最后一课
[法]阿尔封斯·都德
那天早晨,我去上学,去得非常晚,我好害怕被责骂,特别是,韩麦尔先生跟我们说过,他要考我们分词规则,而我连头一个字都不会。这时,在我的头脑里冒出了逃学,去野外玩一玩的念头。天气是那么暖和,那么晴朗!画眉在小树林边鸣叫,普鲁士士兵正在锯木厂后面的草地上操练。所有这一切都比分词规则更吸引我,但我还是顶住了诱惑,加快脚步向学校方向跑去。
从村政府门前经过的时候,我看见许多人站在小布告栏前。这两年来,所有的坏消息,诸如吃败仗啦,征兵征物啦,还有普鲁士占领军司令部发布的命令啦,都是从那里来的。我边跑边想: “又有什么事吗?”
当我跑着穿过广场的时候,正在布告栏前和徒弟一起看布告的瓦克特尔铁匠朝我高喊: “小家伙,不用赶得那么急;你去得再晚也不会迟到的!” 我以为他在跟我开玩笑,便上气不接下气地跑进韩麦尔先生的小教室。
往常,开始上课的时候,总是一片乱哄哄的嘈杂声,课桌的开关声,同学们一起捂住耳朵高声背诵课文的声音,街上都听得见。先生的大戒尺敲打着课桌: “安静一点!” 我打算趁这片嘈杂声,偷偷地溜到我的座位上去。可是,这一天不同于往常,一切都很安静,就像是星期天的早晨。透过敞开的窗户,我看见同学们已经整整齐齐地坐在他们的座上,韩麦尔先生腋下夹着那把可怕的铁戒尺,来回地踱着步子。我必须推开教室门,在这一片静谧中走进教室。你们可以想像,当时我会多么尴尬,多么害怕!可是,没有。韩麦尔先生看着我,没有生气,而是非常温和地对我说: “快点回到座位上,我的小弗朗士,我们就要开始上课了。”
我跨过凳子,马上坐到座位上。我从惊慌中稍稍定下神来,这才注意到,我们的老师穿着他那件漂亮的蓝色外套,领口系着折得很精致的领结,头上戴着那顶刺绣的黑绸小圆帽,这套装束,只有在上头派人来学校视察或学校发奖时他才穿戴的。此外,整个教室也有一种不同寻常的庄严的气氛。但是,最使我吃惊的是,教室里那些平常空着的凳子上,坐着一些跟我们一样默不作声的村里的人,有头戴三角帽的奥泽尔老人,有前任镇长,有以前的邮递员,另外还有其他人。所有这些人都显得很忧伤;奥泽尔老人还带了一本边角都已破损的旧识字课本,摊放在膝头上,课本上横放着他那副大眼镜。
正当我对这一切感到莫名惊诧时,韩麦尔先生已走上讲台,用刚才对我说话的那种既温和又庄重的声音,对我们说道: “孩子们,我这是最后一次给你们上课了。柏林来了命令,阿尔萨斯和洛林两省的学校只准教德语,新的老师明天就到。今天是你们最后一堂法语课,所以我请你们一定专心听讲。” 这几句话使我惊呆了。啊!这些坏蛋,他们贴在村政府布告栏上的就是这个消息。
我的最后一堂法语课!我只是刚刚学会写字!今后永远也学不到法语了!法语就到此为止了!我现在是多么悔恨自己蹉跎光阴啊!悔恨自己从前逃课去掏鸟窝,去萨尔河溜冰!我的那些书,我的语法课本,我的神圣的历史书,刚才背在身上还觉得那么讨厌,那么沉重,现在却像老朋友一样,让我难舍难分。还有韩麦尔先生。一想到他就要走了,再也见不到了,我就忘记了以前的处惩和责打。
可怜的人!他身着漂亮的节日盛装,为的是向这最后的一堂课表达敬意。现在,我明白了为什么村里的老人都坐在教室后面。这好像在说,他们后悔从前不常来学校。这也像是对我们的老师40年的优秀教学,对今后不属于他们的国土表示他们的敬意的一种方式。
我正陷于沉思之中,突然听见叫我的名字。轮到我背分词规则了。要是我能把这条重要的分词规则大声、清晰、准确无误地从头背到尾,有什么代价我不愿付出呢?但是,我连开始的那些词都搞不清楚。我站在凳子前面,左摇右晃,心里难受极了,不敢抬头。我听见韩麦尔先生说: “我不责备你,我的小弗朗士,你可能受够了惩罚,事情就是如此。每天,我们都对自己说: ‘算了吧!我有的是时间,我明天再学。’ 现在,你知道出了什么事吗?唉!我们阿尔萨斯人的最大不幸就是把教育拖延到明天。现在,那些人有权利对我们说: ‘怎么!你们声称自己是法国人,可你们既不会说也不会写你们的语言!’ 我可怜的弗朗士,造成所有这一切,责任最大的并不是你。我们每个人都有许多应该责备自己的地方。你们的父母没有尽心让你们好好读书。他们宁愿把你们打发到田里或纱厂里去干活,为的是多挣几个钱。我自己呢,难道我一点也没有应该责备自己的地方吗?我不也是经常让你们到我的花园浇水以此代替学习吗?当我想钓鳟鱼的时候,我不是随随便便就给你们放假吗?”
韩麦尔先生从一件事谈到另一件事,然后开始给我们讲法语,他说,法语是世界上最优美的语言,是最清晰的语言,最严谨的语言,我们应该掌握它,永远也不要忘记。因为当一个民族沦为奴隶时,只要它好好地保存自己的语言,就好像掌握了打开监牢的钥匙。然后,他拿了一本语法书,我们开始朗诵课文。令我吃惊的是,我竟理解得这么透彻。他所讲的一切对我都显得很容易,很容易。我同样觉得,我还从来没有这么认真听讲过,他也从来没有这样耐心讲解过。这个可怜的人,仿佛想在离开这里以前,把他全部的知识都灌输给我们,让我们一下子掌握这些知识。
课文讲解完了,我们开始练习写字。这一天,韩麦尔先生为我们准备了许多崭新的字帖,上面用美丽的圆体字写着: “法兰西” 、 “阿尔萨斯” 、 “法兰西” 、 “阿尔萨斯” 。这些字帖卡片悬挂在我们课桌的金属杆上,就像许多小旗在教室里飘扬。每个人都是那样聚精会神,教室里是那样寂静无声!只听得见笔尖在纸上的沙沙声。有一回,几只金龟子跑进了教室,但是谁也不去注意它们,连年龄最小的也不例外,他们正专心致志地练直杠笔画,仿佛这些笔画也是法语。学校的屋顶上,鸽子低声地咕咕地叫着,我一边听,一边寻思: “他们该不会强迫这些鸽子用德语唱歌吧?”
