1、英语名篇名段背诵 1 1. Life is a chess board.The chess-board is the world: the pieces are the phenomena of the universe; the rules of the game are what we call the laws of nature. The player on the other side is hidden from us. We know that his play is always fair, just and patient. But also we know, to our
2、cost, that he never overlooks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance.By Thomas Henry Huxley棋盘宛如世界:一个个棋子仿佛世间的种种现象:游戏规则就是我们所称的自然法则。竞争对手藏于暗处,不为我们所见。我们知晓,这位对手向来处事公平,正义凛然,极富耐心。然而,我们也明白,这位对手从不忽视任何错误,或者因为我们的无知而做出一丝让步,所以我们也必须为此付出代价。2. Best of times.It was the best of times, it was the wors
3、t 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;
4、 we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.这是一个最好的时代,也是一个最坏的时代;这是明智的年代,这是愚昧的年代;这是信任的纪元,这是怀疑的纪元;这是光明的季节,这是黑暗的季节;这是希望的春日,这是失望的冬日;我们面前应有尽有,我们面前一无所有;我们都将直下地狱 3. Great ExpectationsAs the night was fast falling,and as the moon,being past the full,would not rise early,we he
5、ld a little council:a short one,for clearly our course was to lie by at the first lonely tavern we could find.So,they plied their oars once more,and I looked out for anything like a house.Thus we held on,speaking little,for four or five dull miles.It was very cold,and,a collier coming by us,with her
6、 gallery-fire smoking and flaring,looked like a comfortable home.The night was as dark by this time as it would be until morning;and what light we had,seemed to come more from the river than the sky,as the oars in their dipping stuck at a few reflected stars.天黑得很快,偏巧这天又是下弦月,月亮不会很早升起。我们就稍稍商量了一下,可是也用不
7、着多讨论,因为情况是明摆着的,再划下去我们一遇到冷落的酒店就得投宿。于是他们又使劲打起浆来,我则用心寻找岸上是否隐隐约约有什么房屋的模样。这样又赶了四五英里路,一路上好不气闷,大家简直不说一句话。天气非常冷,一艘煤船从我们近旁驶过,船上厨房里生着火,炊烟缕缕,火光荧荧,在我们看来简直就是个安乐家了。这时夜已透黑,看来就要这样一直黑到天明,我们仅有的一点光亮似乎不是来自天空,而是来自河上,一浆又一浆的,搅动着那寥寥几颗倒映在水里的寒星。4. The doer of Deeds英语名篇名段背诵 2 It is not the critic who counts,not the man who po
8、ints out how the strong man stumbles,the doer of deeds could have done them better.The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arens,whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;who stives valiantly;who errs,and comes short again and again;because there is not effort without error and s
9、hortcoming;but who does actually strive to do the deeds;who knows the great enthusiasms,the great devotions;who spends himself in a worthy cause,who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievement and who at the worst,if he fails,at least fails whiledaring greatly,so that his place sha
10、ll never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. 真正令人尊敬的并非那些评论家和那些指出强者是如何跌倒,实干家本该做得更好的人。荣誉属于那些亲临竞技场,满脸污泥,汗水和鲜血的人。他们不懈努力,他们曾犯过过错,并一再失败。因为付出即意味着犯错和失败。他们满怀激情地努力做事,执着不懈,将生命奉献于崇高的事业。他们为经过艰辛努力最终取得的伟大成就而自豪,如果失败,他们夜败的荣耀。因而,这样的人永远不应与那些不知道胜利,也从未失败过的冷淡而胆怯的灵魂相提并论。5. American drea
11、m.To Americans, industriousness, thrift and ambition are possitive values. We encourage our children to be competitive, to get ahead, to make money, to acquire possassion. In games and in business alike, the aim is to win the game, the trorphy, the contract. We go in for laboursaving devices, gadget
12、s, speed and shortcuts. We think every young couple should set up a home of their own. And we pity the couple who must share their home with their parent, let alone with other relatives. Actually, of course, not all Americans hold all these values. And those who do may hold other, and at times contr
