Do you not know? You are carrying a royal scepter of lilies. Their petals are white as snow, and the heart of them is like pure gold. The people look this way because the flower is the most wonderful in the world. And the root of it is in your heart."

Then the clay was content, and silently thanked its maker, because, though an earthen vessel, it held so great a treasure.

一撮黏土

从前在一条河边有这么一撮黏土。说来也不过是普通的黏土，质地粗拙；但他对自己的价值却抱有很高的看法，对它在世界上所可能占有的地位具有奇妙的梦想，认为一旦时运到来，自己的美德终将为人发现。

头顶上，在明媚的春光里，树木正在交头接耳地窃窃私语，讲述着当纤细的林花和树叶开始吐放，林中一片澄澈艳丽时它们身上所沾沐的无尽光辉，那情景，宛如无数红绿宝石粉末所形成的朵朵彩云，轻柔地悬浮在大地之上。

花儿看到这种美景惊喜极了，它们在春风的抚摸中探头欠身互相祝贺：“姐妹们，你们出落得多可爱啊，你们真是给白日增辉。”

河水也因为增添了新的力量而感到高兴，它沉浸在水流重聚的欢乐之中，不断以美好的音调向河岸喃喃絮语，叙述着自己是怎么挣脱冰雪的束缚，怎么从积雪覆盖的群山奔腾跑到这里，以及它匆忙前往担负的重大工作 --- 无数水车的轮子等待着它去推动，巨大的船只等待着它去送往海上。

黏土懵懵懂懂地呆在河床，不断用种种远大理想来安慰自己。“我的时运终将到来，”它说，“我是不会长久被埋没的。世间的种种光彩，荣耀，在适当的时候，会降临到我的头上。”

一天，黏土发现它自己挪了位置，不在原来长期苦守的地方了。一铲下去，它被挖了起来，然后和别的泥土一起装到一辆车上，沿着一条似乎很不平坦铺着石块的路，运到遥远的地方去。但它并不害怕，也不气馁，而只是心里在想：“这完全是必要的。通往光荣的道路总是艰难崎岖的。现在我就要到世界上去完成我的重大使命。”

这段路程非常辛苦，但比起后来所经受的种种折磨痛苦却又不算什么。黏土被抛进一个槽子里面，然后便是一番搀和，捶打，搅拌，践踏。真是不堪其苦。但是一想到某种美好崇高的事物必将从这一番痛苦中产生出来，也就感到释然了。黏土坚决相信，只要它能耐心地等待下去，总有一天它将得到重酬。

接着它被放到一只飞速转动着的悬盘上去，自己也跟着团团旋转起来，那感觉真好象自己即将被甩得粉身碎骨。在旋转中，仿佛有一种神力把它紧紧搏捏在一起，所以尽管它经历一切眩晕痛苦，它觉着自己已经开始变成一种新的形状。

然后一只陌生的手把它透进炉灶，周围烈火熊熊 --- 真是痛心刺骨 --- 那灼热程度远比盛夏时节河边的艳阳要厉害得多。但整个期间，黏土始终十分坚强，经受了一切考验，对自己的伟大前途信心不坠。它心想，“既然人家对我下了这么大的工夫，我是注定要有一番锦绣前程的。看来我不是去充当庙堂殿宇里的华美装饰，便是成为帝王几案上的名贵花瓶。”

最后烘培完毕。黏土从灶中取出，放在一块木板上面，让它在蓝天之下凉风之中去慢慢冷却。一番磨难既过，报偿的日子也就不远了。

木板之旁便有一泓潭水，水虽不深也不很清，但却波纹平静，能把潭边的事物，公正如实地反映出来。当黏土被人从板上拿起来时，它这才第一次窥见了自己新的形状，而这便是它千辛万苦之后的报偿，它的全部心愿的成果 --- 一只普普通通的花盆，线条粗硬，又红又丑。这时它才感觉到自己既不可能登帝王之家，也不可能入艺术之宫，因为自己的外貌一点也不高雅华贵；于是它对自己那位无名的制造者喃喃抱怨起来，“你为什么把我造成这等模样？”

