善行無小事美文

善行無小事美文推薦

　　I was in the Santa Cruz Mountains not long ago, speaking and singing at a women's conference. We were focusing on the theme of loving others in practical ways through our gifts, and something in particular happened during one of the sessions that will remain imprinted in my memory as a beautiful illustration of this practice.

　　不久前我在圣克魯斯山脈，在一次婦女大會(huì)上有說有唱。我們關(guān)注的主題是通過送禮物等實(shí)用的方法來關(guān)愛他人。其中一個(gè)會(huì)議期間發(fā)生的一件特殊的事將成為最美的印跡永遠(yuǎn)銘刻在我的記憶中。

　　A young Syrian woman ("Lilith") had been invited to the conference at the last minute, and everyone seemed surprised and delighted that she'd actually come. Just a few days earlier, Lilith had fled her country and found refuge with one of the women attending the conference. As an Orthodox Christian in Syria, she and her loved ones had become targets of violent atrocities from radical terrorist groups in the country's ongoing civil war.

　　一位年輕的敘利亞女士（莉莉絲）在最后一分鐘被邀請到會(huì)議上，大家看起來都很驚訝，也很高興她真的來了。就在幾天前，莉莉絲逃離她的國家，和另外一個(gè)參加會(huì)議的女士一起尋找避難所。作為敘利亞的一名東正教教徒，她和親人們成為了這個(gè)國家正在進(jìn)行的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)中激進(jìn)的恐怖組織暴行的目標(biāo)。

　　Lilith had witness target=_blank class=infotextkey>witnessed horrors no one her young age should ever see. Despite the further danger it presented, she'd decided to leave her home and her family to find safety here in America. Knowing some of her story, and seeing her sitting through the sessions at the retreat -- head covered in a scarf, face bowed toward the floor -- broke my heart.

　　莉莉絲目擊了她這個(gè)年紀(jì)的年輕人不該見到的恐怖。盡管要面臨更大的危險(xiǎn)，但她決定離開家和家人來美國尋求安全。知道了她的一些故事，看見她會(huì)議期間有些退卻——頭上包著圍巾，臉朝著地面壓得很低——我感覺心要碎了。

　　Lilith's story touched all of us, including Pam, an attendee who was a quilt maker. Pam had just finished a gorgeous, intricately-patterned quilt, and had brought it with her. She, along with a few of the leaders, decided to give it to Lilith as a symbol of their comfort and love. Lilith had left her own mother behind in her homeland, and I can't imagine how frightened and alone she felt. But in her absence I could see there were lots of "mamas" in this community of women who were more than ready to love on her.

　　莉莉絲的故事觸動(dòng)了我們所有人，包括與會(huì)的被子生產(chǎn)商帕姆。帕姆剛做出了一床華麗的、圖案精致的被子，也帶過來了。她和幾位領(lǐng)導(dǎo)決定把它贈(zèng)給莉莉絲，被子象征了他們的安慰和愛。莉莉絲把母親留在了家鄉(xiāng)，我無法想象她感到多么害怕孤單。但她的離開使我看到在這個(gè)女性團(tuán)體中有很多“媽媽”，她們都準(zhǔn)備好要把愛獻(xiàn)給她。

　　During our last session together Lilith was called forward and prayed over, hugged, and wrapped up in that beautiful quilt. I thought of the many hours Pam undoubtedly spent working on it, unaware of the horrendous events that would lead Lilith to this moment--literally surrounded by the beauty and love the quilt embodied. I wept. When they told her it was for her, she wept. We all wept, honking our noses and wiping our eyes.

　　我們最后一次在一起開會(huì)時(shí)，莉莉絲被叫去站到前面，大家為她祈禱，擁抱她，把那條漂亮的被子圍在她身上。我想到帕姆毫無疑問花了好長時(shí)間做這個(gè)被子，當(dāng)時(shí)她根本不知道那些可怕的事會(huì)把莉莉絲帶到這里——此時(shí)卻被被子蘊(yùn)含的美麗和愛所圍繞。我哭了，她們告訴她這個(gè)被子是給她的時(shí)候，她哭了。我們都哭了，抽泣著擦著眼淚。

　　I thought about the words from 1 Peter 4:10: Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you, as faithful dispensers of the magnificently varied grace of God. The words particular and varied suggest to me that there may be as many gifts as there are people and personalities. A quilt wrapped around a ravaged young woman is just one practical, loving act of service that demonstrates God's grace.

　　我想到了彼得前書的4章10節(jié)里的話：各人要照所得的恩賜彼此服侍，作神百般恩賜的好管家。這番話特別換了一種方式提醒我有多少人和個(gè)性就有多少禮物。一位受到傷害的年輕女子身上圍的被子就是體現(xiàn)了上帝慈悲的一個(gè)充滿愛意的行為。

　　It's the particular things we do that we sometimes think are too small or inconsequential compared to the overwhelming suffering we witness target=_blank class=infotextkey>witness. But to do nothing when we see an opportunity--to serve, to comfort, to ease another's pain--is to withhold whatever facet of God's magnificently varied grace our gift offers.

　　這就是我們所做的特別的事，有時(shí)我們認(rèn)為這和我們見到的勢不可擋的苦難相比太過渺小或不重要。但有機(jī)會(huì)時(shí)-服務(wù)、安慰、緩解別人的痛苦-你什么都不做，就沒有體現(xiàn)出上帝給予的恩賜所展現(xiàn)的各種慈悲的任何一面。

　　西方文化:數(shù)字13為什么不吉利?

　　很多人都知道，在西方國家13是個(gè)不吉利的數(shù)字。有很多樓層、門牌號都會(huì)直接跳過13，12之后直接是14，或是用12A代替13。

　　西方文化:數(shù)字13為什么不吉利?

　　很多人都知道，在西方國家13是個(gè)不吉利的數(shù)字。有很多樓層、門牌號都會(huì)直接跳過13，12之后直接是14，或是用12A代替13。那么，為什么13是個(gè)不吉利的數(shù)字呢？原因有很多種：

　　1. 最后的晚餐中的13門徒

　　Some Christian traditions have it that at the Last Supper, Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table.

