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Many Lessons and So Few Words 谚语：人生的灯塔

課文朗讀

課文中英文講解

繁體中文譯本

The world is very complex place. But throughout history, people have found ways to make sense of it all. One way is through proverbs. “Actions speak louder than words.” “A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.” “Look before you leap.” Proverbs are short but powerful traditional statements that express a universal truth.

世界非常复杂。但从古至今，人类已找到理解这世界的方法。其中之一便是藉由谚语来表达。「坐而言不如起而行」、「一着不慎，全盘皆输」、「三思而后行」等。谚语不过寥寥数字，却是强而有力表达普遍真理的传统陈述。

Proverbs can express ideas about how people should live their lives, or teach ethics. “Given a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he’ll eat forever.” This proverb teaches us that charity is good, but helping people become self-sufficient is better. Proverbs communicate cultural values: “A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.” This Arabic proverb displays Arabs’ high regard for education. Many proverbs also serve as a warning, such as “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

谚语表达关于人类该如何生活的概念，或教导道德观。「送人一条鱼，他只能吃一天；教人钓鱼，他将终生受益。」这个谚语告诉我们慈善虽好，但帮助人们自给自足更好。谚语也传达文化价值观：「书，像是装在口袋里的花园。」此阿拉伯谚语显示阿拉伯人非常重视教育。许多谚语亦可作为鉴诫，比如说：「今日事，今日毕」。

We don’t know when the first proverb was written. Indeed, it is possible the first one was spoken and never written down. However, some of the oldest recorded proverbs are in Hebrew, like this one: “Promise little and do much.”

我们无从得知第一个谚语何时被记录下来。事实上，首句谚语很可能是口头传递，从未被书写记录。而有些最古老的谚语是以希伯来文记载，例如：「少承诺、多做事」。

Vocabulary

proverb [ˋprɑvɝb] n. 谚语，俗语

ethic [ˋɛθɪk] n. 道德标准﹐道德规范

self-sufficient [ˋsɛlfsəˋfɪʃənt] adj. 自给自足的

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throughout [θruˋaʊt] prep. 贯穿，从头到尾

make sense 有意义; 说得通

Actions speak louder than words: 行动胜于语言 What you do is more significant than what you say.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link:  一环薄弱, 全局必垮 Asuccessful group or team relies on each member doing well.

Look before you leap: 慎思而后行 This idiom means that you should think carefully about the possible results or consequences before doing something.

charity [ˋtʃærətɪ] n. 施舍；善举

communicate [kəˋmjunə͵ket] v. 传达

display [dɪˋsple] v. 显示；表现；显露

regard [rɪˋgɑrd] v. 注重; 尊重

warning [ˋwɔrnɪŋ] n. 警告

put off  延迟; 拖延

Hebrew [ˋhibru] n. 希伯来语

課文中英文講解

Proverbs also allow us to learn something about countries and societies that are culturally very different. Even when separated by thousands of miles of water or land, people may have many of the same beliefs and values. For example, “if you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow,” is from China. The Greeks, a continent away, say, “one minute of patience, ten years of peace.”

谚语同时也让我们稍微了解文化上截然不同的国家及社会。即使为数千哩的海洋或陆地所隔，不同地方的人们亦可能有相同的信仰及价值观。例如，中国人说「忍一时之气，免百日之忧」，而相隔一个大陆之远的希腊人则说：「一分钟的耐性，十年的平静」。

It’s difficult to disagree with a proverb. Often, as soon as we hear one we think how true it is. For example, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” means that it is difficult for somebody who is set in his ways to do something differently. Interestingly, “it’s never too late to learn,” seems equally true, yet it preaches the opposite.

我们很难对谚语提出异议。通常，我们一听到某句谚语，便会觉得它的意涵是多么地真确。比如说：「老狗学不了新把戏」，意指很难改变已有固定行为模式的人。有趣的是，「活到老，学到老」听起来也很有道理，虽然它和「老狗学不了新把戏」的意义刚好背道而驰。

Such opposition reveals the true nature of proverb. Most comment on human nature, which is complex and often contradictory. So think of each proverb not as an absolute truth, but as a starting point for understanding ourselves and our neighbors.

此种对立揭露了谚语的本质。多数谚语评论的都是复杂且矛盾的人性。所以，别将谚语视为绝对真理，而是将其作为了解自身及他人的出发点。

−by Howard Weston

Vocabulary

preach [pritʃ] v. 宣扬; 说教

opposition [͵ɑpəˋzɪʃən] n. 对立

contradictory [͵kɑntrəˋdɪktərɪ] adj. 矛盾的

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allow [əˋlaʊ] v. 允许

separate [ˋsɛpə͵ret] v. 分隔

sorrow [ˋsɑro] n. 悲伤

set in: 局限于 to become fixed for a period of time

reveal [rɪˋvil] v. 揭露

comment [ˋkɑmɛnt] n. 评论

absolute [ˋæbsə͵lut] adj. 绝对的

Reading Questions

1. What is the main idea of this article?

A. Proverbs are useful for every situation imaginable.

B. Proverbs teach lessons about life, human nature and culture.

C. All proverbs are universal truths that should be accepted.

D. Proverbs teach us that charity is always good.

2. The word “self-sufficient” is closest in meaning to _______.

A. dependent

B. independent

C. unreliable

D. invaluable

3. Which of the following is NOT something that we can obtain from proverbs?

A. Absolute truths without any contradictions.

B. Information about different cultures.

C. Warnings against doing certain things.

D. Practical advice on how to live our lives.

4. What can we infer from this article?

A. That proverbs are just old sayings that no longer matter.

B. That the world isn’t as complex as we thought it was.

C. That more and more people disagree with common proverbs.

D. That there is much wisdom to be learned from proverbs.

Answer