书城励志世界上最伟大的演说辞
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第23章 如果我休息,我就生锈

If I Rest, I Rust

奥里森·马登 / Orison Marden

奥里森·马登(1848—1924),美国著名的成功学家。其创办的《成功》杂志在美国无人不晓,它通过创造性地传播成功学改变了无数美国人的命运。他被公认为美国成功学的奠基人和最伟大的励志导师。

Are in the Hole

Understand these new words before you listen to this article.

1. inscription [in'skrip??n] n. 铭文;碑文

2. motto n. 箴言, 格言, 座右铭

3. endeavor n. 尝试

4. spasmodic adj. 痉挛的, 一阵阵的

5. vigilance n. 警觉; 警惕; 警戒

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 taint of idleness. Even the industrious 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 gates 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 become 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 become a famous astronomer.

Labor vanquished 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.

参考译文

在一把旧锁上发现了一则重要的铭文——如果我休息,我就生锈。对于那些为懒散而苦恼的人来说,这将是至理名言。甚至勤奋工作的人也可以此为警示,如果一个人有才而不用,就像废弃钥匙上的铁,很快就会生锈,最终不能适应工作。

那些想取得像伟人那样成就,并成为伟人的人,必须不断地使用自身才能得以提升自身,以便使知识的大门、人类为之奋斗的每个领域——专业、科学、艺术、文学、农业的大门——不会被锁上。

勤奋使开启成功宝库的钥匙光亮。如果休·米勒,白天在伐木场劳作后,晚上停下来休息消遣的话,就不会成为一个名垂青史的地理学家。著名的数学家爱德蒙·斯通,如果闲暇时无所事事,就不会出版数学词典,也不会发现开启数学大门的钥匙。如果苏格兰青年霍格森在山坡上放羊时,让他那繁忙的大脑处于休眠状态,而不是花费心思计算星星的位置,他将不会成为著名的天文学家。

劳动改变一切——不是断断续续、变化无常的或者方向偏差的劳动,而是忠诚的、不懈的、方向正确的日夜劳动。正如,要想获得自由,必须时刻警惕;而要想获得永久的成功,则必须坚持不懈地工作。

历史链接

奥里森·马登博士被公认为美国成功学的奠基人和最伟大的励志导师、成功学之父,《成功》杂志的创办人。如今《成功》杂志在美国无人不晓,它通过创造性地传播成功学改变了无数美国人的命运,致力于马登尚未完成的事业:把个人成功学传授给每一个想出人头地的年轻人。这篇文章就是他专门为年轻人而创作的作品,提醒年轻人要抓住时间和机遇,要善于动脑,才能走向成功。

Practicing for Better Learning

Listen to the article again, and answer the questions below.

1. How can people achieve the leights reached and kept by great men?

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2. According to the article, what can industry bring us?

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3. How do labor vanquish all?

Chunks in USe

Match each of the following words with its meaning.

(1) significant a. keep an account of

(2) reminder b. important in effect or meaning

(3) entrance c. a message that helps you remember something

(4) calculate d. something that provides access (entry or exit)

Now a Try

Thanslate the following sentences into English with the expressions in

the article.

1. 他受听觉障碍困扰已几十年了。

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2. 该公司应当尝试创新。

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3. 保安要时刻保持警惕,报告任何可疑情况。