　　傳說耶穌遇難前和弟子們共進(jìn)了一次晚餐。參加晚餐的第13個(gè)人是耶穌的弟子猶大。就是這個(gè)猶大為了30塊銀元，把耶穌出賣給猶太教當(dāng)局，致使耶穌受盡折磨。而且參加最后晚餐的是13個(gè)人，晚餐的日期恰逢13日，“13”給耶穌帶來苦難和不幸。從此，“13”被認(rèn)為是不幸的象征，也成為背叛和出賣的同義詞。

　　2. 北歐火神洛基的傳說

　　Triskaidekaphobia may have also affected the Vikings-it is believed that Loki in the Norse pantheon was the 13th god. More specifically, Loki was believed to have engineered the murder of Balder, and was the 13th guest to arrive at the funeral. This is perhaps related to the superstition that if thirteen people gather, one of them will die in the following year.

　　在北歐神話中，火神洛基(Loki)是諸神中的第13位，他本身邪惡而狡詐。他欺騙并唆使黑暗盲神Hoder害死了自己的兄弟、光明之神 Balder，又成為葬禮上的第13位吊唁者。此后西方就有迷信：如果葬禮中有13個(gè)人出席，那么其中一人會(huì)在第二年死去。這也是“恐?jǐn)?shù)字13癥”的一種由來。

　　3. 波斯黃道十二宮的傳說

　　Ancient Persians believed the twelve constellations in the Zodiac controlled the months of the year, and each ruled the earth for a thousand years at the end of which the sky and earth collapsed in chaos. Therefore, the thirteenth is identified with chaos and the reason Persians leave their houses to avoid bad luck on the thirteenth day of the Persian Calendar, a tradition called Sizdah Bedar.

　　古代的波斯人相信天空中的黃道十二星座掌控著一年的十二個(gè)月，而每個(gè)星座會(huì)統(tǒng)治地球一千年。等到十二個(gè)輪回結(jié)束，天空和大地就會(huì)崩塌。因此，第十三就和混亂聯(lián)系了起來。波斯人在波斯歷上的第十三天會(huì)外出、以避免厄運(yùn)，這個(gè)傳統(tǒng)被稱為“Sizdah Bedar”，意思是“十三戶外”。

　　However, the number 13 is not uniformly bad in the Judeo-Christian tradition. For example, the 13 attributes of God (also called the thirteen attributes of mercy) are enumerated in the Torah. Some modern Christian churches also use 13 attributes of God in sermons.

　　除此以外，不吉利的13還有很多傳聞，包括漢莫拉比法典(code of Hummurabi)的第13條法規(guī)、十字軍東征時(shí)的13圓桌騎士以及Friday the 13th（十三號星期五）等等。不過，也不是所有基督教傳統(tǒng)的國家都認(rèn)為13是不吉利的，在某些基督教祭典中還有13信條的儀式。

　　打造和諧辦公環(huán)境 4步建立信任文化

　　你是否認(rèn)識某些不相信公司或老板的人？也許他們有正當(dāng)?shù)睦碛�，也許是因?yàn)橥�事失信于人，或者是因�(yàn)樗麄兯�在的公司不正�?guī)不靠譜。

　　Do you know someone who doesn’t trust their company, or maybe their boss? Maybe they have good reasons. Perhaps promises were broken, or the company was deceptive or unethical.

　　你是否認(rèn)識某些不相信公司或老板的人？也許他們有正當(dāng)?shù)睦碛�，也許是因?yàn)橥�事失信于人，或者是因�(yàn)樗麄兯�在的公司不正�?guī)不靠譜。

　　“Once bitten, twice shy,” is understandably a good explanation why some employees become skeptical. But the only way for a business relationship to work is if it’s based on a foundation of mutual trust.

　　“一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井繩。”這就合理地解釋了某些員工難以對公司產(chǎn)生信賴的原因了。然而建立和諧的合作關(guān)系的唯一途徑，在于能否建立在雙方的相互信任的基礎(chǔ)之上。

　　Here are five tips I have shared with colleagues and team members who find it difficult to trust others in the workplace.

　　下面的5個(gè)小秘訣，筆者曾經(jīng)分享給團(tuán)隊(duì)中難以對他人建立信任感的同事們。

　　1.Don’t allow bias to come into play.

　　1. 別讓偏見蒙蔽了自己。

　　Is your lack of trust for your current boss based on something a previous boss did? Leave undeserved negative thoughts behind and allow your new boss to earn your trust from a clean slate.

　　你對現(xiàn)任老板的不信任，是因?yàn)榍叭卫习遄隽艘恍┳屇悴豢暗氖虑閱�？把這些不應(yīng)該出現(xiàn)的負(fù)面想法拋諸腦后吧，讓你的新老板清清白白地獲得你的信任。

　　2.Extend the first 'olive branch.'

　　2. 伸出第一條“橄欖枝”

　　At the beginning of relationships, each person starts at ground zero when it comes to trust. Why not be the one to make the first move? All it takes is shedding your protective guard to move past the neutral stage.

　　在任何關(guān)系的建立之初，每個(gè)人對他人建立信任的起點(diǎn)都是零。那么，何不跨出第一步呢？你只需要卸下防備，保持中立就可以了。

　　Evaluating how and when trust has been violated goes a long way to restoring it. Handling the issue in a professional, non-confrontational manner means hearing the other person’s story. Calmly listening to both sides often prevents a simple misunderstanding from becoming an intolerable situation.

　　預(yù)估信任在何時(shí)以何種方式被侵犯了，恢復(fù)它還需要很長一段時(shí)間。如果你以一種專業(yè)，非對抗性的方式來處理，那意味著你能夠傾聽他人的心聲。冷靜地聆聽雙方的意見，常常能夠防止一個(gè)簡單的誤會(huì)惡化到一個(gè)不可容忍的狀況。

　　3.Don’t overreact to the situation.

