優(yōu)美英語美文摘抄精選
通過美文的賞析,陶冶學(xué)生的思想情操,開闊視野,提高對優(yōu)美散文的鑒賞能力,提高人文素養(yǎng);同時(shí)培養(yǎng)學(xué)生的認(rèn)知水平、情感態(tài)度、文化意識,激發(fā)學(xué)習(xí)英語的興趣,為他們的跨文化交際能力和終身學(xué)習(xí)英語的能力打下良好的基礎(chǔ)。學(xué)習(xí)啦小編整理了優(yōu)美英語美文,歡迎閱讀!
優(yōu)美英語美文:A Greek to Remember
一位值得紀(jì)念的希臘人
Diogenes was a famous Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C.,who established the philosophy of cynicism.He often walked about in the daytime holding a lighted lantern,peering around as if he were looking for something.When auestioned about his odd behavior,he would reply,"I am searching for an honest man."
Diogenes held that the good man was self-sufficient and did not require material comforts or wealth.He believed that wealth and possessions constrained humanity's natural state of freedom.In keeping with his philosophy,he was perefectly satisfied with making his home in a large tub discarded from the temple of Cybele,the goddess of nature.
This earthen tub,called a pithos,and formerly been used for holding wine or oil for the sacrifices at the temple.
One day,Alexander the Great ,conqueror of half the civilized world,saw Diogenes sitting in this tub in the sunshine. So the king,surrounded by his countries,approached Diogenes and said,"I am Alexander the Great."The philosopherreplied rather contemptuously,"I am Diogenes,the Cynic."Alexander then asked him if he could help him in any way."
Yes,"shot back Diogenes,"don't stand between me and the sun."A surprised Alexander then replied quickly,"If I were not Alexander,I would be Diogenes."
提奧奇尼斯是公元前四世紀(jì)一位著名的希臘哲學(xué)家,就是他創(chuàng)立了犬儒派哲學(xué)。他經(jīng)常在白天點(diǎn)著燈籠四處走動(dòng)、張望,像是在找什么東西似的。哪人們問起他這古怪行為時(shí),他會(huì)回答說:“我正在尋找正人君子。”
提奧奇尼斯認(rèn)為好人是自給自足的,不需要物質(zhì)享受和財(cái)富。他認(rèn)為財(cái)富、財(cái)產(chǎn)束縛了人們天生的自由狀態(tài)。與他的哲學(xué)相一致,他拿一個(gè)從別人從自然之母的廟里丟棄的大壇作為自己的家,還對此萬分滿意。這個(gè)陶制的大壇叫做圣壇,過去在廟里是用來盛裝祭祀用的酒和油的。
一天,征服了半個(gè)文明世界的亞歷山大大帝看見提奧奇尼斯坐在大壇里曬太陽。于是這位君主在大臣們的簇?fù)硐伦哌^去,對提奧奇尼斯說:“我是亞歷山大大帝。”哲學(xué)家相當(dāng)傲慢地回答說:“我是提奧奇尼斯————犬儒學(xué)者。”然后亞歷山大問他是否需要任何幫助。“
是的“,提奧奇尼斯駁回道,”別站在我和太陽之間。“大吃一驚的亞歷大繼而迅速回答道:”假如我不是亞歷山大,我就會(huì)是提奧奇斯。
優(yōu)美英語美文:The Cobbler and the banker
La Fontaine/拉。封丹
皮匠和銀行家
A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night;it was wonderful to see,wonderful to hear him;he was more contented in shoes,than was any of the seven sages.His neighbor,on the contrary,who was rolling in wealth,sung but little and slept less.He was a banker;when by chance he fell into a doze at day-break,the cobbler awoke him with his song.The banker complained sadly that Providence had not made sleep a saleable commodity,like edibles or drinkables.Having at length sent for the songster,he said to him,"How much a year do you earn,Master Gregory?"
"How much a year,sir?"said the merry cobbler laughing,"I have reckon in that way,living as I do from one day to another;somehow I manage to reach the end of the year;each day brings its meal."
"Well then!How much a day do you earn,my friend?"
"Sometimes more,sometimes less;but the worst of it is,-and,without that our earnings would be very tolerable,-a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work;and the curate,moreover,is constantly adding some new saint to the list."
The banker,laughing at his simplicity,said,"In the future I shall place you above want.Take this hundred crowns,preserve them carefully,and make use of them in time of need."
The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind.Returning home,he buried his money and his happiness at the same time,No more singin;he lost his voice,the moment he acquired that which is the source of so much grief.Sleep quitted his dwelling;and cares,suspicions,and false alarms took its place,All day,his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure;and at night,if some stray cat made a noise,the cat was robbing him.At length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbor;"Give my back." said he,"sleep and my voice,and take your hundred crowns."
