学习英文谚语，了解西方文化(2)
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(6)There is truth in wine. 东方与西方在“酒后吐真言”这一点上达到了惊人的共识。人们在清醒的时候可以将谎言编造得天衣无缝，却在酒后的魅惑下显出了原形，酒是人类得意的创造，但不少人却屡屡被酒类驯服，在它的面前丑态百出。这就像一个人设下陷阱，自己却不幸落入其中，难以自拔。 e.g. A: Listen, Julia! You may not believe it, but it did happen! Yesterday, after several glasses of beer,Peter told me he's been wanting to marry me for quite some time but just didn't have enoughcourage to say so. B: Oh, how could it be so dramatic? Congratulations then! There is truth in wine! (7)Great oaks from little acorns grow. 请注意，这是“Great oaks grow from little acorns ”的倒装句。他是橡树，在英语中，橡树是力量的象征 acorn 是橡子，再大的橡树也是从小小的种子开始发芽、成长的，任何事物的发展都有个由少到多、由小到大逐渐积累的过程。 e. g .We have just heard a marvelous performance. She is sure to become a great pianist. Great oaks from little acorns grow, as the saying goes. (8)Many a little makes a mickle. mickle 一词现今只存在于苏格兰语中，意思是：a good quantity or amount 。 这一句与上一句有相通之处，都有“ 积少成多” 的意味。综观二者，不禁令人想起苟子《劝学》中传诵千古的名句：“不积跬步，无以至千里；不积小流，无以成江海。联骥一跃，不能十步，驾马十驾，功在不舍。”细细品味，实有异曲同工之妙。 e.g. No matter how little you've learned, keep on learning and absorbing. Many a little makes a mickle, you are sure to achieve more. (9) Man proposes, God disposes 这个说法最早见于 14 世纪，起初以“If man proposes evil, God disposes of it”。的形式出现，意思是上帝会阻止想要为恶的人。这里的God既可以指上帝，又可以指天意。就像我们常说的“尽人事，听天命”、“谋事在人，成事在天”一样，尽力而为之后，还要顺从自然的规律。毕竟，人类是自然的一部分，凡事皆不可强求，与自然的和谐是人类的生存之本。 e.g. A: Bob, how about tomorrow's driving test? Sure to pass ,huh? B: I don't how. I've done enough, I'd say. Anyway，man proposes, God disposes I am praying for good luck. (10) It is a sin to steal a pin. 该句的字面意思是：即使是偷一根针也是一种罪过。还记得那句古训吗？“勿以恶小而为之，勿以善小而不为。”冀望之切，溢于言表。不要因为犯的是小错就可以听之任之。 e.g.Honesty is the best policy.Never covet what is not yours, for it is a sin to steal a pin. |