　　3. 別做出過激的反應(yīng)。

　　If it’s the first time you’ve perceived a violation of trust, giving your co-worker the benefit of the doubt may be your best response. Isn’t this how you would like to be treated? If still in doubt, run it past someone outside of the company who can offer a fresh, unbiased perspective. It’s okay -- and sometimes smart -- to let certain issues blow over.

　　如果這是你第一次感覺到信任被侵犯了，讓你的同事知道做出質(zhì)疑的好處，也許就是你的最佳回應(yīng)。這不就是你希望被對待的方式嗎？如果你還有疑惑，那就與公司以外的人談?wù)撨@件事情，并從對方身上得到一個(gè)嶄新的，中肯的建議。這也是沒有關(guān)系的——甚至有時(shí)候是很聰明的做法——就讓事情過去吧。

　　4.Behave in a way that commands trust from your co-workers.

　　4. 以一種要求信任的姿態(tài)與同事相處。

　　If you find that mistrust is a consistent theme throughout your career, you may very well be a contributor. A solution: Always be mindful of how others may perceive your words and actions.

　　如果你發(fā)現(xiàn)在工作過程中總是充斥著各種懷疑與不信任，或許你能在這方面做出很大的作為。這里有一個(gè)解決方法：時(shí)刻留意其他人對你的言行的反應(yīng)。

　　囧研究：戀上自己，是禍?zhǔn)歉＃?/p>

　　生活中，你愛發(fā)自拍嗎？你是自戀狂嗎？那么戀上自己，到底是福還是禍呢？

　　囧研究：戀上自己，是禍?zhǔn)歉＃?/strong>

　　This is a gripping and sometimes terrifying book that will make you look anew at your spouse, your parents, your children, your friends, your enemies, your fellow workers and - perhaps most pertinently - your reflection in the mirror.

　　這是本扣人心弦又駭人的書，會(huì)讓你重審你的伴侶、父母、你的小孩、敵友還有你的同事，確切地說，重新審視你鏡中的倒影。

　　Narcissus was the youth in Greek mythology who was so handsome everyone fell in love with him instantly. But all this adoration hardened his heart, and he became as well-known for his indifference to others as for his beauty. Eventually, the gods placed a curse on him, so that he, too, would know the pain of unrequited love.Soon after, he happened to be passing a pond, caught sight of his own reflection and fell madly in love with it. So drawn was he to the reflection that he dived into the water to be with it and drowned.

　　希臘神話里帥氣的少年納西索斯，人人都對他一見鐘情。但人們的欽慕讓他心生狠念，如同他秀麗的外表一樣， 納西索斯冷漠為人的態(tài)度也人盡皆知。最終，眾神對他施以詛咒，讓他飽嘗單戀之苦。不久，納西索斯路過一個(gè)池塘，看見自己的倒影，便深深地愛上了。他愛得深沉無法自拔，便投入水中，最終溺亡。

　　In psychological terms, then, narcissism is one of the 'dark triad' of personality traits, along with Machiavellianism and psychopathy.Dr Craig Malkin, a clinical psychologist and instructor at Harvard Medical School, defines it simply as 'the drive to feel special'. In moderation, one might ask, what is wrong with that?

　　在心理學(xué)術(shù)語中，自戀和馬基雅維利主義以及精神變態(tài)合稱為“暗黑三合一“。哈佛醫(yī)學(xué)院的臨床心理學(xué)家及導(dǎo)師克雷格·馬爾金博士把自戀定義為“感覺特別的內(nèi)在驅(qū)動(dòng)“。也許有人要問，如果適度自戀，又有什么問題呢？

　　If you are a nine or a ten on the Malkin scale, you're basically mentally ill. You have convinced yourself you're special, despite much evidence to the contrary. Whereas if you're a five, you have a good dose of what Dr Malkin calls 'healthy narcissism'. And if you are a zero or a one, you have a narcissism deficit. He then discusses where it all comes from - nurture rather than nature, for narcissist parents can wreak havoc on future generations. Most usefully of all, he gives five telltale signs to help you spot the narcissist in your midst.

　　如果你的馬爾金等級是九至十，你基本屬于精神有疾。你確信自己很特別，盡管事實(shí)上大相徑庭。然而，若你的等級是五，你就是馬爾金博士所稱的”健康的自戀“。如果等級零或者一，那你根本就不自戀。馬爾金接著討論自戀從何而來，后天所致還是與生俱來，因?yàn)樽詰俚募议L對后代頗具殺傷力。最為實(shí)用的`在于馬爾金會(huì)告訴你五大隱形跡象，教你鑒別身邊的自戀者。

　　Sign one is Displaying Emotion Phobia. Human interaction poses a scary problem for narcissists who are, deep down, extraordinarily insecure people. They shore up their self-confidence by imagining they are perfectly self-sufficient and impervious to other people's feelings. Sign two is Playing Emotional Hot Potato. Narcissists avoid their own horrible feelings by passing them on to others. They actually coerce you into experiencing the emotions they're trying to ignore in the first place.

　　跡象一是害怕表現(xiàn)出情感。對于內(nèi)心深處極度缺乏安全感的自戀者而言，人際交往是個(gè)可怖的問題。自戀狂想象他們自給自足游刃有余、可以對他人的情感無動(dòng)于衷，以此來增強(qiáng)自信。跡象二是打燙手情感山芋牌。自戀者規(guī)避自身不詳?shù)母杏X，并把這種感受傳遞給他人，迫使你去體驗(yàn)他們最初就想無視的情感體驗(yàn)。

　　Next is Exerting Stealth Control. Narcissists feel uneasy about asking for help. Much easier is to remain in charge, make all the decisions and impose them on others as faits accomplis. Fourth is Placing People On Pedestals. For narcissists the logic goes like this: if someone this special wants me, I must be pretty special, too. Watch out for the sycophants at work, or the boyfriend who says you're perfect and that he loves you before he's even got to know you.

