书城外语每天都是精彩:英语诵读美文240篇(英汉对照)
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第47章

Self-reliance

Guidance for Reciting

Self-reliance is the only road to true *******,and being one's own person is its ultimate reward.

Individuals must learn to rely on themselves or risk losing *******. This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible,usually by age 18 or 21.Self-reliant persons should take care of themselves,solve their own problems,and stand on their own two feet.

Individuals must be self-reliant in order to keep their *******. If they rely too much on the support of their families or the government or any organizations they may not be free to do what they want.

By being dependent,not only do they risk losing *******,but also risk losing the respect of their peers. In order to be in the main stream of modern life―to have power and respect―an individual must be seen as self-reliant. Although receiving financial support from charity,family or the government is allowed,it is never admired.

Notes

1.peer [piE] n. 同侪,匹敌,贵族

2.stream [stri:m] n. 流,水流,人潮

3.charity [5tFAriti] n. 慈善机构(团体),仁慈,宽厚

依靠自己

诵读导言

独立自主是通向真正自由的惟一道路,其最终的奖赏是做真实的自己。

人们必须学会依靠自己否则有失去自由的危险。这就意味着,通常是在18岁或者21岁之前,要尽早从经济上和情感上独立于父母。依赖自己的人应该照顾好自己,解决好自己的问题,并且自食其力。

人们为了保持自由必须自立。如果他们过多地依赖于家庭、政府、或者其他组织,他们可能失去做自己想做的事情的自由。

人们不独立,不仅有失去自由的危险,而且有得不到同龄人尊重的危险。为了生活在现代生活的主流中―获得力量和尊重―一个人必须被别人看作是自立的。虽然人们允许从慈善会、家庭或者政府那里得到帮助,但这样是不受尊敬的。

口语点津

这里介绍一个中国人不常用的、表示“信心,信任,相信”的词,就是faith。在《越狱》(Prison Break)第一季里,Mike对被陷害入狱成为死囚的哥哥说“Just have a little faith”可别以为他在说要有点信念之类的话,这句话的意思是说“要给自己点信心”。有关faith的表达经常在口语里出现,比如在《加勒比海盗2》里面,伊丽莎白对即将离开的未婚夫说“I have faith in you.”(我相信你。)