英语美文：年轻一代生活睿语

 　　Words of Wisdom for the Modern AgeIN This ARTICLE: Wisdom today means something different for the young, modem¹ Western generation.

　　Wisdom of the ancients always served civilisation² well. In the age of the TV sitcom³ , witty⁴ New York repartee⁵ and the instant one-liner, Western wisdom in the modern sense can mean something more like the dialogue from an American sitcom. Here’s sampling of the some of the wittier⁶ one-lines circulating through Western society circles these days:

　　I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either.

　　I love deadlines. I especially like the wooshing sound they make as they go flying by.

　　Tell me what you need, and I’ll tell you how to get along without it.

　　Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue.

　　Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If they aren’t there the first time, chances are you won’t be needing them again.

　　On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.

　　You are slower than a herd⁷ of turtles stampeding through peanut butter.

　　Do not meddle⁸ in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup⁹.

　　Everybody is somebody else’s weirdo.

　　Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

　　Don’t be irreplaceable--if you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.

　　Eat one live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.

　　Everything can be filed under miscellaneous.

　　You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk.

　　When confronted by a difficult problem you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question "how would adventure star Indiana Jones handle this?"I don’t have an attitude problem. you have a perception problem.

1 modem   

n.调制解调器

参考例句：

• Does your computer have a modem?你的电脑有调制解调器吗？
• Provides a connection to your computer via a modem.通过调制解调器连接到计算机上。

2 civilisation   

n.文明，文化，开化，教化

参考例句：

• Energy and ideas are the twin bases of our civilisation.能源和思想是我们文明的两大基石。
• This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.这部歌剧是西方文明的文化标志物之一。

3 sitcom   

n.情景喜剧，（广播、电视的）系列幽默剧

参考例句：

• This sitcom is produced in cooperation with Hong Kong TV.这部连续剧是同香港电视台联合制作的。
• I heard that a new sitcom is coming out next season.我听说下一季会推出一个新的情境喜剧。

4 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

5 repartee   

n.机敏的应答

参考例句：

• This diplomat possessed an excellent gift for repartee.这位外交官具有卓越的应对才能。
• He was a brilliant debater and his gift of repartee was celebrated.他擅长辩论，以敏于应答著称。

6 wittier   

机智的，言辞巧妙的，情趣横生的( witty的比较级 )

参考例句：

7 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

8 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。

9 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？