　　再者就是秘密行為控制。讓自戀者求助會(huì)致使其不安，對他們而言，保持萬事自盡在掌握、一切自己做定奪，給別人施以運(yùn)籌帷幄的感覺會(huì)讓他們好受些。跡象四是把別人推上神壇。自戀者的邏輯是這樣的：如果特別的人喜歡我，那么我必定也很特別。留心職場溜須拍馬的人，當(dāng)心那種還不了解你就口口聲聲表示愛你、說你很完美的男朋友。

　　Finally, there's Fantasising You're Twins. You know those couples who tell you they're alike in every way and that it's like looking in the mirror? Moderate narcissists, says Dr Malkin, can be 'turned' with care and attention. For extreme narcissists, however, there's not usually any way back. It's a pathological condition - the damage runs too deep.

　　最后一個(gè)跡象：假想你們是雙胞胎。你也知道那一對對情侶的吧？喜歡告訴你他們各方各面都很相像，就像是看鏡中的自己一樣。適度的自戀者，馬爾金博士說，施以呵護(hù)關(guān)注是可以“回心轉(zhuǎn)意”的。然而，對于極端自戀狂，基本沒有回頭路。這是種病態(tài)，病入膏肓、損傷極深。

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華42：排水管的啟示(mp3)

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華匯總（mp3）

　　Inspiration from a Drainpipe

　　排水管的啟示

　　Mrs. John G. Lee

　　約翰.G.李夫人

　　I think the most profound influence in my life was my father. He was an inventor and a scientist with a most inquisitive mind. He loved and was greatly stimulated by the beauty and the design he found in nature.

　　我想在我一生中，父親對我的影響最大。他是一位發(fā)明家和科學(xué)家，對任何事物都充滿好奇。他熱愛他在自然中發(fā)現(xiàn)的美和圖案，并從中獲得極大的啟示。

　　He believed in people and was himself a completely honest person. His sense of humor was keen though kindly and his energy was inexhaustible. Once he was asked how he got the idea for the Maxim Silencer.

　　他相信人，自己也是個(gè)十分誠實(shí)的人。他的幽默盡管有時(shí)讓人感到尖刻，但卻是善意的;他的精力十分旺盛。一次，有人問他怎么想到馬克西姆消音器這個(gè)點(diǎn)子。

　　He answered, "By watching the way water behaved when it went down a drain." This simple statement opened up for me a whole realm of ideas which led to a firm belief that human intelligence need recognize no bounds; that through the use of our intelligence we will move progressively closer to an understanding of man and of the universe around us; that this knowledge will bring a closer harmony between man and his surroundings; and that this way lies the chance to make the world a better place to live in.

　　他回答說，“是觀察水在排水管中流動(dòng)的方式得到的啟發(fā)�！边@句簡單的話開啟了我的心智，使我堅(jiān)信人類的智慧無窮無盡;運(yùn)用我們的智慧，我們將逐步深入了解人類和我們周圍的宇宙;這種知識將使人類和他們生活的環(huán)境更加和諧地相處;只有這樣，我們才有機(jī)會(huì)使人類生活的世界更美好。

　　Then I remember sitting with him on the deck of his boat one night in early September.

　　我還記得九月初的一天晚上，我和父親坐在他的小船甲板上。

　　We were anchored in a secluded cove. The breeze was light and very salty. We could hear across a little strip of land the pounding of the surf.

　　船�？吭谝粋�(gè)幽僻的小灣里。陣陣微風(fēng)吹過，帶著咸味。一小條狹長陸地那邊傳來浪花拍岸的聲音。

　　The stars were brilliant and every now and then a shooting star would streak across the sky. He was deeply interested in astronomy and he led my mind into unforgettable population as we explored the grandeur of that night.

　　星星明亮，不時(shí)會(huì)有一顆流星劃過夜空。父親對天文學(xué)深感興趣，當(dāng)我們探討那天晚上壯麗的夜色時(shí)，他引導(dǎo)著我思索，那種思索令我永遠(yuǎn)不能忘懷。

　　I think from this I came to understand that there must be law and order in our universe. There is design. Man can observe, he can learn to understand, he can apply. The secret is to apply in the interests of the common good; not for one or for a few; not to destroy but to build for all peoples.

　　我想正是從那時(shí)起我開始懂得在我們的宇宙里必須有法律和秩序。一切都安排好了。人類能夠觀察，能夠?qū)W會(huì)理解事物并運(yùn)用所學(xué)的知識，奧秘就在于運(yùn)用知識是為了所有的人的利益，而不是為了某一個(gè)人或幾個(gè)人，不是為了毀滅而是為了所有人而建設(shè)。

　　My mother and father each had an acute social conscience. They believed that because good fortune had endowed them with better than average opportunity, they had a duty to perform in their communities.

　　我的父母都有強(qiáng)烈的社會(huì)責(zé)任感。他們認(rèn)為他們有責(zé)任在自己的群體中履行自己的職責(zé)，因?yàn)楹眠\(yùn)給了他們比一般人更多的機(jī)會(huì)。

　　From this no doubt came my own conviction that I must give more than I receive and that a satisfactory life must be measured by its usefulness to others.

　　我自己的信仰也正是來自于此，我應(yīng)該更多地給予而不是領(lǐng)受，令人滿意的人生必須通過你是否對他人有用來衡量。

　　I remember the excitement engendered by the conversation in our home. All kinds of ideas were explored; all sorts of prejudices were challenged; penetrating minds were brought to bear on every problem of the day.

　　我還記得在我家里的談話所帶來的興奮和激動(dòng)。各種觀點(diǎn)都得到探討;各種偏見都受到質(zhì)疑;深邃的思想幾乎觸及當(dāng)代所有的問題。

　　I learned that each one of us has a right to his own beliefs, that prejudice perverts truth and that violence in the long run gains us nothing. From this understanding I moved into the belief that people everywhere must learn how to work together for the common purpose of the betterment of mankind.

　　我明白我們都一個(gè)人都有權(quán)利擁有自己的信仰，偏見會(huì)歪曲真理，從長遠(yuǎn)的觀點(diǎn)看來，暴力會(huì)使我們一無所獲。正是基于這樣的認(rèn)識，我開始相信世界各地的人們必須學(xué)會(huì)如何團(tuán)結(jié)起來，為了人類更美好的明天這一共同目標(biāo)而奮斗。

　　I believe one of the greatest ideas of all times, one that is a compelling moral force, is the concept of the dignity and worth of the human individual. From this idea there develops a sense of devotion to the common good.

