第683期:英语美文-Turningan Iron Rod into a Needle

 今天再次读到这个故事，不由得满满的感慨。但不一样的是，今天讲述的是这个“铁杵磨成针”从另外的角度让我们学会更加客观地看待“坚持”二字。

New Words:

persistence¹ n.坚持; 锲而不舍;

persist in 坚持;

persistent² adj.不屈不挠的; 坚持不懈的;

embroidery³ n.绣花;刺绣品;

endurance n.忍耐力; 耐久力;

pay off 取得成功，得到好结果，赢利;

Once there was mother who taught her son:

从前有个妈妈教训她的儿子说：

Persistence is the basis of success. Anything can be accomplished⁴ so long as you seriously persist
in doing it.

有恒心为成功之本，凡事只要坚持认真去做必能得到成果。

So long as you are persistent, even a big iron rod can be turned into a small needle for embroidery.

只要有恒心，铁杵也能磨成绣花针。

Twenty years later...

二十年后

Look! The iron rod is now a needle. This proves that so long as there is endurance there is no ambitious goal that cannot be reached.

瞧!铁杵磨成针证明只要有毅力没有任何事不能达成。

You invested your valuable years of youth, but your only accomplishment⁵ is a small needle.

但成果只是一根绣花针，失去的却是整个青春。

There is nothing wrong with turning an iron rod into a needle, but a small return on a major investment does not pay off.

铁杵磨针固然没错，但用功既重所期甚轻,失去的比得到的还多。

1 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

2 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

3 embroidery   

n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品

参考例句：

• This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品，使人惊叹不已。
• This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。