自此一连数日它抑郁不快。接着它给装上了土，另外还有一件东西 --- 是什么它弄不清，但灰黄粗糙，样子难看 --- 也给插到了土的中间，然后用东西盖上。这个新的屈辱引起了黏土的极大不满。“我的不辛现在是到了极点，让人装起脏土垃圾来了。我这一生算是完了。”

但是过了不久，黏土又给人放进了一间温室，这里阳光和煦地照射着它，并且经常给它喷水，这样就在它一天天静静等候的时候，某种变化终于开始到来。某种东西正在体内萌动 --- 莫非是希望重生！但它对此仍然毫不理解，也不懂得这个希望意味着什么。

一天黏土又给人从原地搬起，送进一座宏伟的教堂。它多年的梦想这回终将实现了。它在世界上的确是有所作为的。这时空际仙乐阵阵，四周百花飘香。但它对这一切仍不理解。于是踏便向它身旁和它一模一样的另一个黏土器皿悄声问到，“为什么他们把我放在这里？为什么所有的人都向我们张望？”那个器皿答到，“怎么你还不知道吗？你现在身上正怀着一棵状如王节的美丽百合。它那花瓣皎白如雪，它那花心有如纯金。人们的目光都集中到这里，因为这株花乃是世界上最了不起的。而花的根就在你的心里。

这时黏土心满意足了，它暗暗地感谢它的制造者，因为虽然自己只是一只泥土器皿，但里面装的却是一件稀世奇珍。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-24 11:43 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-25 20:27:27

第二十二篇

A Dream

A dream is to a man what wings are to a bird. With a dream in the deep heart's core, a man is spontaneously driven to hitch his wagon to a star. A dream is an inexhaustible source of energy that keeps our enthusiasm burning, and kindles our desire to enhance our spiritual cultivation, refine our character, and upgrade our quality of life. A life without a dream is like a bird with broken wings, confined to a cage and oblivious of what lies beyond the range of its vision. On the contrary, a man with a dream is like a warrior armed with ambition, foresight and gallantry, daring to step into an unknown domain to make a journey of adventure. It is dream that adds fullness, variety, and spice to our life and makes it worth living.

I have a dream. It is d dream that is deeply rooted in human nature. I dream that one day people of all origins can live in harmony and peace without being discriminated against or persecuted. The bounty of the earth can be shared by every single human being. Mutual respect will guarantee the existence and continuation of the diversity of customs and cultures. Love, sympathy, and cooperation will alleviate the sufferings and disasters inflicted upon our fellow men. Respect for basic human rights will put an end to social injustices and evils. When my dream comes true, all men will be truly equal, happy, and free.

梦想

梦想之于人犹如翅膀之于鸟。在内心深处有了个梦想，一个人很自然地被驱使怀抱远大的理想。梦想是个用之不尽的能源，使我们的热诚炽燃，更点燃我们的欲望去增进我们精神涵养，使我们的品格高尚，并且提升我们的生活品质。没有梦想的生命就像折翼之鸟，困于笼中，对于视线以外的天地茫然不知。相反地，有梦想的人就像装备了志向、远见和勇气的战士，敢于踏入一个未知的领域，展开一趟冒险之旅。就是梦想为我们的生命添加了圆满、变化和情趣，并使它活得有价值。

我有一个梦想，这是个深植于人性之中的梦想。我梦想有一天各种出身的人都能和谐和平地生活，而不受歧视和迫害。大地的布施能被每一个人所分享。互相尊重将保证习俗和文化的多样性的存在和延续。爱心、同情和合作，将减轻施加于我们同类身上的苦难和灾祸。对基本**的尊重将终结社会不义和弊端。当我的梦想实现时，所有的人将会真正的平等、幸福和自由。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-25 20:29 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-26 20:25:32

第二十三篇

Never give up hope(永远别放弃希望) Life doesn’t always give us the joys we want.

生活并非总是如你所愿。

We don’t always get our hopes and dreams, and we don’t always get our own way.

希望有时会落空，梦想有时会破灭，我们不能一切随心所愿。

But don’t give up hope, because you can make a difference one situation and one person at a time.

但别放弃希望，因为事物并非一成不变；不同时间，不同场合，你会呈现不同的面貌。

Look for the beauty around you—in nature, in others, in yourself—and believe in the love of friends, family, and humankind.