　　我相信所有時(shí)代最偉大的觀念之一，即最令人信服的道德力量就是個(gè)人的尊嚴(yán)和價(jià)值。為了共同利益而奉獻(xiàn)的精神就來自于這種觀念。

　　I believe that if we pull these rather simple but fundamental things together and tie them up with honesty and truth, there are no visible limits to the heights to which mankind can rise.

　　我相信如果我們把這些看似簡單但卻十分重要的觀念集中起來，用誠實(shí)和真理把它們連在一起，人類將會(huì)登上一個(gè)又一個(gè)高峰。

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華匯總（mp3）

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華41：馬蒂斯和永不滿足的音樂(mp3)

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華匯總（mp3）

　　Matisse and the Music of Discontent

　　馬蒂斯和永不滿足的音樂

　　By Andre Kostelanetz

　　On Easter Sunday, 1945, the last year of the war, my wife and I were in Marseilles. We had just arrived for four days’ rest, after a tour of entertaining the troops in Burma. It was a wonderful morning, sparkling but not too warm. There were no tourists, of course, and we decided to drive along the Riviera to Vence and call on Matisse. We had never met the painter, but we knew well his son Pierre in New York.

　　We found Matisse living in a small house, with a magnificent, sweeping view beyond his vegetable garden. In one room, there was a cage with a lot of fluttering birds. The place was covered with paintings, most of them obviously new ones. I marveled at his production, and I asked him, “What is your inspiration?”

　　“I grow artichokes,” he said. His eyes smiled at my surprise and he went on to explain: “Every morning, I go into the garden and watch these plants. I see the play of light and shade on the leaves, and I discover new combinations of colors and fantastic patterns. I study them. They inspire me. Then I go back into the studio and paint.”

　　This struck me forcefully. Here was perhaps the world’s most celebrated living painter. He was approaching 80, and I would have thought that he had seen every combination of light and shade imaginable. Yet every day he got fresh inspiration from the sunlight on an artichoke; it seemed to charge the delicate dynamo of his genius with an effervescent energy almost inexhaustible.

　　I wondered what might have happened if Matisse had never taken that morning stroll in the garden. But such a withdrawal is not in his character. Sometimes a man builds a wall around himself, shutting out the light. Not Matisse. He goes out to meet the world, discovers it and seems to soak up the discoveries in his very pores.

　　In such a process, man inhales the chemicals of inspiration, so to speak. As a musician, inspiration is vital to me, but I find it hard to define what it is. It is more than just drinking in a view or being in love. It is, I think, a sense of discovery, a keen appetite for something new. There goes with it a certain amount of discipline, of control, coupled with a reluctance to accept a rigid, preconceived pattern. Someone has described this whole feeling as a divine discontent.

　　The source of this capacity for thrilling, explanatory wonder at life rests, I believe, above man himself in something supreme. I sense this in regarding nature, which stimulates me in all my creative work.

　　There are a host of things about the universe which I do not clearly understand, any more than I can understand, for example, the technicalities of the process by which we can be heard and seen in this new dimension, the miraculous television screen.

　　Such finite things as these inventions were inconceivable mysteries a few years ago. The reason for life may be obscure to me, but that is no cause to doubt that the reason is there. Like Matisse with his artichoke, I can regard the infinite number of lights and shades of a piece of music and know that this is true.

　　英語勵(lì)志美文精華匯總（mp3）

　　NBA術(shù)語知多少(雙語閱讀)

　　NBS術(shù)語知多少？

　　Air ball: Sarcastic term to describe a shot that doesn't touch the rim.

　　三不粘:用來諷刺不粘籃筐的投籃。

　　Alley-oop pass: A pass thrown to a player who is running toward the basket. The second player leaps. catches the ball in midair. and dunks it or lays it in before he lands.

　　空中接力傳球:把球傳給正在跑向籃筐的球員。第二個(gè)球員跳躍，在空中接住球，在他落地前扣籃或者上籃。

　　Assist: A pass that leads directly to a basket.

　　助功：能直接得分的傳球。

　　Backcourt: A team's defensive half of the court. As it refers to players. a team's guards.

　　后場:球場上球隊(duì)防守的部分。如果指球員的話，指球隊(duì)里的后衛(wèi)。

　　Backdoor play: A fundamental basketball play in which one player passes to a teammate in the high post. and when the defenders follow the ball. another player cuts to the basket from the opposite side of the court to take a pass for an open shot.

　　溜底線或背切打法:最基本的籃球打法——球員傳球給站在高位的隊(duì)友，當(dāng)防守隊(duì)員跟球后，另一個(gè)隊(duì)員從球場的另一邊切到球以尋找投球空位。

　　Bank shot: A shot that is aimed at a spot on the backboard so that it caroms. or "banks." into the basket.

　　擦板入藍(lán):以籃板上一點(diǎn)為目標(biāo)投籃，以使球可以反彈，或者"擦板"進(jìn)入籃筐里。

　　Baseline: The line at each end of the court. under each basket. Also: endline.

　　底線:在球場兩頭每個(gè)籃筐下面的線。

　　Bench: Reserves.

　　替補(bǔ)隊(duì)員席:指全體替補(bǔ)隊(duì)員。

　　Bounce pass: A pass thrown by a player to a teammate that bounces on the floor.

　　擊地傳球:一名球員將球擊地傳給隊(duì)友。

　　Box out: Use your body to stay between an opponent and the basket and thus get into better position for a rebound.

　　搶位擋人:用身體擋在對于和籃板之間，以找到一個(gè)更好的籃板球位置。

　　Brick: A hard. errant shot that caroms wildly off the basket or backboard.

　　打板:過于用力，導(dǎo)致彈出籃筐或籃板的失誤的投籃。

　　Bunny: An open. uncontested shot. usually a layup or dunk. Also: snowbird.

