英语名篇诵读 独立思考

Think for Ourselves

独立思考

Carl Sagan(卡尔·萨根)

If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling¹ to question authority, then we're just putty

注 in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions,

then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the

scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency² ,

humility³ and community spirit . In the demon⁴ -haunted world that we inhabit by virtue⁵ of

注 being human, this may be all that stands between us and the enveloping⁶ darkness.

如果我们不能独立思考，如果我们不愿向权威提出质疑，那么我们就只能任由当权者

摆布。但是如果公民们接受到教育，有主见，那么当权者就会为我们服务。在每个国家，

我们都应该将科学的方法和《人权法案》的道理传授给每个儿童，以使他们通情达理，培

养起他们的谦恭态度和团队精神。生而为人，我们生活在善与恶共存的世界里，独立的思

考将把我们与笼罩一切的黑暗隔开。

1 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

2 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

3 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

4 demon   

n.魔鬼，恶魔

参考例句：

• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
• He has been possessed by the demon of disease for years.他多年来病魔缠身。

5 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

6 enveloping   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. 那眼睛总是死死盯着你，那声音总是紧紧围着你。 来自英汉文学
• The only barrier was a mosquito net, enveloping the entire bed. 唯一的障碍是那顶蚊帐罩住整个床。 来自辞典例句