英语美文背诵 人生苦短休斤斤计较

Life Is Too Short to Be Little

We men are imperfect beings, so conflicts among us are unavoidable.

我们人类皆是不完美的造物，所以彼此之间必然会起争执。

Inevitably¹, we sometimes feel injured, insulted, or slighted.

无可避免地，我们有时会觉得受到伤害、侮辱或轻视。

Perhaps we put our faith in another, and were disappointed; perhaps we felt we deserved one's gratitude², and were denied;

也许我们曾信任某人却失望了，也许我们曾觉得应该被某人感激却遭拒绝，

perhaps we wished to join ourefforts to those of a group, and were rejected.

也许我们曾希望共同为某团体打拼，却被摒除于外。

Such experiences are painful indeed，but is it not foolish to let them occupy our thoughts and precious time?

这样的经验的确很痛苦，但任由它们占据我们的思想与宝贵的时间岂不太愚蠢了吗?

For what does it profit us to dwell on trivial matters?

因为心烦琐碎小事于我们有何益处呢?

The priceless days must be spent meaningfully, joyfully³.

宝贵的时光必须过得有意义且快乐。

How thoughtless to waste the irreplaceable hours reviewing insignificant⁴ incidents, bearing a grudge⁵ or pitying oneself!

把一去不回的时间浪费在回顾微不足道的事，怀恨或自怜之上，这样的做法是多么欠思虑啊!

Far better to embrace with gratitude the gift of each day to make the most of every moment by filling it with purpose or appreciation⁶.

带着感恩的心去拥抱上帝所赐的每一天—也就是要有目的或心存感激地充分利用每一分每一秒—这样的做法才一更好。

Consider this thought when next you feel tempted⁷ to nurse a grievance⁸: that life is too short to be little!

下次你心生怨言时，想想这一点:“人生苦短休斤斤!”

1 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

2 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

3 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

4 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

5 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

6 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

7 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

8 grievance   

n.怨愤，气恼，委屈

参考例句：

• He will not easily forget his grievance.他不会轻易忘掉他的委屈。
• He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months.几个月来他对老板一直心怀不满。