13、adictory values that affect their ways of behaving. In the main, however, the collective expectation of our society is that these are desirable goals, and the individual, whatever his personal inclination, is under considerable pressure to conform.6. ShakespeareShakespeare is above all writers, at l
14、east above all modern writers, the poet of nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners and of life. His characters are not modified by the customs of particular places, unpractised by the rest of the world; by the peculiarities of studies or professions, which can oper
15、ate but upon small numbers; or by the accidents of transient fashions or temporary opinions: they are the genuine progeny of common humanity, such as the world will always supply, and observation will always find. His persons act and speak by the influnce of those general passions and principles by
16、which all minds are agitated, and the whole system of life is continued in motion. In the writings of other poets a character is too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.莎士比亚的才华高于一切作家,至少高于当今的所有作家。他是一位自然的诗人,他的作品将人间百态真实地展现在读者眼前。他的人物塑造并不拘泥于只为一部分人所遵循的某个特定地区的习俗,也不局限于一小部分人
17、所从事的特定的研究或职业,也不追随短暂的英语名篇名段背诵 3 潮流或暂时的思想观点:他们据有人们一贯具备的、普遍的人性特点。就像世界能永不竭地供应,眼睛能永不停地发现。他笔下人物的一言一行都受那些能够触动所有人的大众化的情感和能使整个生命体系得以延续的普遍原则所影响。在其他诗人的作品中,一个人物往往就是一个个体,而莎翁笔下的人物通常代表着一类人。 7. Heart of a stranger.The most loved place, for me, in this country has in fact been many places. It has changed throughout
18、the years, as I and my circumstances have changed.I have not really lost any of the best places from the past, though.I may no longer inhabit them, but they inhabit me, portions of memory, presences in the mind . My best place at the moment is very different, although I guess it has some of the attr
19、ibutes of that long ago place. I ve lived three summers there, writing, birdwatching, riverwatching. It is a small cedar cabin on the Otonabee river in southern Ontario. I ve lived three summers there, writing, birdwatching, riverwatching. I sometimes feel sorry for the people in speedboats who spen
20、d their weekends zinging up and down the river at about a million miles an hour. For all they re able to see, the riverbanks might just as well be green concrete and the river itself flowing with molten plastic.在这个国家里我最喜欢的地方其实一直有很多。这些年来,由于我们自己和情况的变迁,我最爱的地方也随着改变。虽然如此,过去我喜爱过的任何一个地方我并没有真正地失去它们。我或许不再居住在
21、那儿,但它们却存在于我的心里,成为我记忆中的片段,时常浮现在脑海中此刻我最喜爱的地方相当不同,但我想它仍具有和老早的那个地方(即明湖,Clear Lake)相同的某些特质。这个地方是安大略省南方奥托拿比河边的一间松木小屋。我在那儿居住了三个夏天:写作、赏鸟、观河。有时候我为那些来此地度周末,却驾着快艇以极速在河上往来呼啸的人感到难过,因为这些人看见的河岸只不过是绿色的混凝土岸,而河流本身也仿佛只是条闪亮的流动塑料。8. Thoughts in a grave yard.When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy
22、dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, even inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents of themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those who deposed them, when I consi
23、der rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hund
24、erd years ago, I consider that great when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together.墓园沉思当我瞻仰伟人的坟墓,心中所有的嫉妒顿时烟消云散;当我读到伟人的悼文,所有的非分之想顷刻消失殆尽;当我遇见在墓碑旁悲痛欲绝的父母亲,我的心中也满怀同情;当我看到那些父母亲自己的坟墓,我不禁感慨:既然我们很快都要追随逝者的脚步,悲伤又有何用。当我看到国王与那些将他们废黜的人躺在一起,当我想到那些争斗一生的智者,或是那些通过竞争和争执将世界分裂的圣人们被后人并排葬在一起
