西洋幽默语录(之一百一十七)
马克吐温 (TWAIN,
Mark), 1835-1882
美国幽默作家和智者
There are many humorous things in the world: among them the white man’s
notion that he is less savage than the other savages.
世界上有很多幽默的事: 白种人认为他们比其他野蛮人较少野蛮的观念就是其中之一.
There are many scapegoats for our sins, but the most popular is
Providence.
对於我们的罪有很多代罪羔羊, 但最常用的是造物者.
There are no people who are quite so vulgar as the over-refined ones.
讲到粗俗下流, 没有比极度风雅的人仕更甚的了.
There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is
cowardice.
有许多好的保障可以避开诱惑, 但最有效的是胆小.
There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate: when
he can’t afford it, and when he can.
人的一生有两次不应投机的时候: 当他没能力去做, 和当他有能力做时.
There is a lot to say in her favour, but the other is more interesting.
有很多讲她的好活, 但其他的比较有趣.
There is no use in walking five miles to fish when you can depend on
being just as unsuccessful near home.
走五里路去钓鱼也是无济於事的, 当你在家附近一样钓不成功的时候.
There’s always something about your success that displeases even your
best friend.
关於你的成功, 常有一些东西会令人不高兴, 即使是你最要好的朋友.
To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know
because I’ve done it a thousand times.
戒烟是我做过最容易的一件事; 我应该知道,因为我已经戒了一千次.
To eat is human; to digest, divine.
吃是人性; 消化是神与的.
Truth is stranger than fiction; fiction is obliged to stick to
possibilities, truth isn’t.
真实较虚构还奇怪; 虚构得不离可能性, 真实却不必.
Virtue has never been as respectable as money.
道德从不曾像金钱那样受尊敬.
Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.
水, 喝得适中,
是不会伤身的.
What a good thing Adam had – when he said a good thing, he knew nobody
had said it before.
做阿当多好 – 当他说一句好话, 他知道在这之前没人说过.
What a man misses mostly in heaven is company.
在天堂一个人最想念的是同伴.
When in doubt, tell the truth.
当有怀疑, 讲真话.
Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? Is it
because we are not the person concerned?
为什么我们对一个新生命的诞生感到喜悦, 对一个葬礼感到悲哀? 是否因为我们不是当事人?
When a man’s dog turns against him it is time for a wife to pack her
trunk and go home to mama.
当狗反咬男主人, 也就是他太太收拾细软回娘家的时候了.
Principles have no real force except one is well fed.
原则要吃饱了才有力量.
When I speak my native tongue in its utmost purity in England, an
Englishman can’t understand me at all.
当我在英国以最纯正的当地话讲话时, 就连一个英国人也完全听不懂.
西格立安谢 (UNDSET,
Sigrid),1882-1949
挪威小说家
He was not made of climbing the tree of knowledge.
他天生不是攀爬知识之树的料.