　　突破上籃:空位，沒有防守的投籃，通常是灌籃或扣籃。

　　Bury: Sink (a shot). as in "bury a jumper."

　　命中:投籃命中。

　　Charging: A violation in which an offensive player runs into a stationary opponent.

　　撞人犯規(guī):進(jìn)攻隊(duì)員撞到?jīng)]有動(dòng)作的對于的違例情況。

　　Chucker: A player who never met a shot he didn't like.

　　投手:從沒碰到不舒服的投籃位置的球員。

　　Coast-to-coast: From one end of the court to the other.

　　從前場到后場:從球場的一端到另一端。

　　Collective Bargaining Agreement: The agreement between the NBA and the Players Association that governs all terms and conditions of employment of NBA players by NBA teams.

　　NBA勞資協(xié)議 :NBA和球員協(xié)會(huì)簽訂的協(xié)議，包括了所有的NBA球隊(duì)中的NBA球員雇傭的條約和條件。

　　Cut: A quick move by an offensive player, usually toward the basket, to get in position for a shot.

　　切入:防守隊(duì)員快速跑動(dòng)，通常是跑向籃筐，以得投球位置。

　　Dead-ball foul: A foul committed while the clock is stopped and the ball is not in play.

　　死球犯規(guī):指當(dāng)24秒己到時(shí)，球還沒開始投出。

　　Deny the ball: Prevent an opponent from getting the ball by guarding him closely and staying between him and the player in possession of the ball.

　　繞前防守:球員得球時(shí)防止對手通過近身防守得球或擋在他中間。

　　Double dribble: A violation in which a player dribbles the ball, stops, then begins to dribble again.

　　兩次運(yùn)球:球員運(yùn)球，停止，接著叉開始二次運(yùn)球?yàn)榉敢?guī)。

　　Double-team: The defensive tactic of two players guarding one.

　　兩人防守:二打一的防守戰(zhàn)術(shù)。

　　Downtown: Far from the basket, often synonymous with beyond the three-point arc.

　　中場:距籃筐較遠(yuǎn)的地方，通常意味著三分線之外的地方。

　　Draft: The annual selection process by which NBA teams select players from the colleges and elsewhere. Dribble: Bounce the ball.

　　新秀選拔:每年一次NBA球隊(duì)會(huì)從大學(xué)或其他地區(qū)選拔球員。

　　Dunk: A shot thrown downward through the basket, with one or two hands. Also: slam, slam-dunk, jam.

　　運(yùn)球:拍球。

　　Fast break: A play in which a team gains possession and then pushes the ball downcourt quickly, hoping to get a good shot off before the other team has a chance to get back and set up on defense.

　　灌籃:直接穿透籃筐的投球，可以一只手或兩只手。

　　Field goal: A basket, worth either two or three points, depending on whether it was taken from inside or outside the three-point line (set at 22 feet from the basket).

　　快攻:球隊(duì)控球時(shí)的一種打法�？厍蚝蟀亚蜓杆賯骰睾蟀雸�，希望在另一隊(duì)回防前能得到一次好的投球機(jī)會(huì)，然后重新防守。

　　Flagrant foul: Unnecessary and/or excessive contact committed against an opponent.

　　投籃命中:兩分或三分球，取決于是在三分線以內(nèi)還是以外投籃距離籃筐(三分線22英尺)。

　　Foul: A violation. Usually, illegal contact between two players.

　　惡意犯規(guī):與對于不必要的或者過度接觸。

　　Foul trouble: When a player is nearing the limit for personal fouls before he is ejected from the game, or a team is nearing the limit in each period after which all fouls become shooting fouls.

　　犯規(guī):違例。通常指兩球員間非法接觸。

　　Free agent: A player not under contract to any NBA team because his contract has expired or was terminated by his team in accordance with NBA waiver procedures, or because he was eligible for an NBA Draft and was never signed to an NBA contract.

　　犯規(guī)麻煩:指一個(gè)球員個(gè)人犯規(guī)次數(shù)快要達(dá)到底限而快要不能繼續(xù)比賽，或者指每一節(jié)中球隊(duì)所有犯規(guī)都變成打于犯規(guī)，球隊(duì)'快要面臨底限。

　　Free throw: An uncontested shot from 15 feet, worth one point. A player who is fouled while in the act of shooting receives two free throws. Also: foul shot.

　　自由人:沒有與任何NBA球隊(duì)簽約的球員，因?yàn)樗�的合約已經(jīng)到期或者由于球隊(duì)為了與NBA豁免流程相一致而被球隊(duì)終止比賽，或者因?yàn)樗�可能在NBA選秀中被選上，也可能再也不與NBA簽約。

　　Frontcourt: A team's offensive half of the court. As it refers to players, a team's center and forwards.

　　罰球:距籃筐15英尺罰球線的無競爭的投籃，值一分。當(dāng)球員阻止二分技籃犯規(guī)時(shí)會(huì)被兩次罰球。

　　Give-and-go: A fundamental play in which one player passes to a teammate, then cuts to the basket to receive a return pass for an open layupor dunk.

　　前場:球隊(duì)進(jìn)攻的半場。同樣的也指隊(duì)里的中鋒和前鋒。

　　Goaltending: A violation in which a player interferes with a shot while the ball is on its downward arc, pins it against the backboard or touches it while it is in an imaginary cylinder above the basket; may be committed by either an offensive or defensive player.

　　傳切戰(zhàn)術(shù):一種最基本的戰(zhàn)術(shù)。指一名球員將球傳給隊(duì)友，接著切入籃球來獲得空位回傳或是灌籃的機(jī)會(huì)。

　　Gunner: A frequent shooter.

　　干擾投籃得分:違例。指當(dāng)球在后半場時(shí)球員干擾投球，不讓球靠近籃板，或者當(dāng)球在籃筐上方時(shí)觸碰到球;進(jìn)攻隊(duì)員和防守隊(duì)員都可能因此被罰。

　　Hand-checking: A violation in which a defender uses his hand to impede a player's progress.