25、,我对人类的那些微不足道的竞争、内讧和争论感到震惊和悲伤。当我看到一些坟墓上的日期,有的死于昨日,而有英语名篇名段背诵 4 的死于六百年前,我不禁想到,有那么一天我们都会在同一个时代同时出现在世人眼前10. I have as much soul as you.“I tell you I must go!“ I retorted, roused to something like passion. “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?-a machine withou
26、t feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am souless and heartless? You think wrong!-I have as much soul as you,-and full as much heart! And if God had gift
27、ed me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor evern of mortal flesh;-it is my spirit that adresses your spirit; just as if both has passed t
28、hrough the grave, and we stood at Gods feet, equal,-as we are!“Excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte我的心灵跟你一样丰富“我告诉你我非走不可!”我回驳着,感情很有些冲动。 “你难道认为,我会留下来甘愿做一个对你来说无足轻重的人?你以为我是一架机器一架没有感情的机器?能够容忍别人把一口面包从我嘴里抢走,把一滴生命之水从我杯子里泼掉?难道就因为我一贫如洗、默默无闻、长相平庸、个子瘦小,就没有灵魂和心肠了?你想错了!我的心灵跟你一样丰富,我的心胸跟你一样充实!要是上帝赐予我一点姿色和财富,我
29、会使你难以离开我,就像现在我很难离开你一样。我不是根据习俗、常规,甚至也不是血肉之躯同你说话,而是我的灵魂同你的灵魂在对话,就仿佛我们两人穿过坟墓,站在上帝脚下,彼此平等,本来就如此!” 11FranknessYou must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do, on every occasion. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it, if it is
30、reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot. You would wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one. The man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates. You will
31、 find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain. There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to do one thing before a mans face and another behind his b
32、ack. We should say and do nothing to the injury of any one. It is not only a matter of principle, but also the path of peace and hornor.英语名篇名段背诵 5 By Robert E. Lee在世间必须学会以真诚示人:率真乃是诚实与勇敢之子。无论在何种场合,都应该道出自己的真实想法。如果朋友对你有所求,对于合情合理之请,应该欣然同意;不然,应该明明白白地告诉朋友拒绝的理由。任何模棱两可的话语将会让别人误解,也会使自己蒙受冤屈。千万不要为了结交朋友或者挽留友情而做
33、错一事。对你有这种要求的人也会付出沉重的代价。与同学真心相对,绝不背叛。你将发现这是最有效用的准则。总之,要以真实面目示人。如果发现某人身有瑕疵,直接告诉他你的意见,而不是诉之他人。人前一套,背后又是一套,没有什么比这更加危机四伏。任何有损他人的言语或者事情我们都应该避免。这不仅是一种做人的原则,而且也是通向平和的人际关系、获得他人尊敬之道。12. Letter to a Young FriendBy Benjamin FranklinMy dear friendI know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural inclinat
34、ion you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of man, and therefore the state in which you will find solid Happiness.Your Reason against entering into it at present appears to be not well founded. The Circumstan
35、tial Advantages you have in view by Postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that makes the complete human Being, Separate she wants his force of Body and Strength of Reason; he her So
36、ftness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the World. A single man has not nearly the value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal.He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors.If you get a prudent, health wife, your Industry in
37、 your Profession, with her good Economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.Your Affectionate Friend给年轻朋友的一封信本杰明富兰克林我知道没有药物能够消除你们所提到的那种疯狂的自然倾向;即使我知道,我想我也不该告诉你.婚姻是适当的药物。它是人类最本能的状态, 因此是一种最幸福的生活状态。你拒绝现在进入婚姻殿堂的理由显的不够充分.你认为推迟婚姻可能存在好处,不仅不一定实现,而且,那英语名篇名段背诵 6 些利益跟婚姻本身以及婚后的安定相比起来就微不足道了。男人和女人只有联合起来才能组成完整的人.女人缺乏男人的力
