美国语文第四册 第108期:善意(3)

 　　By Thomas's side works another boy, whom we will call James,—a lad of only ordinary capacity, very likely. 托马斯身边还有一个男孩，就称他詹姆斯吧，他很可能才能一般。

　　If Thomas and all the other boys did their best, there would be but small chance for James ever to become eminent¹. 如果托马斯和别的男孩子全力以赴，詹姆斯变得杰出的机会微乎其微。

　　But he has something better than talent: he brings good will to his work. 但是他具有比才智更好的品质：他带着善意工作。

　　Whatever he learns, he learns so well that it becomes a part of himself. 无论学什么，他都学得很好，并且与所学的知识融为一体。

　　His employers find that they can depend upon him. Customers soon learn to like and trust him. 雇主们发现可以信赖吉姆。客户们很快开始喜欢和信任他。

　　By diligence, self-culture, good habits, cheerful and kindly² conduct, he is laying the foundation of a generous manhood and a genuine success. 通过勤奋、自我培养、良好的习惯、热情亲切的行为，他正在为具有慷慨的人格和真正的成功奠定良好的基础。

　　In short, boys, by slighting your tasks you hurt yourself more than you wrong your employer. 总之，孩子们，如果轻视工作，你不但无法公正地对待雇主，而且更多地伤害了自己。

　　By honest service you benefit yourself more than you help him. 通过诚实服务，你让雇主受益，也更多地让自己受益。

　　If you were aiming at mere³ worldly advancement⁴ only, I should still say that good will was the very best investment you could make in business. 即使你的目标仅仅是物质上的成就，我仍然要说，善意是你对事业唯一最好的投资。

　　By cheating a customer, you gain only a temporary and unreal advantage. 欺骗客户，你得到的只是暂时的利益，这是不真实的。

　　By serving him with right good will,—doing by him as you would be done by, you not only secure his confidence but also his good will in return. 但是如果带着善意服务客户，将心比心，你不但可以赢得客户的信任，而且还能得到客户的善意回报。

　　But this is a sordid⁵ consideration compared with the inward satisfaction, the glow and expansion of soul which attend a good action done for itself alone. 但是与获得内心的满足，心灵的喜悦和充实相比，这种考虑确是微不足道的，伴随每个善行的心灵的喜悦和充实是没有他求的。

　　If I were to sum up all I have to say to you in one last word of love and counsel, that one word should be—Good will. 如果要我用一个词总结我对你们说的关于爱和关心的话，这个词就是——善意。

1 eminent   

adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的

参考例句：

• We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
• He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

5 sordid   

adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
• They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。