一個(gè)皮匠從早到晚在唱歌中度過。無論見到他本人或聽見他的歌聲都使人覺得很愉快。他對于制鞋工作比當(dāng)上了希臘七對還要滿足。
與此相反,他的鄰居是個(gè)銀行家,擁有萬貫家財(cái),卻很少唱歌,晚上也睡得不好。他偶爾在黎明時(shí)分迷迷糊糊剛?cè)胨そ车母杪暠?于工作把他吵醒了。銀行家郁郁寡歡地抱怨上帝沒有睡眠也制成一種像食品或飲料那樣可以買賣的商品。后來,銀行家就叫人把這位歌手請來,問道:“格列戈里師傅,你一年賺多少錢?”
“先生,你問我一年賺多少錢嗎?”快樂的皮匠笑道:“我從來不算這筆帳,我是一天一天地過日子,總而言之堅(jiān)持到年底,每天掙足三餐。“
“啊,朋友,那么你一天賺多少錢呢?”
“有時(shí)多一點(diǎn),有時(shí)少一點(diǎn);不過最糟糕的是一年中總有些日子不準(zhǔn)我們做買賣,牧師又常常在圣徒名單上添新名字,否則我們的收入也還算不錯(cuò)的。“
銀行家被皮匠的直率逗笑了,他說:“我要你從今以后不愁沒錢用。這一百枚錢你拿去,小心放好,需要時(shí)拿來用吧。”
皮匠覺自己好像看到了過去幾百年來大地為人類所需而制造出來的全部財(cái)富。他回到家中,埋藏好硬幣,同時(shí)也埋葬了他的快樂。他 不再唱歌了;從他得到這種痛苦的根源那一刻起,他的嗓子就啞了。睡眠與他分手;取而代之的卻是擔(dān)心、懷疑、虛驚。白天,他的目光盡朝埋藏硬幣的方向望;夜間,如果有只迷途的貓弄出一點(diǎn)聲響,他就以為是有人來搶他的錢。最后,這個(gè)可憐的皮匠跑到他那富有的鄰居家里說:“把你的一百枚錢拿回去,還我的睡眠和歌聲來。”
優(yōu)美英語美文:Love is a two-way street
A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced,
“Dad, because this is your birthday and you’re 55 years old, I’m going to give you 55 kisses, one for each year!” When the boy started making good on his word, the father exclaimed, “Oh, Andrew, don’t do it now; I’m too busy!”
The youngster immediately fell silent as tears welled up in his big blue eyes. Apologically the father said, “You can finish later.”
The boy said nothing but quietly walked away, disappointment written over his face. That evening the father said, “Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!” But the boy didn’t respond.
Unfortunately, a few days later after this incident, the boy had an accident and was drowned. His heartbroken father wrote...
“If only I could tell him how much I regret my thoughtless words, and could be assured that he knows how much my heart is aching.”
…Love is a two-way street. Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar. If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too busy! Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us. Because... there may be no chance at all as in the case of the little boy...
父親坐在辦公桌旁,正盯著那些堆積了一個(gè)月來的賬單,這時(shí),他的小兒子沖了過來,大聲宣布:
“爸爸,因?yàn)榻裉焓悄阄迨鍤q的生日, 我想給你五十五個(gè)吻,一年一個(gè)!”當(dāng)男孩正要兌現(xiàn)諾言時(shí),他爸爸大聲說道:“哦,安德魯,現(xiàn)在不行,我太忙了!”
小男孩馬上不吭聲了,藍(lán)色的大眼睛里涌滿了淚水。父親深表歉意地說:“過會(huì)有空再親吧。”
男孩什么也沒說,只是靜靜地走開了,失望的表情溢于言表。那天晚上,父親說:“來吧安德魯,現(xiàn)在可以親了!”但是,孩子卻沒有做出回應(yīng)。
不幸的是,這件事剛過去幾天之后,小男孩就不幸溺水身亡。傷心欲絕的爸爸寫道:
“如果我早告訴他,對于那些無心的話我是多么后悔,他一定會(huì)明白我的心有多么痛。”
愛,是一條雙行道。對于愛的表示一定要熱心地接受,否則對方會(huì)以為你拒絕了,從而留下一道傷痕。如果我們忙得連給予和接受愛的時(shí)間都沒有,那未免也忙得太過分了!對于那些在我們身邊,對我們彌足珍貴的人,用愛去回應(yīng)他們愛的渴望,這最重要不過了!因?yàn)?hellip;…如果發(fā)生像小男孩這樣的情況,即使后悔也沒有機(jī)會(huì)了。
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