　　打手犯規(guī):違例。指防守隊(duì)員用于阻擋球員運(yùn)球。

　　Hang time: The amount of time a player can stay in the air while attempting a shot.

　　騰空時(shí)間:指球員在投球時(shí)在空中停留的時(shí)間。

　　High post: The area around the free throw circle.

　　高位:罰球弧附近。

　　Hook shot: A shot taken with a sweeping, hooking motion. May be taken stationary or while running.

　　勾手投籃:指下擺，勾手動(dòng)作的投籃�？赡苁钦局�投也可能是跑著投。

　　Hoop: Basket or rim. Also slang for playing basketball.

　　籃圈:籃筐或架子。同樣也是打籃球的俚語。

　　J: jump shot.

　　跳球:當(dāng)雙方球隊(duì)的球員得到同步控球，裁判喊停。在球隊(duì)重新部署后，他把球傳到兩個(gè)準(zhǔn)備傳球的球員中間。

　　Jump ball: When players from opposing teams gain simultaneous possession of the ball, the referee stops play. After the teams are realigned, he tosses the ball up between those two players, who attempt to tap it to a teammate.

　　勾手跳投:起跳時(shí)的勾子投球，因?yàn)楹茈y防守，所以在個(gè)子高的球員中特別流行。

　　Jump hook: A hook shot taken while jumping, popular among big men because it is difficult to block.

　　跳投:球員跳起后在空中的投籃。

　　Jump shot: A shot taken after a player jumps in the air.

　　罰球區(qū):每個(gè)籃筐附近在投籃線和底線內(nèi)的劃線區(qū)域，在球員罰球線外。同時(shí)也稱做鑰匙，因?yàn)樵缙谕ǖ蓝际氰�匙形狀的，經(jīng)過兩次拓寬以后才變成現(xiàn)在的長方形。

　　Lane: The painted area between the end line and the free-throw line near each basket, outside which players line up for free throws. Also known as the key, because in the early years it was key-shaped. It was twice widened to its present rectangular shape.

　　空球犯規(guī):指兩隊(duì)同時(shí)沒有控球，卻同時(shí)開始回防。

　　Loose-ball foul: A foul committed while neither team has possession of the ball, as while going for a rebound.

　　抽簽:季后賽球隊(duì)在第一輪選秀中決定順序的步驟。

　　Lottery: The process that determines the order of selection, among the non-playoff teams， in the first round of the draft.

　　低位:籃筐兩側(cè)，靠近罰球線的部分。

　　Low post: The area at the base of the foul lane to either side of the basket.

　　籃網(wǎng): 15-18英寸(約0.3 8-0.46米)長的細(xì)繩掛在籃筐架下面。

　　Net: The cord, 15 to 18 inches long , that hangs from the rim of the basket.

　　第一傳:通常指在中場附近，從隊(duì)友手里接過籃板球繼續(xù)傳球，然后開始快攻。

　　Outlet pass: A pass thrown by a player after getting a rebound to a teammate, generally near midcourt, to start a fast break.

　　每節(jié)超過四次犯規(guī):超過了固定的罰球次數(shù)。每隊(duì)每節(jié)可以四次犯規(guī)，罰球不算。除了他們阻止對于進(jìn)球犯規(guī)。在四次犯規(guī)后，球隊(duì)會(huì)被告知"每節(jié)超過四次犯規(guī)"并且隨后的犯規(guī)都會(huì)被罰球。

　　Over the limit: Beyond a given number of fouls. Each team is allowed four fouls per quarter for which no free throws are assessed (unless they are committed against players in the act of shooting ); after four fouls a team is said to be "over the limit" and free throws are assessed on all subsequent fouls.

　　加時(shí):當(dāng)兩隊(duì)四節(jié)比賽結(jié)束時(shí)仍然不分勝負(fù)，比賽會(huì)延長五分鐘時(shí)間。如果在加時(shí)時(shí)間段內(nèi)仍然是平于的話，會(huì)繼續(xù)加時(shí)，直到有一方勝出為止。

　　Overtime: A five-minute extra period that is played when the game is tied after four quarters. If a game remains tied following an overtime period, another is played and another until there is a winner.

　　翻腕:在運(yùn)球時(shí)球員將手放到球下并且抱住。

　　Palming: A violation in which a player moves his hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling. Also: carrying the ball.

　　加罰狀態(tài):當(dāng)球隊(duì)每節(jié)犯規(guī)四次以上，接下來的犯規(guī)都會(huì)成為打手犯規(guī)。同時(shí)也稱為:每節(jié)超過四次犯規(guī)。

　　Penalty situation: When a team has committed more than its allotted four fouls per quarter and thus each subsequent foul becomes a shooting foul. Also: Over the limit.

　　搶位:進(jìn)攻隊(duì)員站好固定位置給隊(duì)友投球機(jī)會(huì)，防止防守隊(duì)員防住投手。如果這個(gè)"擋拆"的球員不是站著不動(dòng)的，并且與防守隊(duì)員發(fā)生接觸，這樣就是進(jìn)攻犯規(guī)，并且他的球隊(duì)失去控球權(quán)。

　　Pick: When an offensive player frees a teammate for a shot by establishing a stationary position that prevents a defensive player from guarding the shooter. If the player who is "setting a pick" is not stationary and contact is made with a defender, it is an offensive foul and his team loses possession of the ball. Also: screen.

　　擋拆:進(jìn)攻隊(duì)員搶位后，接著跑到籃筐下，然后從隊(duì)友那接過來傳球得到投球空位。

　　Pivot: The area near the basket, generally where the center operates, or the act of changing directions, by keeping one foot planted on the ground while stepping in one or more directions with the other foot.

　　籃底或籃下:籃筐附近區(qū)域，通常是中鋒打球的位置，或者是通過一只腳固定在地面，用另一只腳改變一個(gè)或更多方向。

　　Player-control foul: An offensive foul that is committed not when a player is shooting, but just when his team is in control of the ball.

