精美英文欣赏:尊重

William Shakespeare wrote of the seven ages of man, starting with the puking infant and the whining¹ school boy, through the lover, the soldier, the authority of the middle aged² justice, then the slippered³ pantaloon, ending with the dependency of old age, sans teeth sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. But I find the categories or stages found in Hinduism more helpful and positive. It speaks of four ages, the student, the householder, the sage⁴, the ascetic⁵, with activity in the world dominating the first stages of life, then in later life, the wisdom of experience being shared with upcoming generation, and there's an increasing reflection upon ultimate truths of life and death.But what's significant for all of us in this understanding is that each stage of life has its own inherent importance and dignity. One is not more significant, productive or useful than another. Each stage matters because whether young, old or middle aged, each has something unique to offer. I suppose that that understanding undergirds the Christian⁶ social teaching of everyone contributing to the common good. So yes, let's have a dignity code for the elderly, and for the young, and for the middle aged. We all need it.

莎士比亚曾将人生分为7个阶段，婴儿期，叛逆学生期，恋人，战士，权威的中年法官，邋遢的老年期和耳重目盲无滋无味全无自理能力的晚年。但我觉得印度教划分的更积极，更有意义。它将人生分成四阶段，梵行期，家居期，林栖期，遁世期，开始两个阶段主要是完成家庭社会责任，后两个阶段则跟后辈分享经验智慧，与日俱增的是对生死真相的终极感悟。这种分法对我们意义深远，人生每个阶段都有其内涵和尊严，不存在哪个阶段比哪个阶段更有意义，更多产，更有用之说。年轻，年老或中年都有其特有的贡献，所以每个阶段都很重要。我想这种理解巩固了基督教教导世人向善的基调。所以，我们要敬老，要爱幼，要尊重中年人。人人都需要尊重。

1 whining   

n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚

参考例句：

• That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
• The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着（要进来）。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 slippered   

穿拖鞋的

参考例句：

• She slippered across the room from her bed. 她下床穿着拖鞋走过房间 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She saw pairs of slippered feet -- but no one was moving. 她看见一双双穿着拖鞋的脚--可是谁也没有挪动一步。 来自互联网

4 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

5 ascetic   

adj.禁欲的；严肃的

参考例句：

• The hermit followed an ascetic life-style.这个隐士过的是苦行生活。
• This is achieved by strict celibacy and ascetic practices.这要通过严厉的独身生活和禁欲修行而达到。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。