我时不时地从书本上抬起眼睛,看见韩麦尔先生一动不动地坐在椅子上,注视着周围的一切东西,仿佛要把这个小小教室里的一切都装进目光里带走。可想而知!40年来,他一直住在这个地方,守着对面的院子和一直没有变样的教室。唯独教室里的凳子、课桌被学生磨光滑了;院子里的胡桃树长高了;他自己亲手种下的那棵啤酒花如今爬满了窗户,爬上了屋顶。这个可怜的人听到他妹妹在楼上的卧室里来来回回地收拾行李,想到自己就要告别眼前的一切,这对他来说是多么伤心难过的事啊!因为,他们明天就要动身了,永远离开自己的家乡。可是,他竟然还有勇气把我们的课上完。习字过后,我们上了历史课;接着小家伙们一起唱起了BaBeBiBoBu。教室后头,奥泽尔老人戴上了眼镜,两手捧着识字课本,跟我们一起拼读。我发现他也一样专心,他的声音由于激动而颤抖,听起来很滑稽,叫我们哭笑不得。噢!我将永远也不会忘记这最后的一课。突然,教堂的钟声敲了12下,而后是祈祷的钟声。与此同时,普鲁士士兵的操练完回营的号声在我们的窗户下回响。韩麦尔先生从椅子上站了起来,面色十分苍白。他在我的心目中,从来也没有显得这么高大。
“我的朋友们,” 他说道, “我的朋友们,我……我……” 但是,像是有什么东西堵住了他的喉咙,他没能说完这句话。这时,他转过身子,拿起一截粉笔,使尽了全身力气,在黑板上尽可能大地写下几个字: “法兰西万岁!” 然后,他呆呆地站在那里,头靠着墙壁,一句话也说不出来,只是用手向我们示意: “下课了,你们走吧。”
导读
阿尔封斯·都德(Alphonse Daudet),19世纪法国著名现实主义作家。由于穷困,他在十五岁就独立谋生,先是在一所小学校里担任学生自修辅导员,后来到巴黎从事文艺创作,过着清苦的青年文人生活。都德一生写过近百篇短篇小说。他的文笔简洁生动、题材丰富多彩、构思新颖巧妙、风格素雅清淡。
《最后一课》描写的是普法战争后被割让给普鲁士的阿尔萨斯省的一所乡村小学向祖国语言告别的最后一堂课。该文通过一个童稚无知小学生的自叙和他心理活动的描写,生动地表现了法国人民遭受异国统治的痛苦和对自己祖国的热爱。
核心单词
terribly adv. 可怕地;很,非常
grieved adj. 伤心的,悲痛的
sway v. 摇动,摇摆
servitude n. 奴役 (状态) ;束缚
bugle n. 军号,喇叭
翻译行不行
Through the open window I saw my comrades already in their places,and Monsieur Hamel walking back and forth with the terrible iron ruler under his arm.
Poor man! It was in honor of that last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes;and I understood now why those old fellows from the village were sitting at the end of the room.
The Boys’ Ambition
Mark Twain
When I was a boy,there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was,to be a steamboat man. We had transient ambitions of other sorts,but they were only transient. When a circus came and went,it left us all burning to become clowns;the first Negro minstrel show that came to our section left us all suffering to try that kind of life;now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good,God would permit us to be pirates. These ambitions faded out,each in its turn;but the ambition to be a steamboat man always remained.
Once a day a cheap,gaudy packet arrived upward from St. Louis,and another downward from Keokuk. Before these events,the day was glorious with expectancy;after them,the day was a dead and empty thing. Not only the boys,but the whole village,felt this. After all these years I can picture that old time to myself now,just as it was then.