处处留心身边的美吧---自然中的，别人中的，你自己的---请相信，美来自朋友、家庭乃至全人类的融融爱意。

You can find love in a smile or a helping hand, in a thoughtful gesture or a kind word. It is all around, if you just look for it.

一个微笑，援助之手，关心的举止，友善的世界，无不传达着爱。爱无所不在，如果你有寻找的话。

Give love, for in giving it you will find the power in life along with the joy, happiness, patience, and understanding.

奉献爱心吧，从中你会发现生活的力量，感受生活带来的幸福快乐，学会忍耐和理解。

Believe in the goodness of others and remember that anger and depression can be countered by love and hope.

相信人性本善。记住，爱心和希望能化解一切愤怒和沮丧。

Even when you feel as though there isn’t a lot you can do to change unhappiness or problems, you can always do a little—and a little at a time eventually makes a big difference.

哪怕生活中挥之不去的不快和困难将你重重包围，让你力不从心，但你仍可以尽力而为。累积点滴努力，最终你将扭转乾坤。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-26 20:28 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-27 12:26:19

第二十四篇

If I were a Boy Again 假如我又回到了童年

If I were a boy again, I would practice perseverance more often, and never give up a thing because it was or inconvenient. If we want light, we must conquer darkness. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius in its results. “There are only two creatures,” syas a proverb, “who can surmount the pyramids—the eagle and the snail.” If I were a boy again, I would school myself into a habit of attention; I would let nothing come between me and the subject in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of attention becomes part of our life, if we begain early enough. I often hear grown up people say “ I could not fix my attention on the sermon or book, although I wished to do so” , and the reason is, the habit was not formed in youth. If I were to live my life over again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of the memory. I would strengthen that faculty by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things accurately; but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power.

假如我又回到了童年，我做事要更有毅力，决不因为事情艰难或者麻烦而撒手不干，我们要光明，就得征服黑暗。毅力在效果上有时能同天才相比。俗话说：“能登上金字塔的生物，只有两种——鹰和蜗牛。”假如我又回到了童年，我就要养成专心致志的习惯；有事在手，就决不让任何东西让我分心。我要牢记：优秀的滑冰手从不试图同时滑向两个不同的方向。如果及早养成这种专心致志的习惯，它将成为我们生命的一部分。我常听成年人说：“虽然我希望能集中注意听牧师讲道或读书，但往往做不到。”而原因就是年轻时没有养成这种习惯。假如我现在能重新开始我的生命，我就要更注意记忆力的培养。我要采取一切可能的办法，并且在一切可能的场合，增强记忆力。要正确无误地记住一些东西，在开始阶段的确要作出一番小小的努力；但要不了多久，记忆力本身就会起作用，使记忆成为轻而易举的事，只需及早培养，记忆自会成为一种才能。

If I were a boy again, I would cultivate courage. “Nothing is so mild and gentle as courage, nothing so cruel and pitiless as cowardice,” syas a wise author. We too often borrow trouble, and anticipate that may never appear.” The fear of ill exceeds the ill we fear.” Dangers will arise in any career, but presence of mind will often conquer the worst of them. Be prepared for any fate, and there is no harm to be freared. If I were a boy again, I would look on the cheerful side. Life is very much like a mirror: if you smile upon it, I smiles back upon you; but if you frown and look doubtful on it, you will get a similar look in return. Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but of all that come in contact with it. “ who shuts love out ,in turn shall be shut out from love.” If I were a boy again, I would school myself to say no more often. I might write pages on the importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can stand erect, and decline doing an unworthy act because it is unworthy. If I were a boy again, I would demand of myself more courtesy towards my companions and friends, and indeed towards strangers as well. The smallest courtesies along the rough roads of life are like the little birds that sing to us all winter long, and make that season of ice and snow more endurable. Finally, instead of trying hard to be happy, as if that were the sole purpose of life, I would , if I were a boy again, I would still try harder to make others happy.

