祥子的博客

    However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it or call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poor-hourse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quit mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace. The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any. Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgivings. Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means, which should be more disreputable. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn to the old, turn to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothers and keep your thoughts.

【Notes】
1. do not shun it or call it hard names   此句中call names意思是“骂人，诅咒”
2. so...as...  像...那样
3. 这句话中poor as it is为宾语前置，正常语序为as it is poor, 这里是强调poor
4. poor-house, alms-house, fault-finder   都为由两个名词组成的合成词
5. be supported by...   以...维持生计
6. but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means, which should be more disreputable   此句中的means的意思是“手段，方法”
7. dishonest和disreputable   中的dis-表否定

【Words & Expressions】
1. shun  v. to avoid deliberately; keep away from  躲避，故意避开；避免...
<Synonymy> escape
eg: In this way he can shun society.  通过这样的方式，他可以避免社交
2. fault-finder  n. 吹毛求疵的人
3. thrill  v. to give great pleasure to; delight  使陶醉，给予巨大的快乐；兴奋
<Synonymy> enrapture
eg: The traveller thrilled us with his stories.  这位旅行者的经历使我们惊讶不已
4. alms  n. money or goods given as charity to the poor  救济品
5. abode  n. a dwelling place; a home  居住处，住所
<Synonymy> residency
eg: make one's abode  居住，寄住
6. contented  adj. satisfied with things as they are  满足的，满意的
<Synonymy> satisfied
eg: a contented expression on the child's face.  孩子脸上心满意足的表情
7. misgiving  n. a feeling of doubt, distrust, or apprehension  怀疑，恐惧
<Synonymy> apprehension
eg: full of misgiving(s)  满心疑惑，十分不安
8. disreputable  adj. lacking respectability, as in character, behavior, or appearance  邋遢的，不体面的
<Antonymy> reputable
eg: It is a disreputable firm of builders.  这是个声誉不好的建筑公司
9. herb  n. plant used in medicine or as seasoning  芳草，各种芳香的植物
eg: No herb will cure love.  无药可治的相思病
10. sage  n. one praised and respected for experience, judgment, and wisdom  圣人
<Synonymy> saint