按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
在故事中，将死的主人公通常都在最后一刻因突降的幸运而获救，但他的价值观通常都会改变，他变得更加理解生命的意义及其永恒的精神价值。我们常常注意到，那些生活在或曾经生活在死亡阴影下的人无论做什么都会感到幸福。
然而，我们中的大多数人都把生命看成是理所当然的。我们知道有一天我们必将面对死亡，但总认为那一天还在遥远的将来。当我们身强体健之时，死亡简直不可想象，我们很少考虑到它。日子多得好像没有尽头。因此我们一味忙于琐事，几乎意识不到我们对待生活的冷漠态度。
我担心同样的冷漠也存在于我们对自己官能和意识的运用上。只有聋子才理解听力的重要，只有盲人才明白视觉的可贵，这尤其适用于那些成年后才失去视力或听力之苦的人很少充分利用这些宝贵的能力。他们的眼睛和耳朵模糊地感受着周围的景物与声音，心不在焉，也无所感激。这正好我们只有在失去后才懂得珍惜一样，我们只有在生病后才意识到健康的可贵。
我经常想，如果每个人在年轻的时候都有几天失时失聪，也不失为一件幸事。黑暗将使他更加感激光明，寂静将告诉他声音的美妙。
？第三篇：panionship of Books 以书为伴（节选）
panionship of Books
A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the pany he keeps； for there is a panionship of books as well as of men； and one should always live in the best pany； whether it be of books or of men。
A good book may be among the best of friends。 It is the same today that it always was； and it will never change。 It is the most patient and cheerful of panions。 It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress。 It always receives us with the same kindness； amusing and instructing us in youth； and forting and consoling us in age。
Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third。 There is an old proverb； ‘Love me； love my dog。” But there is more wisdom in this：” Love me； love my book。” The book is a truer and higher bond of union。 Men can think； feel； and sympathize with each other through their favorite author。 They live in him together； and he in them。
A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out； for the world of a man’s life is； for the most part； but the world of his thoughts。 Thus the best books are treasuries of good words； the golden thoughts； which； remembered and cherished； bee our constant panions and forters。
Books possess an essence of immortality。 They are by far the most lasting products of human effort。 Temples and statues decay； but books survive。 Time is of no account with great thoughts； which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds； ages ago。 What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page。 The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products； for nothing in literature can long survive e but what is really good。
Books introduce us into the best society； they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived。 We hear what they said and did； we see the as if they were really alive； we sympathize with them； enjoy with them； grieve with them； their experience bees ours； and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe。
The great and good do not die； even in this world。 Embalmed in books； their spirits walk abroad。 The book is a living voice。 It is an intellect to which on still listens。
译文：
以书为伴（节选）
通常看一个读些什么书就可知道他的为人，就像看他同什么人交往就可知道他的为人一样，因为有人以人为伴，也有人以书为伴。无论是书友还是朋友，我们都应该以最好的为伴。
好书就像是你最好的朋友。它始终不渝，过去如此，现在如此，将来也永远不变。它是最有耐心，最令人愉悦的伴侣。在我们穷愁潦倒，临危遭难时，它也不会抛弃我们，对我们总是一如既往地亲切。在我们年轻时，好书陶冶我们的性情，增长我们的知识；到我们年老时，它又给我们以慰藉和勉励。
人们常常因为喜欢同一本书而结为知已，就像有时两个人因为敬慕同一个人而成为朋友一样。有句古谚说道：“爱屋及屋。”其实“爱我及书”这句话蕴涵更多的哲理。书是更为真诚而高尚的情谊纽带。人们可以通过共同喜爱的作家沟通思想，交流感情，彼此息息相通，并与自己喜欢的作家思想相通，情感相融。
好书常如最精美的宝器，珍藏着人生的思想的精华，因为人生的境界主要就在于其思想的境界。因此，最好的书是金玉良言和崇高思想的宝库，这些良言和思想若铭记于心并多加珍视，就会成为我们忠实的伴侣和永恒的慰藉。
书籍具有不朽的本质，是为人类努力创造的最为持久的成果。寺庙会倒坍，神像会朽烂，而书却经久长存。对于伟大的思想来说，时间是无关紧要的。多年前初次闪现于作者脑海的伟大思想今日依然清新如故。时间惟一的作用是淘汰不好的作品，因为只有真正的佳作才能经世长存。
书籍介绍我们与最优秀的人为伍，使我们置身于历代伟人巨匠之间，如闻其声，如观其行，如见其人，同他们情感交融，悲喜与共，感同身受。我们觉得自己仿佛在作者所描绘的舞台上和他们一起粉墨登场。
即使在人世间，伟大杰出的人物也永生不来。他们的精神被载入书册，传于四海。书是人生至今仍在聆听的智慧之声，永远充满着活力。
？第四篇：If I Rest；I Rust 如果我休息，我就会生锈
If I Rest； I Rust
The significant inscription found on an old key…“If I rest； I rust”…would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest bit of idleness。 Even the most industrious person might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that； if one allows his faculties to rest； like the iron in the unused key； they will soon show signs of rust and； ultimately； cannot do the work required of them。
Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use； so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge； the gate that guard the entrances to the professions； to science； art； literature； agriculture…every department of human endeavor。
Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement。 If Hugh Miller； after toiling all day in a quarry； had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation； he would never have bee a famous geologist。 The celebrated mathematician； Edmund Stone； would never have published a mathematical dictionary； never have found the key to science of mathematics； if he had given his spare moments to idleness； had the little Scotch lad； Ferguson； allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads； he would never have bee a famous astronomer。
Labor vanquishes all…not inconstant； spasmodic； or ill…directed labor； but faithful； unremitting； daily effort toward a well…directed purpose。 Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty； so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success。
译文：
如果我休息，我就会生锈
在一把旧钥匙上发现了一则意义深远的铭文——如果我休息，我就会生锈。对于那些懒散而烦恼的人来说，这将是至理名言。甚至最为勤勉的人也以此作为警示：如果一个人有才能而不用，就像废弃钥匙上的铁一样，这些才能就会很快生锈，并最终无法完成安排给自己的工作。
有些人想取得伟人所获得并保持的成就，他们就必须不断运用自身才能，以便开启知识的大门，即那些通往人类努力探求的各个领域的大门，这些领域包括各种职业：科学，艺术，文学，农业等。
勤奋使开启成功宝库的钥匙保持光亮。如果休？米勒在采石场劳作一天后，晚上的时光用来休息消遣的话，他就不会成为名垂青史的地质学家。著名数学家爱德蒙？斯通如果闲暇时无所事事，就不会出版数