英语名篇诵读 友谊的价值

The Value of Friendship

友谊的价值

Friendship is both a source of pleasure and a component¹ of good health. Without

friendship, the world is but a wilderness², and we may affirm that it is a mere³ and miserable⁴

solitude⁵ to want true friends. A principal fruit of friendship is the ease and discharge of the

gloom. Nothing opens the heart but a true friend, to whom you may impart grieves, joys, fears,

hopes, suspicions, counsels, and whatsoever⁶ lies upon the heart to oppress it. People who have

close friends naturally enjoy their company. Of equal importance are the concrete emotional

benefits they derive⁷. When something sensational⁸ happens to us, sharing the happiness of the

occasion with friends intensifies⁹ our joy. Conversely, in times of troubles and tension, when our

spirits are low, unburdening our worries and fears to compassionate¹⁰ friends lightens the

agony. Moreover, we may even get some practical suggestions for solving a particular problem.

From time to time, we are insensitive and behave in a way that hurts someone's feelings.

Afterwards, when we feel guilty and down in the damps, friends can comfort us. This positive

interaction is favorable.

Youngsters and old age are the two stages in our lives when the need for friendship is crucial.

In the former stage, teens are plagued by uncertainty¹¹ and mixed feelings. In the latter stage, old

people are upset by feelings of uselessness and insignificance¹². In both instances, friends can make

a dramatic difference. With close friends in their lives, people develop courage and positive

attitudes. Teenagers have the moral support to assert their individuality; the elderly approach their

advanced years with optimism and an interest in life. These positive outlooks are vital to cope

successfully with the crisis inherent in these two stages of life.

友谊是快乐的源泉，又是健康的要素。没有友谊的世界是一片荒野，我们可以断言，

没有真正的朋友是可悲的孤独。友谊的一大成果是放松身心，宣泄郁闷。有了知心朋友便

可以敞开心扉，倾诉悲伤、欢乐、恐惧、愿望、疑虑、想法以及任何压在心头的东西。有

亲密朋友的人，自然就享受着朋友的相伴。同样重要的是，他们也从中获取了实实在在的

情感上的益处。我们遇到喜事时，与朋友分享彼时的快乐，会增强我们的快乐感。相反，

在遭遇到麻烦或紧张时，我们的情绪低落，向挚友诉说我们的忧虑和恐惧就能够减轻痛

苦。此外，我们甚至还能得到一些可行的建议，解决某个特定的问题。

有时，我们不够敏感，行为方式伤害了他人的感情。过后，当我们感到内疚沮丧时，

朋友就会安慰我们。这种积极的相互影响非常有益。

青少年时期和老年时期是我们生命中最需要友谊的两个阶段。在前一阶段，十几岁的

青少年常因事情的变化无常和复杂的情感问题而惶恐不安。在后一阶段，老年人常常感觉

无所作为、无足轻重而沮丧消沉。对这两种情况，朋友都能发挥巨大的作用，加以改善。

生活中有了亲密朋友，人们就会产生勇气，形成积极的生活态度。少男少女有了好友，就

有了精神支柱来坚持自己的个性；老年人有了好友，就会怀着对生活的乐观情绪和兴趣，

迈向暮年。这些积极的人生观对于成功地克服这两个人生阶段所固有的危机至关重要。

1 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

2 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

5 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

6 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

7 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

8 sensational   

adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的

参考例句：

• Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
• Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。

9 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

11 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

12 insignificance   

n.不重要；无价值；无意义

参考例句：

• Her insignificance in the presence of so much magnificence faintly affected her. "她想象着他所描绘的一切，心里不禁有些刺痛。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• It was above the common mass, above idleness, above want, above insignificance. 这里没有平凡，没有懒散，没有贫困，也没有低微。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