It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,

it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,

it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,

we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

这是最好的时代，这是最糟的时代； 　　　　　　　　　　　　 
这是理性的时代，这是疑迷的时代； 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 
这是信仰的时代，这是迷茫的时代； 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 
这是希望之春，这是失望之冬； 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 
人们面前拥有一切，人们面前一无所有；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 
人们由此升入天堂，人们由此坠入地狱