My father was a justice of the peace,and I supposed he possessed the power of life and death over all men and could hang anybody that offended him. This was distinction enough for me as a general thing;but the desire to be a steamboat man kept intruding,nevertheless. I first wanted to be a cabin-boy,so that I could come out with a white apron on and shake a tablecloth over the side,where all my old comrades could see me;later I thought I would rather be the deckhand who stood on the end of the stage-plank with the coil of rope in lust hand,because he was particularly conspicuous. But these were only daydreams-they were too heavenly to be contemplated as real possibilities.
By and by one of our boys went away. He was not heard of for a long time. At last he turned up as apprentice engineer or “striker” on a steamboat. This thing shook the bottom out of all my Sunday-school teachings. That boy had been notoriously worldly,and I just the reverse;yet he was exalted to this eminence,and I left in obscurity and misery.
There was nothing generous about this fellow in his greatness. He would always manage to have a rusty bolt to scrub while his boat tarried at our town,and he would sit on the inside guard and scrub it,where we could all see him and envy him and loathe him. And whenever his boat was laid up he would come home and swell around the town in his blackest and greasiest clothes,so that nobody could help remembering that he was a steamboat man;and he used all sorts of steamboat technicalities in his talk,as if he were so used to them that he forgot common people could not understand them. Two or three of the boys had long been persons of consideration among us because they had been to St. Louis once and had a vague general knowledge of its wonders,but the day of their glory was over now. They lapsed into a humble silence,and learned to disappear when the ruthless “cub” -engineer approached. This fellow had money,too,and hair oil. If ever a youth was cordially admired and hated by his comrades,this one was. No gift could withstand his charms. He “cut out” every boy in the village.