38、量和周密的推理,而男人缺乏女人的温柔、感性和敏锐的洞察力。因此当男人和女人联合起来。就能够无往不胜。单身和离婚生活的男男女女不可能具有婚姻生活中的价值,是一种不完善的动物。他简直好比半把剪刀-孤掌难鸣。如果你拥有一位健康而谨慎的妻子,你的辛勤工作,加上她的勤俭节约,必定会创造充足的财富。您真挚的朋友 13. Love your life.By Henry David Thoreau 亨利大卫梭罗However mean your life is,meet it and live it ;do not shun it and call it hard names.It is not so bad
39、 as you are.It looks poorest when you are richest.The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise.Love your life,poor as it is.You may perhaps have some pleasant,thrilling,glorious hourss,even in a poor-house.The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the
40、rich mans abode;the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there,and have as cheering thoughts,as in a palace.The towns poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any.May be they are simply great enough to receive with
41、out misgiving.Most think that they are above being supported by the town;but it often happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means.which should be more disreputable.Cultivate poverty like a garden herb,like sage.Do not trouble yourself much to get new things,whether cloth
42、es or friends,Turn the old,return to them.Things do not change;we change.Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.不论你的生活如何卑贱,你要面对它生活,不要躲避它,更别用恶言咒骂它。它不像你那样坏。你最富有的时候,倒是看似最穷。爱找缺点的人就是到天堂里也能找到缺点。你要爱你的生活,尽管它贫穷。甚至在一个济贫院里,你也还有愉快、高兴、光荣的时候。夕阳反射在济贫院的窗上,像身在富户人家窗上一样光亮;在那门前,积雪同在早春融化。我只看到,一个从容的人,在哪里也像在皇宫中一样,生活得心满意
43、足而富有愉快的思想。城镇中的穷人,我看,倒往往是过着最独立不羁的生活。也许因为他们很伟大,所以受之无愧。大多数人以为他们是超然的,不靠城镇来支援他们;可是事实上他们是往往利用了不正当的手段来对付生活,他们是毫不超脱的,毋宁是不体面的。视贫穷如园中之花而像圣人一样耕植它吧!不要找新的花样,无论是新的朋友或新的衣服,来麻烦你自己。找旧的,回到那里去。万物不变,是我们在变。你的衣服可以卖掉,但要保留你的思想。 14. Build Me a Sonby General Douglas A. MacArthur Build me a son, Lord, who will be strong enoug
44、h to know when he is weak, and brave enough to 英语名篇名段背诵 7 face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. 啊,上帝,请给我造就这样一个儿子,他将坚强足以认识自己的弱点,勇敢得足以面对恐惧,在遇到正当的挫折时能够昂首而不卑躬屈膝,在胜利时能谦逊而不趾高气扬。 Build me a son whose wishbone will not be wher
45、e his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. 请给我造就这样一个儿子,他不会用愿望代替行动,将牢记你的教诲认识自己是认识世界的奠基石。 Lead him I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stan
46、d up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. 我祈求,请不要把他引上平静安逸的道路,而要把他置于困难和挑战的考验和激励之下,让他学会在暴风雨中挺立,让他学会对那些失败者富于怜悯。 ll be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep;
47、one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. 请给我造就这样一个儿子,他将心地洁净,目标高尚;他将在征服别人之前先征服自己,他将拥有未来,但永远不忘记过去。 And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he ma
48、y always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. 我祈求,除了上述的一切,请赐他足够的幽默感,这样他可以永远庄重,但不至于盛气凌人;赋他以谦卑的品质,这样他可能永远铭记在心:真正的伟人也要真诚率直,真正的贤人也要虚怀若谷,真正的强者也要温文尔雅。Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper “I have not lived in vain“. 那么,作为他父亲的我就将敢于对人低语:
49、“我这一生没有白过。 ” 15. The pleasant family. 幸福的家庭When in an hour they crowded into a cab to go home, I strolled idly to my club. I was perhaps a little lonely, and it was with a touch of envy that I thought of the pleasant family life of which I had had a glimpse. They seemed devoted to one another. They had little private jokes of their own 英语名篇名段背诵 8 which, unintelligible to the outsider, amused them enormously. Perhaps Charles Strickland was dull judged by a standard that demanded above all things verbal scintillation; but his intelligence was adequate to