假如我又回到了童年，我就要培养勇气。一位明智的作家曾说过：“世上没有东西比勇气更温文尔雅，也没有东西比懦怯更残酷无情。”我们常常过多地自寻烦恼，杞人忧天。“怕祸害比祸害本身更可怕。”凡事都有危险，但镇定沉着往往能克服最严重的危险。对一切祸福做好准备，那么就没有什么灾难可以害怕的了。假如我又回到了童年，我就要事事乐观。生活犹如一面镜子：你朝它笑，它也朝你笑；如果你双眉紧锁，向它投以怀疑的目光，它也将还以你同样的目光。内心的欢乐不仅温暖了欢乐者自己的心，也温暖了所有与之接触者的心。“谁拒爱于门外，也必将被爱拒诸门外。”假如我又回到了童年，我就要养成经常说“不”字的习惯。一个少年要能挺得起腰，拒绝做不应该做的事，就因为这事不值得做。我可以写上好几页谈谈早年培养这一点的重要性。假如我又回到了童年，我就要要求自己对伙伴和朋友更加礼貌，而且对陌生人也应如此。在坎坷的生活道路上，最细小的礼貌犹如在漫长的冬天为我们歌唱的小鸟，那歌声使冰天雪地的寒冬变得较易忍受。最后，假如我又回到了童年，我不会力图为自己谋幸福，好像这就是人生唯一的目的；与之相反，我要更努力为他人谋幸福。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-27 12:27 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-28 12:29:46

第二十五篇

Find Thyself

The　only　problem　unconsciously　assumed　by　all　Chinese　philosophers　to　be　of　any　importance　is:　How　shall　we　enjoy　life,　and　who　can　best　enjoy　life?　No　perfectionism,　no　straining　after　the　unattainable,　no　postulating　of　he　unknowable;　but　taking　poor,　modal　human　nature　as　it　is,　how　shall　we　organize　our　life　so　that　we　can　woke　peacefully,　endure　nobly　and　live　happily?　

　　Who　are　we?　That　is　first　question.　It　is　a　question　almost　impossible　to　answer.　But　we　all　agree　with　the　busy　self　occupied　in　our　daily　activities　is　not　quite　the　real　self.　We　are　quite　sure　we　have　lost　something　in　the　mere　pursuit　of　living.　When　we　watch　a　person　running　about　looking　for　something　in　a　field,　the　wise　man　can　set　a　puzzle　for　all　the　spectator　to　solve:　what　has　that　person　lost?　Some　one　thinks　is　a　watch;　another　thinks　it　is　a　diamond　brooch;　and　others　will　essay　other　guesses.　After　all　the　guesses　have　failed,　the　wise　man　who　really　doesn’t　know　what　the　person　is　seeking　after,　tells　the　company:"　I’ll　tell　you.　He　has　lost　some　breath."　And　no　one　can　deny　that　he　is　right.　So　we　often　forget　our　true　self　in　the　pursuit　of　living,　like　a　bird　forgetting　its　own　danger　in　pursuit　of　a　mantis　which　again　forgets　its　own　danger　in　pursuit　of　another.　

　　

发现自己一切中国的哲学家在不知不觉中认为唯一重要的问题是：我们要怎样享受人生？谁最会享受人生？我们不追求十全十美的理想，我们不寻找那些得不到的东西，我们不要求知道那些不得而知的东西；我们只认识不完美的、会死的人类的本性，那么我们要怎样调整我们的人生，使我们可以和平地工作着，旷达地忍耐着，幸福地生活着呢?　

　　我们是谁呢？这是第一个问题。这个问题几乎是无法答复的。可是我们都承认在我们曰常活动中那么忙碌的自我，并不完全是真正的自我；我们相信我们在生活的追求中已经失掉了一些东西。当我们看见一个人在一片田野里跑来跑去在寻找东西时，智者可以弄出一个难题给一切旁观者去解答：那个人失掉了什么东西呢？有的猜一只表；有的猜一支钻石胸针；其他的人则作其他的猜测。智者委实也不知道那个人在寻找什么东西；可是当大家都猜不中的时候，他会对大家说：“我告诉你们吧。他失掉了一些气息了。”　没有人会否认他的话是对的。所以我们在生活的追求中常常忘掉了真正的自我，像庄子在一个美妙的譬喻里所讲的那只鸟那样，为了要捕捉一只螳螂而忘掉自身的危险，而那只螳螂又为了要捕捉一只蝉而忘掉自身的危险。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-28 12:32 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-30 12:10:39

第二十六篇

The life I desired

That must be the story of innumerable couples,and the pattern of lifeof life it offers has a homely grace.It reminds you of a placid rivulet,meandering smoohtly through green pastures and shaded by pleasant trees,till at last it falls into the vasty sea;but the sea is so calm,so silent,so infifferent,that you are troubled suddently by a vague uneasiness.Perhaps it is only by a kink in my nature,strong in me even in those days,that i felt in such an existence,the share of the great majority,something amiss.I recognized its social value.I saw its ordered happiness,but a fever in my blood asked for a wilder course.There seemed to me something alarming in such easy delights.In my heart was desire to live more dangerously.I was not unprepared for jagged rocks and treacherous,shoals it I could only have change-change and the exicitement of unforeseen.

我所追求的生活

这一定是世间无数对夫妻的生活写照，这种生活模式给人一种天伦之美。它使人想起一条平静的溪流，蜿蜒畅游过绿茵的草场，浓荫遮蔽，最后注入烟波浩渺的汪洋大海；但是大海太过平静，太过沉默，太过不动声色，你会突然感到莫名的不安。也许这只是我自己的一种怪诞想法，在那样的时代，这想法对我影响很深：我觉得这像大多数人一样的生活，似乎欠缺了一点儿什么。我承认这种生活有社会价值，我也看到了它那井然有序的幸福，但我血液里的冲动却渴望一种更桀骜不驯的旅程．这样的安逸中好像有一种叫我惊惧不安的东西．我的心渴望一种更加惊险的生活。只要生活中还能有变迁———以及不可知的刺激，我愿意踏上怪石嶙峋的山崖，奔赴暗礁满布的海滩。

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-30 12:12 编辑 ]

艾米 发表于 2006-12-31 20:30:24

第二十七篇

Don't look back（告别过去）

作者：文/Author Unknown 译/贾周来源：新东方专稿

As you travel through life there are always those times when decisions just have to be made when the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce and the rain seems to soakyour parade !

There are some situations where all you can do is to simply let go and move on, gather courage together and choose a direction that carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward…The process of change can be tough, but think about all the excitement ahead if you can be stalwartenough!

There could be adventures you never imagined just waiting around the next bend and wishes and dreams just about to come true in ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships that springfrom new interests as you challenge your status and learn there are so many options in life, and so many ways you can grow!

Perhaps you'll go to places you’ve never expected and see things that you've never seen or travel to fabulous , faraway worlds and wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring — a "somebody special" who's there to help you stay centred and listen with interest to stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends are supportive of all that you do and believe that whatever decisions you make, they'll be the right choices for you!

So keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking your life day by day. There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road. Don't look back — you're not going that way!

告别过去

人生旅途中，你常常会面临中在艰难中做出抉择的时刻，这时的解决方法看似少之又少，而你则像在行走被雨水浇透！

有些情况下，你能做的只有放弃，然后鼓起勇气重新上路，并确定一个能给你新开始的方向。

那么就结束你所有的烦恼吧，向前迈出一步……改变的过程会充满艰辛，但你不妨这样想，如果足够坚定，前方就会有很多惊喜等着你。

在下一个拐弯处，也许会有你不曾想到过的冒险在等你去体验，希望和梦想会以各种你还无法理解的方式变成现实。

当你向自身现状挑战时，也许会在新的兴趣中发现由此触发的友谊，你会明白生活中存在着很多选择，你的成长道路也会如此多样化！

也许你会到那些从未想过要去的地方走走，亲眼看看那些从未见过的事物，或者去遥远而神奇的王国旅行，饱览沿途美景。

也许你将体会到温暖、爱意和关怀——某个“特别的人”将在那里帮助你保持心无旁骛的状态，饶有兴致地倾听与分享你的故事和感受。

也许当你知道朋友们支持你所做的一切时，你将感到欣慰；他们相信，无论你的决定如何，它们都是正确的选择！

既然如此，那就一步步走下去吧，认真过好每一天。前方会有一个更加美好的未来。告别过去——因为那不是你要走的路！

[ 本帖最后由艾米于 2006-12-31 20:31 编辑 ]