When his boat blew up at last,it diffused a tranquil contentment among us such as we had not known for months. But when he came home the next week,alive,renowned,and appeared in church all battered up and bandaged,a shining hero,stared at and wondered over by everybody,it seemed to us that the partiality of Providence for an undeserving reptile had reached a point where it was open to criticism.
孩子们的志愿
[美]马克·吐温
在密西西比河西岸的小镇上,我还是个小孩子的时候,家乡的伙伴们都有一个恒久的志向,这个志向就是当一名轮船上的水手。我们也有过其他的愿望,但它们都不过是一时的想法。马戏团在村子里表演过后,我们都积极踊跃地希望扮演小丑;第一次到附近看过黑人吟唱团的表演后,我们都急不可待地想要体验一下那种生活。我们还有一个愿望:如果我们本分地过日子,上帝就会允许我们成为海盗。没过多久,这些愿望都接二连三地被遗忘了。但在我们的内心深处,当水手的志愿没有改变。
每天都有一艘廉价但外表艳丽的邮船从圣路易斯开过来,有另一艘从奇奥库克向下游驶去。船只抵达之前,人们翘首以盼,日子也变得津津有味。船只离开以后,日子又变得毫无生气、无聊至极了。不单单是孩子们,整个镇子上的人们都是同样的感觉。尽管这么多年过去了,可到今天,我还能在心中回想出当日的情景,仿佛回到了过去。
父亲是镇上的治安官,在我看来,他掌管着每个人的生杀大权,任何一个得罪他的人都会被绞死。总的来说,就这一点就足以让我风光无限了。然而,当水手的念头还是不时地在我的脑海中闪现。起初我想当个船上的小伙计,因为这样我就可以系上白围裙,站在船边摇一摇桌布,以便让我儿时的小伙伴们看见我。可是随后,我想我宁愿成为一名水手,手中握着一卷绳子站在踏板边缘,因为那样才会吸引众人的目光。不过这些想法仅仅是白日梦而已,这些简直是天方夜谭,根本不可能会实现。
没多久,我们这群伙伴中的一个男孩离开了小镇。他销声匿迹了好长一段时间。最后,他终于以一种特殊的身份出现了--成了一艘轮船上的见习机械师或是 “锤手” 。我在主日学校所受的教诲也因为这件事而全部改变了。这个男孩曾是个臭名远扬的坏蛋,而我刚好与他不同。可是现在,他却得意洋洋,而我却一文不值,苦恼不堪。
这个小子发达之后,变得没有一点气量。一旦他的船停泊在我们小镇上,他总是能设法找来一块生锈的铁栓擦,并且他一直刻意地坐在靠岸的这边栏杆上擦,一定让我们都看见他,让我们对他又是羡慕又是嫉恨。如果一旦那艘船停得久一些,他就会回家看看。在镇上的每个角落,都可以看到他穿着那套油腻、肮脏的外套到处招摇,恨不得告诉每个人他是一名轮船水手。他一开口,便全是术语,好像已经习以为常似的,却忘记了普通人根本听不懂。我们那些伙伴中有两三个一直受到大家的羡慕,因为他们以前去过一次圣路易斯,对那儿的新鲜事略知一二,但是如今他们的光辉岁月已经结束了。他们很有自知之明,从此不再声张;而且一旦那个冷酷无情的机械师 “小崽子” 来到身边,他们赶紧溜走。这个家伙还有很多钱,头上抹着亮亮的发油。假如有个年轻人既能让他的伙伴羡慕不已,又能让伙伴对他恨之入骨,那么这个人就非他莫属。任何一个女孩都抵抗不了他的魅力,他是镇上风头 “最胜” 的男孩。
后来,传来他那条船爆炸的消息。私下里,我们所有人都对他的灾难感到很高兴,而且好几个月都没有这么开心了。然而,出乎意料的是,一个星期以后,这个家伙居然又活生生地回来了,并且还因此成了名人。他满身伤痕,绑着厚厚的绷带来到教堂,他成了名声显赫的大英雄。所有人都注视着他,每个人都对他吃惊不已。在我们看来,老天是如此偏袒一个一文不值的卑鄙小人,这简直令人无法忍受。
导读
马克·吐温(Mark Twain),美国的幽默大师、作家、演说家,19世纪后期美国现实主义文学的杰出代表。他的高超幽默、机智与名气,堪称是美国最知名的人士之一。他的作品集幽默和讽刺于一体,既富有独特的个人机智与妙语,又不乏深刻的社会洞察与剖析。
本篇选自马克·吐温名作《密西西比河上的生活》,作者在该文中阐述了童年的梦想。每个孩子的童年都有着色彩斑斓的愿望,这些童真是值得永远珍惜的。因为他们纯真、他们勇敢,他们有不达目的誓不罢休的冲劲。
核心单词
permanent adj. 永久的,永恒的;
minstrel n. 诗人;歌唱家;音乐家
notoriously adv. 恶名昭彰地,声名狼藉地
tarry v. 耽搁,迟延
cordially adv. 热诚地,诚挚地,友善地
tranquil adj. 平静的;安静的
reptile n. 可鄙的人,卑鄙屈节的小人
翻译行不行
When I was a boy,there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