　　犯規(guī)時(shí)非正在投球:當(dāng)球員正在投球，但是恰好該隊(duì)正在控球的進(jìn)攻犯規(guī)�？厍蚝笮l(wèi):通常是指球隊(duì)主要的控球手，并且組織球隊(duì)進(jìn)攻。

　　Point guard: Usually a team's primary ballhandler and the man who sets up the team's offense.

　　大前鋒:每隊(duì)兩個(gè)前鋒中的更高大的那個(gè)，職責(zé)包括搶籃板和得分。

　　Pump fake: A fake in which a player motions as if he is going to shoot the ball but holds back, hoping his defender will jump out of position.

　　假動(dòng)作:可能他看起來要投球但是卻把球收回來，這樣希望防守他的隊(duì)員可以跳出自己的位置，一種假象。

　　Quadruple-double: An extremely rare (it's only happened four times in NBA history) achievement in which a player accumulates doubles figures in four of the following categories in the same game: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

　　四雙:極少見的成績，在NBA歷史上只發(fā)生過四次。是指球員在下面這些情況中有四項(xiàng)積分都是兩位數(shù):得分，籃板，助功，搶斷和蓋帽。

　　Rejection: A blocked shot.

　　搶籃板:聚集到籃下，投籃未中后搶控球權(quán);收回未中的投籃球權(quán)。

　　Sag: A defensive tactic in which a player drops off his man to help double-team a player in the pivot.

　　協(xié)防:一種防守戰(zhàn)術(shù)。球員放棄自己防守的隊(duì)員來幫助在中線的隊(duì)友。

　　Salary Cap: Common term for Maximum Team Salary, the maximum amount each team may pay in salaries during an NBA season, as per teams of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

　　工資上限:常見的球隊(duì)工資上限——即在NBA賽季時(shí)每支球隊(duì)的最大工資總額。像每支球隊(duì)的工資條款中所列明的一樣。

　　Set shot: A shot taken while a player has both feet on the floor in a set position. Common in basketball's early years, it is now all but extinct, having given way to the harder-to-block jump shot.

　　定點(diǎn)投籃:指球員兩腳著地以一種固定姿勢投籃。通常是在籃球的早期，現(xiàn)在幾乎沒有，早已敗給不容易被蓋帽的跳投。

　　Sixth man: A team' s primary reserve, the first substitute to enter a game.

　　第六人:球隊(duì)最重要的后備，參加比賽的第一替補(bǔ)。

　　Sky-hook: A hook shot in which the ball is released while the shooter's hand is at the top of the arc; used most effectively by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA' s all-time career scoring leader.

　　大勾手:指當(dāng)投于的子在句于投籃的最高點(diǎn)時(shí);在卡里姆·阿卡杜·賈巴爾身上用的最多，他被公認(rèn)為是NBA球壇上得分領(lǐng)袖。

　　Skywalk: The ability to move laterally while in the air.

　　天空漫步:在空中時(shí)能橫向移動(dòng)。

　　Steal: To take the ball away from the opposing team, either off the dribble or by picking off a pass.

　　搶斷:把球從對方球隊(duì)中搶走，或者在運(yùn)球時(shí)搶斷或者再傳球時(shí)搶斷。

　　Switch: When teammates exchange defensive assignments during play.

　　交換:隊(duì)員們在比賽中交換防守位置。

　　Technical foul: The penalty for a violation of conduct, such as abusive language or fighting. Each technical foul awards a free throw to the opposing team and also means an automatic fine for the player who commits the violation.

　　技術(shù)犯規(guī):對于例如粗話、打架等違例的行為的懲罰。每個(gè)技術(shù)犯規(guī)會(huì)給對方球隊(duì)帶來一個(gè)罰球，同時(shí)對那個(gè)犯規(guī)的球員也必然意味著懲罰。

　　Three-point shot: A field goal worth three points, taken from beyond an arc that is 22 feet from the basket.

　　三分球:距籃筐22英尺(約合6.7米)的地方，邊線外技中的球值三分。

　　Three-second violation: An offensive player may not stand in the lane for three seconds.

　　三秒違例:進(jìn)攻球員在禁區(qū)內(nèi)不允許停留三秒。

　　360: To elude a defender by doing a complete spin, making a 360-degree turn.

　　360:通過完成旋轉(zhuǎn)，轉(zhuǎn)了360度的圈來擺脫防守隊(duì)員。

　　Tip-in: To tip a missed shot into the basket.

　　補(bǔ)籃:把沒有投中的球補(bǔ)到籃筐里。

　　Trailer: An offensive player who trails on a fast break but often is in good position to score after the first wave of defenders goes by.

　　拖手:進(jìn)攻隊(duì)員防住第一個(gè)快攻，但是經(jīng)常是在第一輪防守過后以好位置投球得分。

　　Transition: The movement from offense to defense, or vice versa, when the ball changes hands.

　　攻守轉(zhuǎn)換:當(dāng)球權(quán)發(fā)生變化時(shí)球員從進(jìn)攻到防守的變化，或者是反過來。

　　Traveling: A violation in which a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball. Also: walking.

　　走步:違例。指球員沒有運(yùn)球而且走了很多步。

　　Triple-double: A relatively rare achievement in which a player accumulates double figures in three of the following categories in the same game: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

　　三雙:很少能達(dá)到的成績。指球員在如下幾項(xiàng)內(nèi)容里有三項(xiàng)都累計(jì)到兩位數(shù):得分，籃板，輔助，搶斷和蓋帽。

　　Turnover: Loss of ball, either through an errant pass or dribble or an offensive foul.

　　失誤:投球失誤，原因可能是傳球失誤，運(yùn)球失誤或者進(jìn)攻犯規(guī)。

　　Veteran free agent: A player who completes his contractual obligation to his team and becomes free to sign with any NBA team, as per terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

　　自由球員:完成了球隊(duì)里的合約，球員可以隨便跟任何一支NBA球隊(duì)簽合約，如勞資協(xié)定里的條例規(guī)定。

　　Zone: A defensive tactic in which players guard areas of the court, rather than specific men. IIIegal in the NBA.