This was distinction enough for me as a general thing;but the desire to be a steamboat man kept intruding,nevertheless.
There was nothing generous about this fellow in his greatness.
The Sorrows of Young Werther
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Why do I not write to you? And you,a learned man,ask me this? You should be clever enough to guess that I am in a happy mood because in a word I have made an acquaintance who moves my heart in a strange way. I have……I do not know.
It is not easy for me to tell you,in chronological order just how it happened,how I met such a lovely being. I am contented and happy,and therefore not a good historian.
An angel! Nonsense! Everyone calls his loved one thus,does he not? And yet I cannot describe to you how perfect she is,or why she is so perfect;enough to say that she has captured me completely.
So much innocence combined with so much intelligence;such kindness with such firmness;such inner serenity in such an active life.
But all this is foolish talk pure abstract words which fail to describe one single feature of her real person. Another time no,not another time,right at this moment will tell you everything. If I do not do it now,it will never be done.
Because between you and me since I began this letter I have been three times on the point of laying down my pen,having my horse saddled and riding out to her. Although I swore to myself this morning not to do it,I am going every other moment to the window to see how high the sun has climbed. I could not bear it any longer;I had to see her. Here I am back,Wilhelm;I will now eat my supper and then go on writing to you. What a delight it was to see her among the dear lively children,her eight brothers and sisters!
少年维特的烦恼
[德]约翰·沃尔夫冈·冯·歌德
为什么我没有给你写信?你,凭你的学识,居然会问我这个问题?你准能猜到,我一切都很好,因为,简单说吧,我认识了一个人,她紧紧地牵动着我的心。我已经……我也不知道自己怎么啦。
我很难把这事的经过有条不紊地告诉你,我认识了一位最最可爱的人。我现在感觉既快乐又幸福,所以不能把事情很客观地写出来。
一位天使!不用说!谁谈起自己的意中人时都会这么说,不是吗?可是我却无法向你描述她是多么完美,以及她为什么会那么完美;一句话,她已经把我整个心都俘获了。
她那么淳朴,又那么聪明;那么善良,又那么坚定;那么辛苦,内心又那么充满宁静。
但所有这些全都是令人讨厌的空泛之词,丝毫反映不出她真实的样子。下次,不,不是下次,我现在就要立即告诉你。要是现在不说,那就永远不会说了。
因为,说心里话,从开始写这封信到现在,我已经有三次想搁下笔,打算让人给马备好鞍,骑马出去找她了。今天早晨我还发誓不这样做,可我还是时不时地跑到窗前,看看太阳已经爬到多高了。我无法控制自己,我还是去了她那儿。现在我回来了,威廉,我要吃着夜宵继续给你写信。看到她同一群活泼可爱的孩子,她的八个弟妹,在一起,我是多么欣喜啊!
导读
约翰·沃尔夫冈·冯·歌德 (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe) ,18世纪中叶到19世纪初德国和欧洲最重要的剧作家、诗人、思想家,他所处的那个时代正是欧洲社会大动荡大变革的年代。由于当时封建制度的日趋崩溃,革命力量的不断高涨,促使歌德不断接受先进思潮的影响,从而加深了自己对于社会的认识,创作出了当代最优秀的文艺作品。歌德除了诗歌、戏剧、小说之外,在文艺理论、哲学、历史学、造型设计等方面都取得了卓越的成就。
《少年维特的烦恼》是一部书信体小说。主人公维特向往自由、平等的生活,希望从事有益的实际工作。但是,他所处的那个社会却充满着等级的偏见和鄙陋的习气。保守腐败的官场、庸俗屈从的市民,势利傲慢的贵族使他和周围的现实格格不入。而他自己又陷入毫无希望的爱情之中,最后走上了自杀的不归路。通过维特的悲剧,小说揭露和批判了当时德国社会许多不合理的现实,表达了觉醒的德国青年一代的革命情绪。
核心单词
acquaintance n. 相识的人,熟人
capture v. 捕获;俘虏
serenity n. 平静,沉着
abstract adj. 难懂的,深奥的
swear v. 发誓;宣誓
翻译行不行
Why do I not write to you? And you,a learned man,ask me this?
But all this is foolish talk pure abstract words which fail to describe one single feature of her real person.
Youth
Aristotle
To begin with the Youthful type of character. Young men have strong passions,and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. They are changeable and fickle in their desires,which are violent while they last,but quickly over:their impulses are keen but not deep-rooted,and are like sick people’ s attacks of hunger and thirst. They are hot-tempered,and quick-tempered,and apt to give way to their anger;bad temper often gets the better of them,for owing to their love of honour they cannot bear being slighted,and are indignant if they imagine themselves unfairly treated. While they love honour,they love victory still more;for youth is eager for superiority over others,and victory is one form of this. They love both more than they love money,which indeed they love very little,not having yet learnt what it means to be without it-this is the point of Pittancus,remark about Amphiaraus. They look at the good side rather than the bad,not having yet witnessed many instances of wickedness. They trust others readily,because they have not yet often been cheated.
They are sanguine;nature warms their blood as though with excess of wine;and besides that,they have as yet met with few disappointments. Their lives are mainly spent not in memory but in expectation;for expectation refers to the future,memory to the past,and youth has a long future before it and a short past behind it:on the first day of one’ s life one has nothing at all to remember,and can only look forward.
They are easily cheated,owing to the sanguine disposition just mentioned. Their hot tempers and hopeful dispositions make them more courageous than older men are;the hot temper prevents fear,and the hopeful disposition creates confidence;we cannot feel tear so long as we are feeling angry,and any expectation of good makes us confident.
They are shy,accepting the rules of society in which they have been trained,and not yet believing in any other standard of honour. They have exalted notions,because they have not yet been humbled by life or learnt its necessary limitations;moreover,their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things-and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones:their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning;and whereas reasoning leads us to choose what is useful,moral goodness leads us to choose what is noble.
They are fonder of their friends,intimates,and companions than older men are,because they like spending their days in the company of others,and have not yet come to value either their friends or anything else by their usefulness to themselves. All their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They disobey Chilon’ s precept by overdoing everything,they love too much and hate too much,and the same thing with everything else. They think they know everything,and are always quite sure about it;this,in fact,is why they overdo everything……They are ready to pity others,because they think everyone an honest man,or anyhow better than he is:they judge their neighbor by their own harmless natures,and so cannot think he deserves to be treated in that way. They are fond of fun and therefore witty,wit being well-bred insolence.
年轻人
[古希腊]亚里士多德
我们首先来讨论一下年轻人的性格特征。年轻人有炽热的激情,而且想不管不顾地逐个满足。他们的愿望举棋不定,有的时候很猛烈,但转瞬即逝。他们极易冲动,但根基不深,如同病人遭到饥渴的侵袭一样。他们热情奔放,又性如烈火,很容易发火,常常管不住自己的脾气。由于珍惜荣誉,他们不想让人轻视,所以如果想到别人不公平的对待,他们就会怒发冲冠。诚然,他们爱惜荣誉,却更钟情于胜利,青年人热衷于胜人一筹,而胜利就是其中的一种表现形式。他们对荣誉和胜利的爱远远胜过了金钱。他们不太在意钱,因为还没真正明白没钱会怎么样--庇塔喀斯谈论安菲阿劳斯时就是这么说的。他们倾向于看到事物好的发展方向,而非坏的趋势,那是由于他们还没有目睹过多少不道德的事。他们很乐意相信别人,那是由于他们很少上当受骗。
他们面色红润,大自然仿佛用了过度的葡萄酒来温暖他们的血液。除了这些,他们也没有经历过什么沮丧的事。他们不是生活在对往昔的回忆中,而是生活在对未来的盼望中,因为盼望意味着未来,回忆意味着过去,年轻人未来的日子还很长远,过去的时光只有短暂的一小部分。当人第一天来到这个世界的时候,他根本没有什么可以回忆的事情,唯一能做的就是寄希望于未来。
他们会轻而易举地让人欺骗,那都归结于我们刚刚所说的精力旺盛的脾性。因为拥有情绪高涨、满怀希望的气质,他们会比老年人更勇敢,更有胆量。情绪高涨的内心让他们远离恐惧,满怀希望的气质让他们信心百倍;我们感到愤怒的时候,就不会害怕,而任何对美好事物的向往又让我们充满自信。
他们是害羞的,顺其自然地遵守社会的惯例,但还没有承认其他形式的荣誉标准。他们有崇高的理想,因为他们还没有体会生活的艰辛而变得谦虚起来,也没有理解生活中各种必要的束缚。更为严重的是,他们满怀希望,居然以为自己可以与日月相比--这就是心高气傲,目空一切。他们一直从事高尚的行为,而不在乎其实效;他们的生活多是遵循道德感,而非理智。尽管理智教导我们做有用的事,道德品质却指引我们做高尚的事。
与老年人相比,年轻人更喜爱自己的朋友、挚交和伙伴,因为整天呼朋唤友的生活才是他们的钟爱,而且无论是朋友还是其他东西,他们都不会用对自己的实用性来判定其价值。至于他们所犯的错误,是因为他们做事不是过头就是过猛。他们不遵守奇伦法则,做什么事都过分强调,要么爱得过多,要么恨得太狠,做其他事情也是一样。他们认为自己无所不知,而且说起来也信心十足,实际上,这就是他们行事过头的症结所在。他们时刻准备去同情别人,因为他们认为所有人都是诚实的,或者比他真实的为人要好,他们用自己善良的本质来判断左邻右舍,不能忍受自己会亏待邻居们。他们喜欢玩闹,因此非常诙谐机智,而机智是一种文雅的傲慢。
导读
亚里士多德(Aristotle),世界古代史上最伟大的哲学家、科学家和教育家之一。他是柏拉图的学生、亚历山大的老师。公元前335年,他在雅典办了一所叫吕克昂的学校,被称为 “逍遥学派” 。马克思曾称亚里士多德是 “古希腊哲学家中最博学的人物” 。他的思想对人类产生了深远的影响。
亚里士多德对事物的洞察力、对问题的分析深刻程度非同一般。青春期的少年都是心浮气躁,生活里满是叛逆和没来由的烦恼。亚里士多德从哲学的角度,清晰透彻地分析了年轻人的个性特点,生动具体地描述了年轻人踌躇满志、血气方刚的缘由和利弊。
核心单词
gratify v. 使高兴,使满意
fickle adj. 易变的,无常的
superiority n. 优越,优势
sanguine adj. 怀着希望的;乐观的
insolence n. 傲慢;无礼
翻译行不行
To begin with the Youthful type of character.
They are shy,accepting the rules of society in which they have been trained,and not yet believing in any other standard of honour.
All their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently.