第一篇：推薦十篇英文哲理故事

生活的迷茫、職場的緊張有時候會壓得你喘不過氣來，為大家推薦英文哲理故事，有空可以看看喔！

第一篇：A Goodbye Kiss

推薦理由：

我們每個人都有過那樣的時代，開始想要拒絕父母，想要成為自己，只是在那個年齡我們不曾意識到，無論怎樣我們都是父母眼里永遠的孩子，需要疼愛需要呵護。

一個不美滿的結局，一個永不可能實現的心愿，一個父親偉大的心，一個兒子深切的懺悔。

很感人，很動人，幾乎讓人流淚。

The Board Meeting had come to an end.Bob started to stand up and jostled the table, spilling his coffee over his notes.“How embarrassing.I am getting so clumsy in my old age.”

The Board Meeting had come to an end.Bob started to stand up and jostled the table, spilling his coffee over his notes.“How embarrassing.I am getting so clumsy in my old age.”

Everyone had a good laugh, and soon we were all telling stories of our most embarrassing moments.It came around to Frank who sat quietly listening to the others.Someone said, “Come on, Frank.Tell us your most embarrassing moment.”

Frank laughed and began to tell us of his childhood.“I grew up in San Pedro.My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea.He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea.He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family.Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.”

Frank laughed and began to tell us of his childhood.“I grew up in San Pedro.My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea.He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea.He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family.Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.”

He looked at us and said, “I wish you could have met my Dad.He was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch.When you got close to him, he smelled like the ocean.He would wear his old canvas, foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls.His rain hat would be pulled down over his brow.No matter how much my Mother washed them, they would still smell of the sea and of fish.”

He looked at us and said, “I wish you could have met my Dad.He was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch.When you got close to him, he smelled like the ocean.He would wear his old canvas, foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls.His rain hat would be pulled down over his brow.No matter how much my Mother washed them, they would still smell of the sea and of fish.”

Frank‘s voice dropped a bit.“When the weather was bad he would drive me to school.He had this old truck that he used in his fishing business.That truck was older than he was.It would wheeze and rattle down the road.You could hear it coming for blocks.As he would drive toward the school,I would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear.Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch a cloud of smoke.He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching.Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy.It was so embarrassing for me.Here, I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye!”

Frank‘s voice dropped a bit.“When the weather was bad he would drive me to school.He had this old truck that he used in his fishing business.That truck was older than he was.It would wheeze and rattle down the road.You could hear it coming for blocks.As he would drive toward the school,I would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear.Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch a cloud of smoke.He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching.Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy.It was so embarrassing for me.Here, I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye!”

He paused and then went on, “I remember the day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss.When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile.He started to lean toward me, but I put my hand up and said, ‘No, Dad.‘

He paused and then went on, ”I remember the day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss.When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile.He started to lean toward me, but I put my hand up and said, ‘No, Dad.‘

It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face.It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face.I said, ‘Dad, I‘m too old for a goodbye kiss.I‘m too old for any kind of kiss.‘

I said, ‘Dad, I‘m too old for a goodbye kiss.I‘m too old for any kind of kiss.‘

My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up.I had never seen him cry.He turned and looked out the windshield.‘You‘re right,‘ he said.‘You are a big boy....a man.I won‘t kiss you anymore.‘“

My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up.I had never seen him cry.He turned and looked out the windshield.‘You‘re right,‘ he said.‘You are a big boy....a man.I won‘t kiss you anymore.‘”

Frank got a funny look on his face, and the tears began to well up in his eyes, as he spoke.“It wasn‘t long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back.It was a day when most of the fleet stayed in, but not Dad.He had a big family to feed.They found his boat adrift with its nets half in and half out.He must have gotten into a gale and was trying to save the nets and the floats.”

Frank got a funny look on his face, and the tears began to well up in his eyes, as he spoke.“It wasn‘t long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back.It was a day when most of the fleet stayed in, but not Dad.He had a big family to feed.They found his boat adrift with its nets half in and half out.He must have gotten into a gale and was trying to save the nets and the floats.”

I looked at Frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks.Frank spoke again.“Guys, you don‘t know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek....to feel his rough old face....to smell the ocean on him....to feel his arm around my neck.I wish I had been a man then.If I had been a man, I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.”

I looked at Frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks.Frank spoke again.“Guys, you don‘t know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek....to feel his rough old face....to smell the ocean on him....to feel his arm around my neck.I wish I had been a man then.If I had been a man, I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.”

-Bishop Thomas Charles Clary

第二篇：The Bridge Keeper

推薦理由：

類似的故事看過不少，可是仍然沒有辦法不揪心。眼睜睜地看著四歲的兒子消失在眼前，對于一個父親來說，最痛苦的事莫過于此。可是誰能給他不犧牲的理由？

短小精悍，也很容易懂。

There was once a bridge which spanned a large river.During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass thru freely on both sides of the bridge.But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river, allowing a train to cross it.A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed.One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off into the distance thru the dimming twilight and caught sight of the trainlights.He stepped to the control and waited until the train was within a prescribed distance when he was to turn the bridge.He turned the bridge into position, but, to his horror, he found the locking control did not work.If the bridge was not securely in position it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river.This would be a passenger train with many people aboard.He left the bridge turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a lever switch he could hold to operate the lock manually.He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train crossed.He could hear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge.He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked.Many lives depended on this man‘s strength.Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold.“Daddy, where are you?” His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him.His first impulse was to cry out to the child, “Run!Run!” But the train was too close;the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time.The man almost left his lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety.But he realized that he could not get back to the lever.Either the people on the train or his little son must die.He took a moment to make his decision.The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train.Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed.They did not see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked: to tell his wife how their son had brutally died.Now if you comprehend the emotions which went this man‘s heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when He sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life.Can there be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How does He feel when we speed along thru life without giving a thought to what was done for us thru Jesus Christ?

第三篇：The House of 1000 Mirrors(Japanese folktale)

推薦理由：

生活就是一面鏡子，你對它微笑，它也對你微笑；你對它哭泣，它也對你哭泣。

可能有些老套。但是這是英文版的。

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors.A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit.When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house.He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could.To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his.He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly.As he left the House, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place.I will come back and visit it often.” In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house.He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door.When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him.As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”

All the faces in the world are mirrors.What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

As Told by Chris P.Cash

第四篇：Forgiveness

推薦理由：

這篇故事里，一個父親，不僅原諒了殺害兒子的兇手，而且希望能收兇手為養子，讓他做自己的繼承人。

再不可思議的事情，也有它的理由。

如果連這都可以原諒，那么這世間再沒有任何事讓你記恨。

讓更多人來感受一顆博大寬容的心吧。

A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed:

You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously.As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something very important to say to you.I forgive you.With all my heart, I forgive you.I realize it may be hard for you to believe, but I really do.At your trial, when you confessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart.I can only hope you believe me and will accept my forgiveness.But this is not all I have to say to you.I want to make you an offer--I want you to become my adopted child.You see, my Son who died was my only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you.This may not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer.I have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed.At that point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches.I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you--you might be tempted to reject my offer completely--but I make it to you without reservation.Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in my heart for you.Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth.Nothing could be further from the truth.If I can forgive you for your part in my Son‘s death, I can forgive you for anything.I know you never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer.Besides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that your primary(though not always)response will be gratitude and loyalty.Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father.Sincerely,The Father of Jesus

第五篇：He Never Missed a Game

Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had.But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere.At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship.Even though the son was always On the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering.He never missed a game.This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school.But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn‘t want to.But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he‘d get to play when he became a senior.All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years.His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on.” Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did.The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game.It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram.The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father died this morning.Is it all right if I miss practice today?” The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son.And don‘t even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.”

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.In the third quarter,when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear.As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.“Coach, please let me play.I‘ve just got to play today,” said the young man.The coach pretended not to hear him.There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game.But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.“All right,” he said.“You can go in.” Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right.The opposing team could not stop him.He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star.His team began to triumph.The score was soon tied.In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.The fans broke loose.His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.Such cheering you never heard.Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone The coach came to him and said, “ Kid, I can‘t believe it.You were fantastic!Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?”

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?” The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!”

Like the athlete‘s father, God is always there cheering for us.He‘s always reminding us to go on.He‘s even offering us His hand for He knows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and not simply what we want.GOD has never missed a single game.What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest.Live for HIM for He‘s watching us in the game of life!

第六篇：The Most Beautiful Flower

推薦理由：

生活中不是缺少美，而是缺少發現美的眼睛；生活中不是缺少快樂，而是缺少感受快樂的心。

如果雙目失明，我們是不是一定不快樂？如果健健康康，我們是不是一定快樂？

它再一次告訴我們，快樂在心。

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.And if that weren‘t enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn-not enough rain, or too little light.Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise, “It sure smells pretty and it‘s beautiful, too.That‘s why I picked it;here, it‘s for you.”

The weed before me was dying or dead.Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-air without reason or plan.It was then that I noticed for the very first time, that weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun.As I thanked him for picking the very best one.“You‘re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he‘d had on my day.I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he‘d been blessed with true sight.Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not with the world;the problem was me.And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate every second that‘s mine.And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.Author unknown

第七篇：Building

推薦理由：

總有一天，算計別人的時候，會算到自己的頭上。

故事有些小小的幽默，并且意味深長。

A great and wise man once called one of his workmen to him saying, “Go into the far country and build for me a house.The decisions of planning and of actual construction will be yours, but remember, I shall come to accept your work for a very special friend of mine.”

And so the workman departed with a light heart for his field of labor.Material of all kinds was plentiful here, but the workman had a mind of his own.“Surely,” he thought, “I know my business.I can use a bit of inferior materials here and cheat on my workmanship a little there, and still make the finished work look good.Only I will know that what I have built has weaknesses.”

And so, at last the work was completed and the workman reported back to the great and wise man.“Very good,” he said.“Now remember that I wanted you to use only the finest materials and craftsmanship in this house because I wanted to make present of it——My friend, you are the one I had you build it for.It is all yours.”

How much like man.He comes to earth a stranger.He has his free agency.He may build as he likes.But on the morning of his resurrection he will receive what he has built for an eternal home and habitation.第八篇：Attitude is Everything

推薦理由：

永遠積極面對人生，真的那么容易嗎?每一天,你都可以選擇開心或是不開心；但是有一天，你必須去選擇，是生，還是死，你發現只要你選擇生存，你就一定可以。態度就是一切。

禁不住想為主人公JERRY喝彩。

這是一篇很容易懂的文章，越到后面一切越出人意料。極力推薦。

Attitude is Everything

By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate.He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say.When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!”

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant.The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude.He was a natural motivator.If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.Seeing this really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, “I don‘t get it!You can‘t be a positive person all of the time.How do you do it?” Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today.You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.‘ I choose to be in a good mood.Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it.I choose to learn from it.Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life.I choose the positive side of life.”

“Yeah, right, it‘s not that easy,” I protested.“Yes it is,” Jerry said.“Life is all about choices.When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice.You choose how you react to situations.You choose how people will affect your mood.You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.The bottom line: It‘s your choice how you live life.”

I reflected on what Jerry said.Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business.We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination.The robbers panicked and shot him.Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I‘d be twins.Wanna see my scars?”

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.“The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied.“Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die.I chose to live.”Weren‘t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?“ I asked.Jerry continued, ”The paramedics were great.They kept telling me I was going to be fine.But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.In their eyes, I read, ‘He‘s a dead man.“ I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.“Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry.“She asked if I was allergic to anything.‘Yes,‘ I replied.The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply..I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!‘ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live.Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.Attitude, after all, is everything.第九篇：The Fence

推薦理由：

從這篇文章里面，我至少感受到兩點：第一，人的潛力是無窮的，很多時候你認為自己做不到的事情，其實可以。就像一些看似根深蒂固的習慣，其實可以改變。第二，正如文中所說，言語的傷害有時候比身體的傷害更嚴重，這個道理誰都懂，但是文中所用的比喻真的太絕妙。

The Fence

There was a little boy with a bad temper.His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence.The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.Then it gradually dwindled down.He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.Finally the day came when the boy didn‘t lose his temper at all.He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.The fence will never be the same.When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.It won‘t matter how many times you say I‘m sorry, the wound is still there.A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.第十篇：The Eyes of Love

推薦理由:

在每一個愛你的人眼里，你都是最美麗的，連缺點都是美麗的。

所以我們每個人都可以自信滿滿，有理由有資本去自信，只要擁有了愛。

A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo.The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.”You‘ve got so many freckles, there‘s no place to paint!“ a boy in the line cried.Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head.Her grandmother knelt down next to her.”I love your freckles,“ she said.”Not me,“ the girl replied.”Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles“ she said, tracing her finger across the child‘s cheek.”Freckles are beautiful!“

The girl looked up.”Really?“ ”Of course,“ said the grandmother.”Why, just name me one thing that‘s prettier than freckles.“

The little girl peered into the old woman‘s smiling face.”Wrinkles," she answered softly.Contributed by Father Pat

第二篇：最有哲理的英文故事

Sisyphus was pushing a huge rock to the top of the great hill.And everytime he was near the top, the rock would fall down.Then he had to walk down and push the rock again.Then when he was near the top, the rock fell down again.Again and again, day by day, month by month and year by year.For centuries, he was said to be doing the same thing.

第三篇：中國傳統文化經典哲理故事(英文)4

Harmony of Human and Nature

天人合一

〖Zhuangzhou Dreamed a Butterfly〗

One day at sunset，Zhuangzi dozed off and dreamed that he turned into a butterfly．He flapped his wings and made sure enough he was a butterfly．He had such a joyful feeling as he fluttered about that he completely forgot that he was Zhuangzi．Soon though，he realized that proud butterfly was really Zhuangzi who dreamed he was a butterfly．Or was it a butterfly who dreamed he was Zhuangzi?

Maybe Zhuangzi was the butterfly，and maybe the butterfly was Zhungzi? This is what is meant by the“transformation of things．”

莊周夢蝶

一天，落日時分，莊子夢見自己變成一只蝴蝶。他撲打撲打翅膀，確信自己已經變成一只蝴蝶。這時他十分愜意，飄飄然竟完全忘記了自己是莊子。一會兒醒來，他明白了，那只驕傲的蝴蝶正是夢見自己變成蝴蝶的莊子。或許是蝴蝶做夢自己變成了莊子也未可知。

莊子是蝴蝶?亦或蝴蝶是莊子?這正是所謂的“事物轉換”的道理啊!

〖A Fond Dream of Nanke〗

In the Tang Dynasty，there lived a person called Chun Yufen．One day，his friends came to celebrate his birthday，and Chun Yufen was drinking under an old pagoda tree．When he became drunk，he fell asleep．Suddenly，Chun Yufen met with two atomies who took him into a giant hole in the tree，having a ride to the great Kingdom of Pagoda．Chun Yufen found himself in a fairy world with many red gates，magnificent palaces，luxuriant pavilions and beautiful gardens．

南柯一夢

在中國唐朝，有個人叫淳于棼。一天他過生日，在門前大槐樹下擺下宴席和朋友飲酒作樂，好不快活。喝醉了之后，他便睡著了。迷迷糊糊之中，他突然感覺有兩個使者請他上車，馬車朝大槐樹下一個樹洞駛去，駛向“槐安國”。

他發現樹洞里另有一番仙境。有許多朱紅色的大門，大門里面是華麗的宮殿，周圍是亭臺樓閣和美麗的花園。

The king appreciated him very much so that he was named the mayor of Nanke，a small town in the Kingdom．Soon after，he married the king’s beautiful daughter．Chun Yufen was so happy with the life there that he totally forgot his hometown．Twenty years passed，and Chun Yufen stayed as the very successful mayor of Nanke and raised a big family of five sons and two daughters．

國王非常欣賞淳于棼，封他為“南柯郡太守”。后來，國王還將公主許配給他。淳于棼與公主過得非常幸福以致完全忘了自己的家 鄉。淳于棼上任南柯郡太守后，前后二十年的時間，把南柯郡治理得井井有條，還和公主生了五個兒子，兩個女兒。

However, the kingdom was invaded by another country and Chun Yufen had to lead the troops to hold out the enemies．Unfortunately，his troops were defeated and his wife died．Chun Yufen decided to leave the Kingdom of Pagoda．He was sent home by the 2 atomies.As soon as he arrived home，he woke up to realize what had happened was just a dream.It was only a short nap，even though in his dream he had experienced a whole 20 years of life．

Chun Yufen’s friends were interested in his dream.They looked down the tree and found an ant nest connected to a smaller nest in the south direction.Obviously，these nests explained what“Pagoda Kingdom”and“Nanke”really were!

不料，有個國家突然入侵，淳于棼不得不率兵迎擊，不過他還是打了敗仗。這時公主又不幸去世了。淳于棼決定離開“槐安國”，仍是由

兩名使者送行。淳于棼回到家中，突然驚醒過來，原來是一場夢。不過是小睡一會兒，而夢中經歷卻整整二十年。

淳于棼把夢境告訴朋友，大家感到十分有趣，一齊找到大槐樹下，挖出一個很大的螞蟻洞，旁邊有孔，通向南邊樹枝，那里有一個小螞 蟻洞。很顯然，這就是所謂的“南柯郡”、“槐安國”！

〖The Penumbras and the Shadow〗

The penumbras asked the shadow，“A moment ago you were looking down and now you are looking up；a moment ago your hair was tied up and now it is hanging loose；a moment ago you were sitting and now you are standing；a moment ago you were walking and now you are standing still．How is all this?”

罔兩問影

虛影問影子說：“你先前低著頭現在仰起頭，先前束著發髻現在披著頭發，先前坐著現在站起，先前行走現在停下來，這是什么原因呢?”

The shadow said，“Gentlemen，why do you bother asking me such trifling questions? I do these things but I don’t know why．Am I like the shell of a cicada or am I like the slough of a snake? I look like the real thing，but I am not the real thing．I appear with the flame or the sun，but fade with the shade or the night．

影子同答：“你為什么拿這樣微不足道的事情煩我呢?我就是這樣地隨意運動，我自己也不知道為什么會是這樣。我，就如同寒蟬蛻下來的殼、蛇蛻下來的皮，跟那本體事物相似卻又不是那事物本身。火光與陽光使我顯現，陰暗與黑夜使我隱形。

Do I depend on the real thing? But the real thing itself has to depend on something else!when the real thing comes，I come with it;when the real thing goes, I go with it;when the real thing moves to and fro，I move to and fro with it.What is there to ask about?”

我依賴有形的事物嗎?而有形的事物又依賴什么呢?有形的物體到來我便隨之而來，有形的物體離去我也隨之而去，有形的物體俳徊不定我就隨之不停地運動。這有什么可問的呢?”

〖Lips Gone，Teeth Cold〗

The King of Jin was going to attack Guo，a state on the other side of Jin’s neighbor country Yu．The Jin troops had to have Yu’s permission to go through its territory，which，most likely，the King of Yu would refuse．The King of Jin could not work out a plan．One day，Xun Xi，one of his ministers，put forward a suggestion，“Your Majesty，if you send your most precious gifts to the King of Yu，he will probably be bribed into giving consent．”

唇亡齒寒

晉國的國君想要攻打虢國，但隔著一個虞國，討伐虢國必須經過虞地。對此，虞國的國君可能會拒絕。晉君一直沒能想出個好辦法。一天，大臣荀息獻計說：“大王，如果您能將珍寶獻給虞國，他不會不答應借道的。”

The King of Jin looked reluctant，so Xun Xi said，“Even if he accepts the gifts，it doesn’t mean that he possesses them，as they will soon be taken back by us．Then what is there to be worried about?”Thus the King of Jin took up his plan．

晉獻公一聽有點舍不得，荀息就說：“即使他接受了禮物，也不意味著他就會擁有它們，很快，我們還會把它們拿回來的。您擔心什么呢?”晉獻公采納了荀息的計策。

The King of Yu agreed at once as soon as he saw the gifts.But Gong Zhiqi，a minister of Yu，took objection to it，saying，“Guo is our neighbor country，our reliable friend, and the relationship between us is just like that between lips and teeth.As an old saying goes,‘when the lips are gone，the teeth will feel cold’，so will our country be in danger when Guo is conquered．If we let the Jin troops pass，the gap between Guo's destruction and ours is only a period of morning to evening．”But Gong’s advice was rejected.What happened thereafter just proved what Gong had said.虞國國君見到禮物，當時就滿口答應下來。虞國大夫宮之奇聽說后，趕快阻止道：“虢國是虞國的近鄰，有事可以彼此幫助，我們之間就好像嘴唇和牙齒之間的關系。俗話說：‘唇亡齒亡’，萬一虢國滅了，我們虞國也就難保了。如果我們借道給晉國，那么虢國和虞國的滅亡就是旦夕之間的事了。”但虞國國君沒有聽從宮之奇的勸說，結果不久晉國就滅掉了虢國和虞國。

〖Perfectly Impartial〗

King Jin Pinggong once asked his minister Qi Huangyang，“I am going to appoint a magistrate and send him to govern Nanyang County．Who do you think will fit the of-fice?”

Qi answered without hesitation，“Xie Hu may be the choice．”

The King feit surprised and said，“Isn’t Xie Hu your personal enemy?”

大公無私

晉平公有一次問大臣祁黃羊說：“南陽縣缺個縣長，你看，應該派誰去當比較合適呢?”

祁黃羊毫不遲疑地同答說：“解狐。”

平公驚奇地問：“解狐不是你的仇人嗎?”

“Yes，”Qi replied，“but Your Majesty，you ask me who will fit the post，not who is my enemy．”

So Xie Hu took office，and he did do a lot of good things for common people in：Nanyang County．

Some time later when the King inquired who could take command of the army，Qi responded readily，“Qi Wu is most suited．”

The King was puzzled again，said，“Well，I wonder if Qi Wu is your son．”

祁黃羊回答說：“是的，但陛下問我誰合適，并沒有問誰是我的仇人呀!”

于是，解狐就被派到南陽縣上任了。到任后，他確實為百姓辦了許多好事。

過了一些日子，當平公需要一個人去指揮軍隊的時候，祁黃羊說：“祁午能夠勝任。”

平公又奇怪起來了，問道：“祁午不是你的兒子嗎?”

“Yes，he is，”Qi answered，“but what has that to do with the point at this issue? Your Majesty，you just ask who is competent as a general，and I aired my opinion．”

So Qi Wu was appointed a general，which later proved one of the wisest appoint-ments．

Hearing about this，Confucius spoke highly of Qi for his recommendation in consid-eration of one’s virtue and talent，brushing aside any thought of whether one was his en-emy or relative．He said that it was really perfectly impartial．

祁黃羊說：“是的，但這和推薦有什么關系呢?您只問我誰可以勝任，我就表達了我的想法。”

平公就派了祁午去做指揮官，他的表現，證明了這是一個最明智的選擇。

孔子聽到這兩件事，十分贊賞祁黃羊“內舉不避親，外舉不避仇”的薦才標準，并且說：“這才夠得上‘大公無私’呀!”

〖Every Word Counts〗

During the Warring States Period，the troops of the State of Qin surrounded Han Dan city，the capital of the State of Zhao，and the situation was very critical．So the King of Zhao sent Lord Ping Yuan to the State of Chu for help．Lord Ping Yuan intended to lead twenty assistants to accomplish this mission．Nineteen qualified people were select-ed，and one more was needed．At this time，Mao Sui volunteered to forward a plea to go with Lord Ping Yuan．Although Lord Ping Yuan was dubious about his capability，he still asked Mao Sui to go with them in the end．

一言九鼎

戰國時，秦國的軍隊團團包圍了趙國的都城邯鄲，形勢十分危急，趙國國君派平原君到楚國去求援。平原君打算帶領二十名門客前去完成這項使命。已挑了十九名，尚少一個定不下來。這時，毛遂自告奮勇提出要去，平原君雖然對他的能力有所懷疑，但最終還是帶著他一起前往了楚國。

As soon as Lord Ping Yuan arrived in the State of Chu，he started to lobby for Chu’s support，but made no progress．Accordingly，Mao Sui said to the King of Chu，“We come here to ask you to send relief forces，but you did not utter a word．Please don’t for-get，although you are stronger than us，you have lost many battles and even your capital.From my point of view，uniting Zhao against Qin is more urgent for you．”Mao Sui’s comments made the King of Chu State sincerely convinced，and promised to send refief forces immediately．

平原君到了楚國后，立即與楚王談及“援趙”之事，談了半天也毫無結果。這時，毛遂對楚王說：“我們來請你派兵援助，你卻一言不發。別忘了，雖然楚國比趙國強大，卻連連吃敗仗，連國都也丟掉了，依我看，楚國比趙國更需要聯合起來抗秦呀!”毛遂的一席話說得楚王心服口服，立即答應出兵援趙。

After Lord Ping Yuan came back to the State of Zhao，he said with emotion：“Mao Sui’s words are more important than nine huge tripods．”

平原君回到趙國后感慨地說：“毛遂的一席話真是重于九鼎大呂。”

〖Cast a Brick to Attract Jade〗

In the Tang Dynasty，there were two poets．One was called Chang Jian and the oth-er，s name was Zhao Gu．Zhao Gu’s poems were much appreciated by Chang Jian.Once Zhao Gu was going to Suzhou．When hearing Zhao Gu would visit Lingyan Temple，拋磚引玉

唐代有兩個詩人，一個叫常健，一個叫趙嘏。

常健很仰慕趙暇的詩才。一次，趙嘏要去蘇州。當常健聽說他會去靈巖寺時，使先趕到靈巖，Chang Jian went there．first and wrote two lines of a poem on a conspeincus wall in hope of Zhao’s completion.Soon after,Zhao Gu arrived at hte temple.He noticed the incom-plete poem on the wall immediately and completed the poem．Chang Jian’s first two sen-在一面顯眼的墻上題寫了兩行詩，希望趙嘏看到后能續成一首。不久趙嘏到了靈巖寺，他一眼就看到了墻上不完整的詩，便續上一兩行，tences were not as good as Zhao Gu’s，but he stimulated Zhao to write down excellent ones．People call it an action of“to casting a brick to attract jade”，which refers to putting forth one’s superficial suggestion or article in order to draw out others’better views or works．

將詩補充完整。常健的詩沒有趙嘏寫得好，卻能引出趙嘏的佳句。后來的人，就把這種做法叫作“拋磚引玉”，以此比喻用粗淺的意見或文章引發別人發表更高明的見解或作品。

〖A Sigh of River〗

At the time of autumn floods when hundreds of streams poured into the Yellow Riv-er．the torrents were so violent that it was impossible to distinguish an ox from a horse from the other side of the river．Then the River God was overwhelmed with joy，feeling that all the beauty under the heaven belonged to him alone．Down the river he traveled east until he reached the North Sea．Looking eastwards at the boundless expanse of wa-ter，he changed his countenance and sighed to the Sea God，saying，“As the popular say-ing goes，‘There are men who have heard a little about Tao but still think that no one can surpass them．’I am one of such men．”

望洋興嘆

秋汛的季節到了，無數條溪流匯入黃河，河水猛漲，河面寬得連對岸的牛馬都辨不清。這樣一來，河伯就洋洋自得起來了，以為世界上

所有壯麗的景色都集中在自己身上了。他順看河水向東行，一直來到北海，向東一望，一片遼闊的大海，看不見水的邊際。這時，河伯才改變了他驕傲的神態，望著海洋感慨地說：“俗話說‘有人的只學到分之一的道理，就以為誰也比不上自己’，我正是這樣的人啊！”

Nature of Doctrine and law

道法自然

〖Make Dresses according to Measurements〗

It’s said that in the past days there was a tailor in Beijing City.When he made dresses for people，apart from asking their size，he also would like to ask the customers’disposition，age，the time when they passed the imperial examination and so on．The

量體裁衣

傳說以前北京城里有個裁縫，在替人做衣服時，除了量身材尺寸外，還要詢問對方的性情、年紀以及中舉時間等等。人們感到奇怪，folks felt strange and asked him why．He said，“If a man passed the imperial examination at a young age，he must become arrogant，and hold his head high when he walks，so I need to make the front of clothes longer than the back；on the contrary，a man who passed the imperial examination at an old age will not feel so excited．He always be 問他為什么要這樣。他說：如果是青年中舉，必定性情驕傲，走起路來抬頭挺胸，因此衣服要做得前長后短；如果是老年中舉，大都沒那

his back when walking,so the front of his clothes should be made a little bit shorter.The quick temper prefers shorter clothes；whereas the slow temper prefers longer clothes.” Later，this idiom describes somebody who can deal with different problems according to different situations.么興奮，走路不免彎腰曲背，衣服就要做得前短后長；性情急躁的，衣服要做得短；性子慢的，衣服應做得長些。后來“量體裁衣”這個成語泛指人們根據具體的情況處理問題。

〖Duke Lu Raised a Seabird〗

A seabird was once seen perching on the city gate of the capital of Lu．Nobody had seen such a bird before，so they called it the“holy bird．”

魯侯養鳥

從前有只海鳥，在魯國城門上棲息。因為從來沒有人見過這種鳥，所以人們都叫它“神鳥”。

Duke Lu ordered his men to capture the seabird alive．They kept it in a golden cage and brought it to the Imperial Ancestral Temple．Duke Lu treated the seabird as though it were his guest of honor．Each day there would be banquets where dainties and delicacies of every kind would be offered to the seabird．Even the Duke Lu’s musicians had to per-form for the seabird’s sole amusement．

魯侯命侍從活捉海鳥。侍從將海鳥關在金籠內，并放在太廟里供養。魯侯視海鳥如國賓。每天都有各式各樣的珍饈百味供海鳥 品嘗，甚至魯侯的樂師，也要為海鳥演奏。

But the seabird was terrified by all this grandness.It became so frightened and sad that it dared not eat or drink．After three days,it died.Duke Lu thought that he had beena good host to his guest．Why not? He was treating the seabird the same way he treated himself.可是，海鳥卻被這些豪華排場所嚇倒，心里既驚慌又悲痛，不敢飲食，過了三天，終于死去。魯侯以為他款待海鳥已十分周到。可不是

嗎？他是用對待自己的方法去對待海鳥的。

〖Grappling between a Snipe and a Clam〗

A clam was lying on the edge of the water with her shell open to enjoy the sun.The sweet flesh Of the clam attracted a snipe strolling along the river bank.鷸蚌相爭

一只河蚌躺在河灘上張開殼兒曬太陽。河蚌鮮美的肉吸引了一只沿著河岸散步的鷸鳥。

The snipe at once pounced on the clam and pecked her flesh．Swiftly the clam folded her shell and clamped down on the snipe’s bill tightly．Then each one was handicapped by the other，and neither could move an inch．The snipe sneered，“If it doesn’t rain for a couple of days，let’s wait to see what will become of you!”The clam retort,“Surely in the same time you will either starve to death or thirst to death．”

鷸鳥立刻撲過來啄河蚌的肉，蚌靈敏地合攏了自己堅硬的殼，把鷸鳥尖尖的長嘴緊緊夾住。現在，他們都被對方鉗制住了，動彈不得。鷸

對蚌說：“今天不下雨，明天不下雨，你就會曬死。”蚌也對鷸說：“你的嘴今天拔不出，明天拔不出，你就要渴死餓死!”

So they argued and abused each other for quite a long time，neither ready to give in．Just then，a fisherman happened to pass by.He saw the snipe and the clam，and to his delight，he caught them both with the greatest ease．

鷸和蚌就這樣爭吵咒罵了半天，誰也不肯讓步。這時，一個漁翁碰巧打這兒經過，看到這一情景，十分高興，跑過去毫不費力地把他們都捉住了。

〖Ready Images of Bamboo in Bosom〗

Wen Tong who styled himself Yuke was an artist in the Song Dynasty.He enjoyed widespread renown for his bamboo painting．Every day many people always called at his home to ask for his paintings．What was his knack of painting bamboos? Actually，wen Tong had grown various bamboos everywhere around his house.No matter what season it was and no matter whether it was sunny or rainy，he often went to observe how they

胸有成竹

宋代畫家文同，字與可。他畫的竹子遠近聞名，每天總有許多人登門求畫。文同畫竹的妙訣在哪里呢?原來，文同在自己家的房前屋后

種上了各種竹子。無論春夏秋冬，陰晴風雨，他都經常去觀察竹子

were growing.He pondered over the length and breadth of the bamboo poles as well as the shapes and colors of the leaves．Whenever he had gained a new understanding, he went back to his study and drew what was in his mind on the paper．Over a long period of time，the images of bamboos in different seasons，under different weather conditions and at different moments were deeply imprinted in his mind．So whenever he stood before the paper and picked up a painting brush with concentrated attention，the various forms of the bamboos which he had observed at ordinary days at once rose before his eyes．Therefore every time he was painting bamboos he appeared confident and at ease, and all the bamboos he had painted were very vivid and true to life． 的生長變化情況，琢磨竹枝的長短粗細，葉子的形態、顏色。每當有新的感受就回到書房，把心中的印象畫在紙上。日積月累，竹子在不 同季節、不同天氣、不同時辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中，只要凝神提筆，在畫紙前一站，平日觀察到的各種形態的竹子立刻浮現在眼 前。所以每次畫竹，他都很從容自信，畫出的竹子，無不逼真傳神。

The poet Chao Buzhi who had made a profound study of Wen Tong’s art of paintings wrote：“When Yuke was painting bamboos，he had their images ready in his bosom.”

The idiom indicates having ready plans or designs in one’s mind before doing a certain job so that its success is guaranteed.詩人晁補之對文同的畫很有研究，曾寫下詩句：“與可畫竹，胸中有成竹。”

“胸有成竹”比喻做事之前已作好充分準備，對成功十分有把握。

〖Old Horse Knows the Way〗

During the Spring and Autumn Period，King Huan of Qi invaded the State of Guzhu．

The army was stuck in Guzhu for a whole year．Spring passed and winter came． When Qi’s soldiers finally conquered Guzhu，they got lost and couldn’t find their way back to the State of Qi．

Qi’s minister Guan Zhong came up with an idea．He let the soldiers take out sever-al old horses to lead the way．The army followed the horses closely，and finally made their way out of Guzhu and back to their homeland．

老馬識途

春秋時期，齊國國王齊桓公帶兵攻打孤竹國。

齊國大軍在孤竹國困了整整一年的時間。春去冬來，當齊軍終于打敗了孤竹國的時候，卻發現他們迷失了方向，找不到回齊國的路了。

這時候，大臣管仲想出了個辦法。他讓士兵牽出幾匹老馬在前面帶路。大軍緊緊地跟在后面，就這樣終于走出了孤竹國，回到了故鄉。

〖Impossible to Carve in Rotten Wood〗

Confucius is a great educationist during the Spring and Autumn Period．One of his students appeared impressive in every word he said which was closely reasoned and well argued．Confucius thought that this student would make great achievements in the future． But before long the student exposed his laziness．

朽木難雕

孔子是春秋時期一位偉大的教育家。他有一個學生，說起話來頭頭是道，很有自己的理論和見解。孔子以為這個學生日后會有很大的成就。可不久后，這個學生就暴露出懶惰的毛病。

One day he was sleeping soundly in his room as Confucius was giving lessons．Con-fucius felt very sorry at it and said：“It is impossible to carve in rotten wood．The same goes for painting walls made of dung and dirt．What he says doesn’t aword with what he does．He has taught me a lesson that I should value a student through his practical con-duct instead of his words．”

有一天，孔子在給學生講課，這個學生卻在房間里睡大覺。孔子知道后很難過，他說：“朽爛的木頭是不能雕刻的，糞土一樣的墻壁是

粉刷不了的。那是一個說話與行為不一致的學生。他給了我一個教訓：我應該以實際行為而不是言談來評價學生”。

Later,people use this phrase “Xiu Mu Nan Diao”(impossible to carve in rotten wood)to describe a hopeless person who is not likely to be improved by education.后來，人們用這個成語“朽木難雕”比喻那難以教化、不能造就成才的人。

immense image without Shape

大象無形

〖Never Trust Appearance〗

In the State of Zhao，there was once a scholar by the name of Gongsun Long．“I don’t keep company with people who have no talents，”he told his disciples.One day a man dressed in rags came up to him saying，“Please take me as your disciple.”After looking the man up and down，Gongsun Long said，“Tell me about your talents.”

不可貌相

趙國有個學者名字叫公孫龍。他曾對弟子說：“我不會和沒有本領的人交往。”一天，有個衣衫襤褸的人，走上前對他說：“請您收我做

徒弟吧!”公孫龍打量了那人一番，問道：“你有何本領?”

“Well,”said the man，“I have a loud voice which can travel very far．”Is there any-one among you who has a loud voice?”Gongsun Long asked his disciples．“No，sir!” they replied.Gongsun Long took the man as his disciple．His other disciples were laugh-ing．“What is the use of a loud voice?”they sneered．

那人回答說：“我有一個洪亮的嗓音，它能傳得很遠。”公孫龍問弟子道：“你們當中有沒有聲音洪亮的?”弟子回答說：“沒 有。”于是公孫龍收那人做徒弟。其他弟子竊竊私語，還嘲笑道：“聲音洪亮有什么用?”

A few days later，Gongsun Long and his disciples had to make a trip to the State of Yan．They had to cross a wide river．However，there was only one boat lying on the dis-tant shore．Gongsun Long told his new disciple to prove his talent.The man gladly heed-ed the request and yelled loudly．Very soon the boat was rowed over to ferry them all.過了幾天，公孫龍和弟子們要到燕國去。他們來到一條大河前，可是岸邊卻沒有渡船，只有一艘船停泊在遠遠的對岸。公孫龍就令新弟

了施展其技。新弟子欣然答允，便大喊一聲。很快，那艘渡船就劃了過求，載他們渡河去。

〖Two Concubines〗

Yangzi went to the State of Song and spent the night in an inn．The innkeeper had two concubines．One was very beautiful；the other was very ugly．The ugly one was fa-vored；the beautiful one，on the contrary，was not favored．Yangzi asked why this was．The innkeeper replied，“The beautiful concubine considers herself very beautiful，but I certainly do not think she is beautiful．The ugly concubine considers herself very ugly but I certainly do not think she is ugly．”Yangzi said，“Disciples，remember these words，if a person can do virtuous deeds while ridding himself of any feelings of conceit，then where could he go without being welcomed?”

逆旅二妾

陽子到宋國去，住在旅館里。旅館的主人有兩個姨太太，一個很美麗，另一個很丑陋。丑的受寵，美的反倒不受寵。陽子問店主為什 么會是這樣，店主回答說：“那個美的覺得她自己很美，可是我并不感到她美；那個丑的覺得她自己很丑，可是我并不感到她丑。”陽子說：

“徒弟們記住這句話，要是一個人做高尚的事，又沒有覺得自己很高尚的心理，那么他到哪兒都會受到歡迎的。”

〖The Frog in the Shallow Well〗

A frog who lived in a shallow well met a turtle who lived in the sea．The Frog said，“I am so happy!When I go out．I jump about on the railing beside the well．When I come home，I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well．If I jump into the water，it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks．If I walk in the mud，it cover up my feet．I look around at the wriggly worms，crabs and tadpoles，and none of them can compare with

井底之蛙

一只青蛙住在井里。有一天，青蛙在井邊遇上了一只從海里來的大龜。青蛙就對大龜夸口說：“你看，我住在這里多么快樂啊!高興的時

候，可以在井欄邊跳躍玩耍；疲倦的時候，就回到井里睡在磚洞里。如果我跳入水中，水流穿過我的腋窩，支撐我的頭部。如果我在泥地上走，泥漿便蓋過我的腳面。我看看周圍的蚯蚓啦、螃蟹啦、還有蝌蚪

me．Moreover，I am the lord of this trough of water and I stand tall in this shallow well． My happiness is full．My dear turtle，why don’t you come often and take a look around my place?”

Before the turtle from the sea could get its left foot in the well，its right knee got stuck．It hesitated and retreated．The turtle told the frog： 等，他們哪里能跟我比呢? 我是這個井里的主人，自由自在的好不逍遙快樂!親愛的海龜，你常到我的井里來游玩吧!”

大龜試著把它的左腳伸進井里去，但是右腿已經被絆住了。它踟躇著退卻下來，對青蛙說：

“Have you seen the sea before?Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea’s width；even a height of a thousand zhang cannot give you an idea of its depth．In the time of the Xia Dynasty，there were floods nine years out of ten，but the wa-ters in the sea did not increase much．In the time of the Shang Dynasty there were droughts seven Years out of eight，but the waters in the sea did not decrease much.The real happiness is to live in the sea．”

Hearing these words．the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realizing his own insignificance．

“你見過大海嗎?海的廣大，何止千里；海的深度，何止千丈。夏朝的時候，每十年中有九年發大水，但是海里的水并不漲；到后來商

朝，每八年中有七年大旱，海里的水，也沒有少了多少。住在大海里，才是真正的快樂呢!”

青蛙聽了海龜的話，吃驚不小，開始認識到自己的淺薄和無知。

〖Yu Gong Removed the Mountains〗

Taihang and Wangwu are two mountains，with an area of seven hundred square li and a great height of thousands of zhang.North of the mountains lived an old man called Yugong who was nearly ninety vears old．Since his home faced the two mountains，he was troubled by the fact that they blocked the way of the inhabitants who had to take a roundabout route.He gathered his families together to discuss the matter．“Let us do everything in our power to flatten these forbidding mountains so that there is a direct route to the south of Yuzhou reaching the southem bank of the Han River．What do you say?”Everyone applauded his suggestion.愚公移山

太行、王屋兩座山，方圓七百里，高數萬丈。

北山住著一個名叫愚公的老人，年紀將近九十歲了。他的家門正面對著這兩座大山。愚公苦于道路阻塞，出去進來都要繞遠路，便召集全家人商量說：“我和你們盡力挖平兩座大山，直通到豫州南部，到達漢水南岸，好嗎?”大家紛紛表示贊同。

Therefore，Yugong took three sons and grandsons who could carry a load on their shoulders．They broke up rocks and dug up mounds of earth which were transported to the edge of the Bo Sea in baskets．

An old man called Zhisou who lived in Hequ，near a bank of a branch of the Yellow River，was amused and dissuaded Yugong，“How can you be so foolish?With your ad-vanced years and the little strength that you have left，you cannot even destroy a blade of grass on the mountain，not to speak of its earth and stone．”

愚公于是帶領子孫中能挑擔子的三個兒子和孫子們干了起來。鑿石頭，挖泥土，用畚箕運送到渤海的邊上。

住在黃河支流邊河曲的一個名字叫智叟的老人笑著阻止愚公說：“你怎么那么傻呀，憑你的有生之年和余力，尚不能毀掉山上的草木，更不用說泥土和石頭啦!”

Yugong heaved a long sigh．“Though I die，my son lives on.Sons follow sons and grandsons follow sons．My sons and grandsons go on and on without end，but the moun-tains will not grow in size．Then why worry about not being able to flatten them?” Zhisou of Hequ was bereft of speech．

God was movedby Yugong’s sincerity and commanded the two sons of Kua’eshi to carry away the two mountains on their backs：one was put east of Shuozhou and the other south of Yongzhou．From that time onwards no mountain stood between the south of Yuzhou and the southern bank of the Han River.愚公長嘆一聲說：“即使我死了，還有兒子在呀；兒子又生孫子，孫子又生兒子；子子孫孫沒有窮盡的，可是山不會增高加大，何愁挖不平它們呢?”河曲智叟沒有話來回答。

天帝被愚公的誠心感動，命令夸娥氏的兩個兒子背走兩座山，一座放在朔州的東部，一座放在雍州的南部。從此以后，從豫州的南部，直

到漢水的南面，再也沒有大山擋路了。

〖Showing off One’s Skill before Lu Ban〗

In ancient times，Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate master in construction and sculpture．Carpenters respect him as their ancestor master．It is said that he once carved a colorful wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in the sky for three days．Thus it was considered the height of folly to show off one’s skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban．

This idiom excoriates those who show off their slight accomplishments in front of experts．

班門弄斧

從古代時起，魯班被認為是一個建筑與雕塑方面的藝術大師，木匠們把魯班奉為他們的始祖。據說，他曾經惟妙惟肖地雕刻出一個木鳳

凰，木鳳凰栩栩如生竟然真的在天上飛了三天。誰敢在魯班面前賣弄使用斧子的技術，也就是說，想在大行家面前顯示自己的本領，被 人們認為是十分荒唐可笑的行為。

這個成語用來諷刺那些在專家面前賣弄的人。

〖Mr．Dong Guo〗

Mr．Dongguo was a very kind scholar who enjoyed helping people.One day，Mr.Dongguo was walking on the road，carrying a full bag of books．Suddenly，he saw a wolf running towards him．The wolf said to Mr．Dongguo，“Help，please!Somebody wants to kill me．”

東郭先生

東郭先生是一個仁慈的學者，很樂于助人。一天，他背著書袋在路上走著。忽然，從后面跑來一只狼。狼對東郭先生說：“先生，救救我吧!有人要殺我!”

So Mr．Dongguo took the books out of the bag，and let the wolf get in．Soon，a man came and asked，“Is there a wolf here?”Mr．Dongguo said，“No，there isn’t．”

After the man went away，the wolf cried，“Let me out!”Mr．Dongguo let the wolf out，but the wolf said，“Mr．Dongguo，I’m hungry，I must eat you!”

At this moment，a farmer came along．Mr．Dongguo told him what happened and asked him for heip．However，the wolf said to the farmer，“Mr．Dongguo put me into his bag．which almost choked me．Shouldn’t I eat him?”

于是東郭先生倒出口袋里的書，把狼藏了進去。

不一會兒，一個人找了來，問東郭先生：“看見一只狼沒有?”東郭先生說：“我 沒看見。”

獵人走了，狼在口袋里喊到：“讓我出去!”東郭先生把它放了出來。狼嚷道：“我要餓死了，東郭先生，我要吃了你!”

這時有個農夫走過來。東郭先生急忙把事情的經過告訴他，求他救命。狼卻對農夫說：“他把我裝進口袋，差點把我悶死。我不應該 吃他嗎?”

The farmer said，“The bag is so small，you are so big，how could you fit in it?”The wolf said，“OK，let me show you．”Mr．Dongguo put the wolf into the bag for the second time．The farmer said to Mr．Dongguo，“Now hurry，seal the bag and kill it with a shovel． How could you be kind to a wolf?No wolf is good．”

農夫對狼說：“那么小的口袋怎么能裝得下你?”狼說：“好吧，我給你看看是怎么裝的。”它讓東郭先生再次把它裝進口袋。這時農夫說：“快，把口袋扎緊，用鐵鍬把它打死。你對狼怎么能講仁慈? 狼都不是好東西!”

〖Please Come into the Vat〗

In order to suppress those who were against her，Wu Zetian，the Empress of Tang Dynasty，appointed a few merciless persons to be judges．Two of them were extremely brutal：one was Zhou Xing and the other was Lai Junchen．Empress Wu once received a letter which informed against Zhou Xing for plotting a rebellion in collaboration with others．She was furiously angry when she read the letter，and immediately ordered Lai Junchen to deal with the case severely．

請君入甕

唐朝女皇武則天，為了鎮壓反對她的人，任用了一批酷吏。其中兩個最為狠毒，一個叫周興，一個叫來俊臣。有一回，武則天收到一封信，竟是告發周興與人聯絡謀反。武則天大怒，責令來俊臣嚴查此事。

Lai Junchen knew that Zhou Xing could not be forced to tell the truth merely by a letter because he was very sly and crafty．So Lai Junchen had prepared a sumptuous feast，and invited Zhou Xing to his home．Both of them urged each other to drink，and they talked while drinking．Lai Junchen pretended to sigh，“When I handle cases in ordi-nary days，I often come across prisoners who stubbornly refuse to admit their guilt．I wonder if you have any effective measures．”Smiling insidiously，Zhou Xing said，“Get a big vat，scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around，and then let the prisoner come into the vat．Will the prisoner refuse to make a confession of his crime?”Lai Junchen nodded his

來俊臣知道周興狡猾奸詐，僅憑一封信，是無法讓他說實話的。于是，來俊臣準備了一桌豐盛的酒席，把周興請到家里。兩個人你勸我

喝，邊喝邊聊。來俊臣假裝嘆氣說：“兄弟我平日辦案，常遇到一些犯人死不認罪，不知老兄有何辦法?”周興陰笑著說：“你找一個大 甕，四周用炭火烤熱，再讓犯人進到甕里，他還會不招供嗎?”來俊

head in approval repeatedly．He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat，and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said．And then he said，“Someone in the imperial court has informed against you for plotting a rebellion．The Empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely．So I beg your pardon，but would you kindly step into the vat?”Hearing this，Zhou Xing knelt down，kowtowed repeatedly and said，“I am guilty．I confess I am guilty．”

臣連連點頭稱是，隨即命人抬來一口大甕，按周興說的那樣，在四周點上炭火，然后對周興說：“宮里有人密告你謀反，上邊命我嚴 查。對不起，現在就請老兄自己鉆進甕里吧。”周興一聽，連連磕頭說：“我有罪，我招供。”

〖Crossing a River in the Same Boat〗

In ancient times，wars often broke out between two neighboring countries．As a re-sult，their people regarded the other side as enemies．

同舟共濟

古時候，有兩個相鄰的國家經常打仗，兩國的人民也互相將對方視為仇人。

Once，the people from the two sides were crossing a river in the same boat．The boat was about to set out when some passengers recognized their enemies．The two groups clenched their fists at once and glared at each other．A fighting was ready to explode.When the boat reached the center of the river，the wind suddenly became strong and soon it began to rain heavily．The wooden boat was thrown up and down among the waves and appeared to be bottomed up at any moment．At the moment of life and death，the people in the boat got rid of their hatred．In order to survive the disaster，they worked in union with one mind and managed to stabilize the boat in the rough water．Thanks to everyone’s united effort，the boat finally arrived at the opposite bank safely．

有一次，兩群人乘坐同一條船渡河。船快要開的時候，乘客才發現對方是敵國的人。一時間，兩群人都握緊了拳頭，互相瞪著對方，一副要打架的樣子。船行駛到河中間時，突然刮起了大風，下起了暴雨。木船在大浪中被拋來拋去，眼看就要翻船了。這時，船上的人 為了保住性命，都顧不得那么多了，完全忘了彼此是敵人，大家一條心緊密配合，在風浪中穩住了船身。在全船人的齊心協力下，船終于 安全到達了河對岸。

Later，this idiom figuratively means that people cooperate with each other to go through the hard time and overcome the hardship in times of danger．

于是，人們后來常用“同舟共濟”這個成語比喻在危急的環境中，大家同心協力，渡過難關、戰勝困難。

Devise Strovtegies

運籌帷幄

〖Everything Was Ready except the East Wind〗

The Story happened during the Period of the Three Kindoms．Once Cao Cao from wei led a 200，000 strong army down to the south to wipe out the kingdoms Of Wu and shu．Therefore，wu and Shu united to defend his attack．Cao ordered his men to link up the boats by iron chains to form a bridge for the Cao’s passing from the north bank of Yangtze River to the south bank．The General Commander of the allied army was Zhou

萬事俱備，只欠東風

故事發生在三國時期。有一次，魏國的曹操帶了二十萬精兵南下攻打吳國和蜀國，準備消滅它們。為了應敵，吳國利蜀國結成同盟國。曹軍駐扎在長江北岸。曹操讓手下用鐵鏈將戰船連在一起，好讓曹軍渡江攻打南岸的盟軍。盟軍由吳國將領周瑜帶領。他仔細分析了形勢，Yu.He analyzed the situation carefully．Then he got a good idea．He decided to attack the enemy with fire．So he began to prepare for the coming battle．Suddenly he thought of the direction of wind．He needed the east wind to blow strongly in order to accomplish his scheme．However，the wind did not come for days．Thus Zhou Yu was worried about it．At that time，he got a note from Zhuge Liang，the military adviser of the State of Shu, which reads：

“To fight Cao Cao，fire will help you win．Everything is ready except the east wind．”

最后決定用火燒掉敵人的船。于是，他開始準備一切，當他將一切準備好時，發現還需要東風。可連續幾天都沒有東風，周瑜急得病倒了。這時，蜀國的軍師諸葛亮叫人送了一張紙條給他，上面寫著：

“要贏曹操，須用火攻。萬事俱備，只欠東風。”

Quickly he turned to Zhuge Liang for help.Zhuge Liang told him not to worry and there would be an east wind in a couple of days．Two days later，the east wind helped Zhou accomplish his scheme．At last,the allied army won the war.Later，people use this idiom to mean“all is ready except what is crucial”.周瑜收到后，立刻向諸葛亮求助。諸葛亮叫周瑜不要著急，兩天后，將有東風。果然，兩天后，刮起東風。周瑜趁這個機會將曹軍的 戰船燒毀，最后，曹操被打敗了。

后來，人們用這個成語來比喻樣樣都準備好了，只差最后一個重要條件。

〖To Lower the Banners and Silence the Drums〗

In me Three Kingdoms Period，during a battle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei，the latter ordered his generals Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong to capture Cao Cao’s supplies.Cao Cao led a large force against Zhao Yun，who retreated as far as the gates ofhis camp.There,he ordered that the banners be lowered and the war drums silenced，and that the camp gates be left wide open．Zhao Yun then stationed his troops in ambush nearly.When Cao Cao arrived and saw the situation，he immediately suspected a trap and with-drew his forces．

This idiom is nowadays used to indicate metaphorically halting an attack or ceasing all activities．

偃旗息鼓

三國時代，一次曹操與劉備交戰。劉備命令大將趙云、黃忠去搶奪曹操的糧草。曹操帶領大軍追趕趙云。趙云一直退到營寨前，叫士兵

打開營門，放倒軍旗，停止擂鼓，在營外設好埋伏。曹軍追到，看到這種情景，懷疑有埋伏，就撤退了。

“偃旗息鼓”這個成語現在用來比喻停止攻擊或者事情中止。

〖Rousing the Spirits with the First Drum Roll〗

During the Spring and Autumn Period，an army from the State of Qi confronted one from the State of Lu．The King Zhuang of Lu and counselor Cao Gui were the generals of the battle．

一鼓作氣

春秋時期，齊國派兵攻打魯國。魯國的國王魯莊公帶著謀士曹劌指桎作戰。

After the first roll of drums from the Qi side to summon Lu to battle，the King of Lu wanied to attack.But his counselor Cao Gui said，“We should wait until the third drum roll,your Majesty．”After the Qi side had beaten the drums three times，the Lu at-tacked and defeated the Qi army．After the battle，the King asked Cao Gui the reason for his odd advice．Cao Gui answered，“Fighting needs spirit．Their spirit was aroused by the first roll of the drums，but was depleted by the second．And it was completely ex-hausted by the third．We started to attack when their spirit was exhausted．That’s why we

齊軍第一次擊鼓以后，魯王準備發起進攻。曹劌卻說：“不行，等齊軍擊鼓三次后再進攻。”齊軍三次擊鼓以后，曹劌才指揮進攻。結果齊軍大敗。戰斗結束后，魯莊公問曹劌為什么提出這樣奇怪的建議。曹劌回答說：“打仗要靠勇氣。第一次擊鼓，士氣十分旺盛；第二次擊

鼓，士氣有些衰落；第三次擊鼓，士氣就消耗盡了。敵人士氣耗盡，我們發起進攻，所以取得了勝利。”

后來，“一鼓作氣”形容做事情要鼓足勇氣，一氣呵成。

〖Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition for Peace〗

During the Spring and Autumn Period，Duke Xian of the State of Jin killed the crown prince Shen Sheng because he had heard slander about Shen Sheng and believed it.He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er，Shen Sheng’s bs other．After hearing the news，Chong Er escaped from the State of Jin，remaining a fugitive for more than ten years．After innumerable hardships，Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last.King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the ruler of a state，believing that he would have a bright future．

退避三舍

春秋時期，晉獻公聽信讒言，殺了太子申生，又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳。重耳聞訊，逃出了晉國，在外流亡十幾年。經過千辛萬苦，重耳來到楚國。楚成王認為重耳口后必有大作為，就以國君之禮相迎，待他如上賓。

King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honor of Chong Er．Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and talking，King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er，“How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one day?”Chong Er answered，“If I should be fortunate enough to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler，the State of Jin would be friendly to the State Chu．If,one day，there should be a war between the two states，I would definitely order my troops to retreat thirty miles as a condition for peace．If,under that condition，you were still not reconciled，then I would fight with you．”

楚成王設宴招待重耳，兩人飲酒敘話，氣氛十分融洽。忽然楚成王問重耳：“你若有一天回晉國當上國君，該怎么報答我呢?”重耳 笑笑回答道：“要是托您的福，果真能回國當政的話，我愿與貴國友好。假如有一天，晉楚兩國之間發生戰爭，我一定命令軍隊先退避三 舍，如果還不能得到您的原諒，我再與您交戰。”

Four years later，as might be expected，Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and be-came its ruler．He was the famous Duke Wen in history books．Under his management，the State of Jin became increasingly powerful．In the year 633 B．C．，the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle．Faithful to his promise，Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles，before he fought back and de-feated the Chu army．

四年后，重耳如期回到晉國當了國君，即歷史上有名的晉文公。晉國在他的治理下日益強大。公元前633年，楚國和晉國的軍隊在作戰

時相遇。晉文公為了實現他許下的諾言，下令軍隊后退二十里，后來反擊，大敗楚軍。

〖Like a Raging Fire〗

During the Spring and Autumn Period，Duke Fu Chai of Wu led a huge army against the State of Jin．He ordered his men to form three square contingents．The middle one was dressed in white and holding white flags，which looked from a distance just like the flowers of a field full of reeds．The left unit was in red and holding red flags，which looked from afar like flaming fire all over the mountains．The right unit was in black and holding black flags，which looked from a distance like thick black clouds covering the sky．Fu Chai was trying to present to the enemy a show ofoverwhelming force．

This idiom describes a scene of great momentum and exuberance．

如火如荼

春秋時期，吳王夫差率領大隊人馬向晉軍進軍。他命令將士們擺成三個方陣。當中的都穿白色衣服，拿著白色的旗幟，遠遠望去就 像遍地盛開著白色荼花。左邊的穿紅色衣服，拿著紅色的旗幟，遠遠望去就像滿山燃燒著熊熊火焰。右邊的穿黑色衣服，拿著黑色的 旗幟，遠遠望去就像滿天結集著濃密的烏云。夫差想利用這種聲勢去壓倒對方。

“如火如荼”這個成語形容氣勢旺盛，場面熱烈的景象。

〖Songs of Chu on All Sides〗

At the end of the Qin Dynasty(221—206 BC)，the State of Chu and the State of Han fought for control of the coumry．Xiang Yu，the King of Chu，was besieged at a place called Gaixia by the Han army led by Liu Bang．Xiang Yu was in a desperate situa-tion．with little food and only a few soldiers.四面楚歌

秦朝末年公元前221—206年，楚和漢爭奪天下。楚王項羽被漢王劉邦的軍隊緊緊地圍困在垓下這個地方。項羽已身處絕境，糧食幾乎

吃光了，將士也所剩無幾。

At night，the surrounding Han troops started to sing Chu folk songs.Xiang Yu was very surprised at this，and said，“Has Liu Bang occupied the whole of Chu?How can he have drafted so many Chu people into his army?”Then he fled together with the remain-der of his forces．Seeing no way out，he eventually committed suicide by the side of the Wu River．A great hero met with his tragic end.夜里，四面包圍著的漢軍唱起了楚國的民歌。項羽聽了，非常吃驚地說：“漢軍已經全部占領了整個楚國的土地嗎?為什么在漢軍中有 這么多的楚國人呢?”說完便帶著殘余的士兵驚慌地逃走了。項羽看到自己末路途窮，終于在烏江邊拔劍自刎。一代英豪以悲劇結束了自己的 一生。

This idion is used metaphorically to mean to be in a helpless and critical situation,surrounded by the enemy on all sides.“四面楚歌”這個成語比喻四面受到敵人的攻擊，處于孤立危急的困境。

〖To Wait at One’s Ease for an Exhausted Opponent〗

In the late Xi Han Dynasty．a warlord Wei Xiao betrayed his sovereign Liu Xiu and went to seek help from Gongsun Shu who founded a new state in Si Chuan area．Liu Xiu flared up and sent army to attack Wei Xiao，but unfortunately his troops was defeated．

以逸待勞

西漢末年，軍閥隗囂脫離劉秀，去投靠在四川稱帝的公孫述。劉秀大怒，派兵去攻打隗囂，結果反被隗囂打敗。

Liu Xiu regrouped his forces and renewed the attack by sending his favorite general Feng Yi to occupy Ju Yi city.Wei Xiao got the news and ordered his subordinate Xing Xun to jockey for a favorable terrain.Feng Yi’s subordinates advised against waging war on Xing Xun’s troops.Feng Yi said in unequivocal terms,“We must seize Ju Yi city before them to wait at our ease for the exhausted troops of Xing Xun”.Feng Yi ordered a rapid march to occupy Ju Yi city before Xing Xun,and kept the news secretly.He asked the soldiers to close the gate of the city,stop clamoring,and have a good rest.Xing Xun’s troop arrived in the city in a hurry,at this time Feng Yi waved flags with rolling drums.劉秀重新組織兵力并派愛將馮異前去占領枸邑。隗囂得到消息，命令部將行巡立刻去枸邑搶占有利地形。馮異的部將們都勸馮異不要和行巡大軍作戰。馮異斬釘截鐵地說：“我們必須搶占枸邑‘以逸待勞’。”馮異命令部隊急行軍，搶在行巡之前，占領了枸邑。馮異嚴密封鎖消息，緊閉城門，偃旗息鼓，讓將士們休整。行巡的部分急匆匆地剛趕到城下，城樓上突然鼓聲大作，亮出了馮異的帥旗。行巡的Xing Xun’s troops was not prepared well and was scared to escape.Feng Ying opened the gate and led the troops to defeat enemies.The idiom means making the army conserve energy and build up strength to defeat exhausted enemies.軍隊毫無防備，嚇得四下逃竄。馮異大開城門，領兵沖出城來，大敗敵軍。

“以逸待勞”這一成語指讓自己的軍隊養精蓄銳，以等候疲憊趕來的敵軍，將其打敗。

〖Every Bush and Tree Looked like an Enemy Soldier〗

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty，Fu Jian，the King of the State of Qin，controlled northern China．In 383 A．D．，Fu Jian led the troops to assault the State of Jin．Knowing that the army of Jin was short of men，Fu Jian wanted to seize this opportunity of being much more numerous in armed forces to stage a quick attack．

草木皆兵

東晉時代，秦王苻堅控制了北部中國。公元383年，苻堅率兵攻打晉朝。苻堅得知晉軍兵力不足，就想以多勝少，抓住機會，迅速 出擊。

Unexpectedly，Fu Jian’s army was defeated by the army of Jin and suffered heavy losses.The senior generals of Fu Jian’s army were killed，and there were heavy casual-ties of more than 10，000 soldiers．Fu Jian’s army was dispirited and the morale was shaken.At the same time，Fu Jian saw that Jin’s army was in good order and the soldiers were full of high spirit．Every bush and tree on the mountain looked like a soldier in Jin’s army.He deeply regretted that he had looked down upon the enemy．

誰料，苻堅的部隊被晉軍擊敗了，損失慘重，大將被殺，士兵死傷萬余。秦軍的銳氣大挫，軍心動搖。此時，苻堅望見晉軍隊伍嚴整，士氣高昂，山上一草一木都像晉軍的士兵一樣。他后悔自己過于輕敵了。

0vershadowed by the disastrous defeat，Fu Jian was finally hit by an arrow and ran away．Jin’s army won a brilliant victory by defeating a big army with limited armed forces．

The phrase subsequently refers to one’s nervous，doubtful and panic spirit.出師不利給苻堅心頭蒙上了陰影，他最終中箭而逃。晉軍以有限的兵力大敗敵軍，贏取了勝利。

成語“草木皆兵”，形容神經過敏、疑神疑鬼的驚恐心理。

Supreme Eloquence

大辯若訥

〖The Blind Man and the Sun〗

Once upon a time，there was a blind man who did not know what the sun is，so he asked other people to explain.盲人問日

從前，有一個生來就失明的盲人，從來沒有見過太陽。他問別人太陽是什么樣子的。

One man said，“The sun is shaped like a copper plate．”So the blind man banged on a copper plate，and listened to its clanging sound．Later when he heard the sound of a temple bell，he thought that must be the sun．Another man said，“The sun gives out light just like a candle．”So the blind man held a candle to feel its shape．Later when he picked up a flute，he thought that this must be the sun．

一個人告訴他：“太陽的形狀像銅盤。”他敲敲銅盤，聽見了銅盤叮叮當當的聲音。后來，他聽見了廟里的鐘聲，就以為這是太陽 了。又有一個人告訴他：“太陽像蠟燭一樣發光。”他摸摸蠟燭，感受到了它的形狀。后來，他摸到了一支短笛，就以為是太陽了。

Yet we know that the sun is vastly different from a bell or a flute；but a blind man does not understand the difference because he has never seen the sun and only has heard it described．

可是我們知道太陽與鐘聲或笛子是多么的不同啊!因為盲人從來沒有見過太陽，只是聽別人描述而已，所以才造成這樣的誤解。

〖An Argument about the Sun〗

When Confucius was traveling in the eastern part of the country，he came upon two children in a heated argument，so he asked them to tell him what it was about．”

“I think.”said one child，“that the sun is near to us at daybreak and far away from us at noon．”

二童辯日

孔子東游的途中，見到兩個小孩在面紅耳赤地爭論什么，就走上前去，問他們在爭論什么。

“我認為太陽在黎明的時候離我們最近，而在正午時離我們最遠。”一個小孩兒說。

The other contended，“The sun was far away at dawn and nearby at midday．”

“When the sun first appears，”said one child，“it is as big as the canopy of a car-riage，but at noon it is only the size of a plate or a bowl．Well，isn’t it true that objects far away seem smaller while those nearby seem bigger?”

“When the sun comes out，”pointed out the other，“it is very cool，but at midday it is as hot as putting your hand in boiling water．Well，isn’t it true that what is nearer to us is hotter and what is farther off is cooler?”

另一個小孩兒立即爭辯說：“我認為太陽在黎明的時候離我們最遠，而在正午時離我們最近。”

一個小孩說：“太陽剛出來時像個大圓車篷，等到正午時像個盤子或盂，這不是遠處的小而近處的大的道理嗎?”

另一個小孩說：“太陽剛出來時清涼寒冷，等到了正午，它熱得像把手伸向熱水里。這不正是距離近的就覺得熱，距離遠的就覺得涼 的道理嗎? ”

Confucius was unable to settle the matter for them．The two children laughed at him，“Who says you are a learned man?”

孔子不能夠斷定誰是誰非。兩個小孩笑看說：“是誰說你是學多才的人呢?”

〖The Argument above the Hao River〗

Zhuangzi and Hui Shi were strolling on the bridge，above the Hao River．

“Out swim the minnows，so free and easy，”said Zhuangzi，“That’s how fish are happy．”“You are not a fish whence do you know that the fish are happy?”

濠梁之辯

莊子和朋友惠施在濠水的一座橋梁上散步。莊子看著水里的蒼鰷魚說：“蒼鰷魚在水里悠然自得，這是魚的快樂啊。”

惠施說：“你不是魚，怎么知道魚的快樂呢?”

“You aren’t me．Whence do you know that I don’t know the fish are happy?”

“I’ll grant that not being you I don’t know about you．You’ll grant that you are not a fish，and that completes the case that you don’t know the fish are happy．”

莊子說：“你不是我，怎么知道我不知道魚的快樂呢?”

惠施說：“我不是你，固然不知道你；你不是魚，無疑也沒法兒知道魚是不是快樂。”

“Let’s go back to where we started when you said“Whence do you know that the fish are happy?”You asked me the question already knowing that I knew．I knew it from up above the Hao River．”

莊子說：“請回到我們開頭的話題。你問‘你怎么知道魚快樂’，這句話表明你已經肯定了我知道魚的快樂了，而我則是在濠水的橋上知道魚兒快樂的。”

〖Fix the Empty Sheepfold〗

During the Warring States Period，King Xiang of Chu was an incapable ruler.A minister named Zhuang Xin once said to King Xiang，“When you are inside the Palace，Minister Zhou and Xia are on your left and right sides．You only think about enjoying corrupted lives，but not caring about the administration of the state，so the state is in dan-ger!If you don’t believe me．please allow me to go to the State of Zhao to hide for a while，and see what happens next．”

亡羊補牢

戰國時期，楚襄王十分昏庸無道。楚國有一個大臣，名叫莊辛。有一次他對楚襄王說：“您在宮里面的時候，周侯和夏侯伴您的左右，您整天想的是吃喝玩樂，卻一點也不在乎國家的治理，因此國家已處在危險之中!您如果不信我的話，請允許我到趙國躲一躲，看事情究竟會怎樣。”

After Zhuang Xin left for Zhao，in merely five months，the State of Qin attacked Chu.Now thinking Zhuang Xin’s words were correct，King Xiang of Chu immediately sent people to invite him back，and asked him what to do now．

Zhuang Xin replied，“It’s not too late if you fix the sheepfold when you find a sheep is missing．”He then made some good suggestions to rehabilitate the state and recover the lost land．

莊辛到趙國才住了五個月，秦國果然派兵侵楚，這時楚襄王才覺得莊辛的話不錯，趕緊派人把莊辛請回來，問他有什么辦法。

莊辛回答說：“丟了羊，及時把羊圈修好，不算遲。然后他提出一些好的建議，幫助楚國振興，收復失地。

Now we still use this idiom to advise someone that even when he has made a mis-take and suffered losses，he can still draw lessons from the mistake and take steps to rem-edyit．

今天，我們仍用成語“亡羊補牢”來比喻事情出了差錯，有了損失，仍然要及時吸取教訓，設法給予補救。

〖A Loss May Turn Out to Be a Gain〗

Long，long ago，there lived an old man named Sai Weng．One day he found his horse missing．It was said that the horse was seen running outside the border of the coun-try．The neighbors came to comfort him for the unfortunate loss．But Sai Weng was unex-pectedly calm and said．“It doesn’t matter；it may not be a bad event，on the contrary,I think it can be a good one．”

塞翁失馬

很久很久以前，有一位老人，名叫塞翁。一天，他發現他的馬走失了。據說有人看見馬跑過了邊境。鄰居們聽到這事，都來安慰他。塞翁

卻顯得非常平靜，他對來人說：“沒關系，也未見得是一件環事。相反，還可能是件好事呢!”

One night Sai Weng heard some noise of horses and got up to see．To his surprise he saw another beautiful horse as well as his own．It was clear that his horse had brought a companion home．Hearing the news．the neighbors all came to express congratulations on his good luck．At the greetings，however，Sai Weng was very calm and thoughtful．He added，“It is true that I got a new horse for nothing，but it is hard to say whether it is good or bad．It may be an unlucky thing．”

一天晚上，塞翁聽到馬叫聲便起身看個究竟。令他大吃一驚的是他不但見到了自己的馬，還見到了另外一匹駿馬。很顯然是他的馬把自己的伙伴帶回了家。聽到消息后，鄰居們都跑來道喜。然而塞翁在與鄰居寒暄時顯得不僅平靜而且若有所思。他說：“我是白得了一匹馬，不過還很難說這是福是禍，沒準兒是不祥之物。”

What he said was found to be right．The son of Sai Weng was very fond of the horse brought home，and one day，when he was riding the horse，he fell off the horse and terri-bly hurt his left leg．From then on he was never able to walk freely．“Nothing serious．” Sai Weng said，“Perhaps it is going to be good．”

A year later，many of the youth there were recruited to fight in a war and most of them died．The son of Sai Weng was absolved from the obligation for his disability，so he escaped death．

誰想到塞翁竟一語成讖。他的兒子特別喜歡那匹駿馬。一天騎馬時，他不慎從馬背上摔落下來，摔斷了左腿。從此，他再也不能像 從前那樣自由行走了。對此，塞翁卻說：“不礙事，沒準是件好事情呢!”

一年以后，很多年輕人都被征兵入伍，多數人都死在戰場上。塞翁的兒子卻因為殘疾免除兵役，從而保全了性命。

〖Zhuangzhou Borrowed Grain〗

Zhuangzi’s family was poor and so he went to borrow grain from Duke Jianhe，the superintendent of river-courses．The superintendent said，“All right．When I get the rev-enue of my fief,I will lend you three hundred yuan．Will that do?”

莊周貸粟

莊子家里窮得沒米下鍋了，不得不到監河候那哩去借糧。監河候說：“行啊，我即將領到封邑的薪金，打算借給你三百金，可以嗎?”

Zhuangzi flushed with anger and said，“When I was on the way here yesterday,I heard someone calling me．I looked back and saw a carp in the cart-rut．I asked‘Come over，carp．What are you doing here?’It replied，‘I aM a messenger from the East Sea．Will you save me with a bucket of water?’I said，‘All right．When I meet the princes in the State of Wu and the State of Yue，I will try to persuade them to divert the

莊子生氣得變了臉色，說：“我昨天往你這里來，半路上聽到有個聲音在呼救，我回頭一看，見到車輪碾成的溝里有一條鮒魚，我問它

說：‘你過來，你是干什么的? ’鮒魚回答說：‘我是東海龍王的信使，你有一斗的水使我活下去嗎?’我說：‘行，我將到南方去游說吳越

water from the West River to welcome you．Will that do?’The carp flushed with anger and said，‘I have lost my normal environment and have no place to stay．I can survive with a mere bucket of water．But if you talk to me like this，you’d better look for me in the dried-fish market．’”

王，讓他們把西江的水引過來迎接你，可以嗎?’鮒魚生氣地變了臉色，說：‘我失去了正常的生活環境，我沒有地方可以活下去了，我 只要獲得一斗半升的水就能活命了，你竟然這么說，還不如早早地到賣干魚的集市上去找我。’”

〖Paper Prices Skyrocketed in Luoyang〗

Zuo Si，a famous writer in Jin Dynasty，who was very naughty and did not like to study when he was a kid．His father often got angry with him，but young Zuo Si was as naughty as ever and would not study hard．

洛陽紙貴

晉代文學家左思，小時候是個非常頑皮、不愛讀書的孩子。父親經常為這事發脾氣，可是小左思仍然淘氣得很，不肯好好學習。

One day，Zuo Si’s father was chatting with his friends and his friends admired him for his clever and lovely son．Zuo Si’s father sighed at it，“Please do not mention him.My son Zuo Si does not study as well as I did when I was young．lthough I did not study well enough myself．It appears that he is actually good-for-nothing．”All this was wit-nessed by young Zuo Si．He was very sad，feeling intensely that he would not be able to have a bright future if he did not study hard．So he was determined to study assiduously from then on.有一天，左思的父親與朋友們聊天，朋友們羨慕他有個聰明可愛的兒子。左思的父親嘆口氣說：“快別提他了，小兒左思的學習，還不如我小時候，看來沒有多大的出息了。”這一切都被小左思看到聽到了，他非常難過，覺得自己不好好念書確實很沒出息。于是，他暗暗下決心，一定要刻苦學習。

Zuo Si grew up gradually and became an erudite scholar because of his unremitting efforts in his study．He wrote excellent essays．It took him ten years to finish the writing of“Ode to the Capitals of Three Kingdoms”，a literary masterpiece．Because of no ty-pography at that time，people who were fond of this“Ode”had to copy it to read．As there were so many people who vied with each other in making handwritten copies，the price of the writing paper in short supply went up greatly in Luoyang．

This idiom is used to show how popular an outstanding piece of literary work is．

左思漸漸長大了，由于他堅持不懈地發奮讀書，終于成為一位學識淵博的人，文章也寫得非常好。他用了十年時間撰寫成了文學巨著 《三都賦》。由于當時還沒有發明印刷術，喜愛《三都賦》的人只能爭相抄閱，因為抄寫的人太多，洛陽的紙張供不應求，一時間紙價大幅 上升。

成語“洛陽紙貴”用于稱頌杰出的作品風行一時。

〖Issue Orders Repeatedly〗

第四篇：英文小故事哲理篇與幽默篇

哲理篇

The Help from the God A small village came into a very large storm, and floods began to submerge the whole village.A priest prayed in the church when the flood submerged his knees． Lifeguard came to the church driving a sampan： “Father, come here as soon as possible！Otherwise you will drown in the flood！” The priest said： “No！I am confident that God will save me, please go to save others．” But soon, the water rose to the priest’s chest, and the priest had to stand on the altar． At this time, a police drove to the priest with a speedboat：“Father, hurry up, otherwise you will be drowned！” The priest said： “No, I would like to keep my church.I believe that God will save me．You’d better to save others.” After a while, the floods have submerged the entire church.The priest had no choice but to firmly grasp the top of the Cross Church．A helicopter flied over slowly, and the pilot dropped a rope ladder：“Father, hurry up, this is the last chance!” But the priest said: “No, I would like to keep my church！God will save me．”The stubborn priest was finally drowned.In the heaven, the priest asked the God angrily：”Lord, I devoted my whole life to serving you, why you refuse to help me！“ God said：” The first time, I sent a sampan to rescue you, but you didn’t get on.I think you are not satisfied with the sampan；the second time, I sent a speedboat, you refuse it again；the third time, I send a helicopter to rescue you, but also you are unwilling to accept it.Therefore, I thought you wanted to come back to my side.“ In fact, there are many obstacles in life chiefly coming from our stubbornness and ignorance．When others give us a hand, do not forget, only we accept it, can they help us！！

God's Coffee A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old professor.Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.The professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cupstelling them to help themselves.When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: ”If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, while the plain and cheap ones are left on the table.It is normal for you to have only the best for yourselves, which is the source of your problems and stress.Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...And then you began eyeing each other's cups.Now consider this: Life is the coffee;the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.“ God brews the coffee, not the cups..........Enjoy your coffee!”The happiest people don't have the best of everything.They just make the best of everything.“ Live simply.Love generously.Care deeply.Speak kindly.Leave the rest to God.Pebbles and diamonds

”Why do we have to learn about these useless things?“

This is what teachers have heard students complain about most commonly.In such cases, we may tell the students such a fable:

One night, a group of nomadic tribes of herdsmen was preparing to break camp, all of a sudden, a bunch of bright light shrouded.They knew that God would be there, so that they looked forward to getting wishes from God.God began to speak: ”You have to collect along the way a number of pebbles.Tomorrow night, you will be very happy, but you can also be regretted.“ Then God disappeared.Herdsmen were very disappointed, because they would look forward to God to bring them untold wealth and health and longevity, but they did not expect that God had told them to do all these meaningless things.However, in any case, after all, that was God's will, although there were some dissatisfaction, they were still picking over some stones,In this way, they took a day, when night fell, they camped.All of a sudden, they found that all the pebbles they picked had turned into diamonds.They were delighted, at the same time, they felt very sorry, and regretted that they did not collect more pebbles.Now we feel that knowledge is useless, like pebbles, in the future, they may become endless wealth.Sand and Stone The story goes that two friends were walking through the desert.During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: ”Today my best friend slapped me in the face.“

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath.The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: ”Today my best friend saved my life.“

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, ”After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone.Why?“

The other friend replied: ”When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away.But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.“

The Nail

There was a little boy with a bad temper.His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence.The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.Then it gradually dwindled down.He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.He said, ”You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.The fence will never be the same.When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.Show your friends how much you care.Five Keys in life In May, 2001, American Nevada state Madison middle school’s entrance examination set such a topic: On the Bill Gates desk there are 5 locked drawers, respectively representing wealth, interest, happiness, honor, and success.Gates always only have one key, and the other 4 are locked in the drawers.Which key does Gates take? One immigrated mainland student had flustered after he saw this topic, because he did not know whether it was a language question or a mathematics one.When the test finished, he asked his guarantor.The director told him that the answer was not in the books, and there were no standard answers.The mainland student got 9 points.He didn’t answer the question, but the teacher believed that, at least he was honest.At last, we know which key Gates takes in Gates’ writing in reply for this school.What does he write? The letter reads: the secret of your life is hiding behind what you are interested in.幽默篇

A Fine Match

One day a lady saw a mouse running across her kitchen floor.She was very afraid of mouse, so she ran out of the house, got into a bus and went to the shops.There she bought a mousetrap.The shopkeeper said to her, “Put some cheese in it and you will soon catch that mouse.”

The lady went home with her mousetrap, but when she looked in her cupboard, she could not find any cheese in it.She did not want to go back to the shop, because it was very late, so she cut a picture of some cheese out of a magazine and put that in the trap.Surprisingly, the picture of the cheese was quite successful!When the lady came down to the kitchen the next morning she found a picture of a mouse in the trap beside the picture of the cheese!

He Was Only Wrong by Two

Jack Hawkins was the football coach at an Amercian college, and he was always trying to find good players, but they weren‘t always smart enough to be accepted by the college.One day the coach brought an excellent young player to the dean of the college and asked that the student be allowed to enter without an examination.“Well,” the dean said after some persuasion, “I‘d better ask him a few questions first.”

Then he turned to the student and asked him some very easy questions, but the student didn‘t know any of the answers.At last the dean said, “Well, what‘s five times seven?”

The student thought for a long time and then answered, “Thirty-six.”

The dean threw up his hands and looked at the coach in despair, but the coach said earnestly, “Oh, please let him in, sir!He was only wrong by two.”

Napoleon Was Ill

Jack had gone to the university to study history, but at the end of his first year, his history professor failed him in his examinations, and he was told that he would have to leave the university.However, his father decided that he would go to see the professor to urge him to let Jack continue his studies the following year.“He‘s a good boy,” said Jack‘s father, “and if you let him pass this time, I‘m sure he‘ll improve a lot next year and pass the examinations at the end of it really well.”

“No, no, that‘s quite impossible,” replied the professor immediately.“Do you know, last month I asked him when Napoleon had died, he didn‘t know!”

“Please, sir, give him another chance,” said Jack‘s father.“You see, I‘m afraid we don‘t take any newspaper in our house, so none of us even know that Napoleon was ill.”

Be Careful What You Wish For

A couple had been married for 25 years and they were celebrating their 60th birthdays, which fell on the same day.During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple for all 25 years, she would give them one wish each.The wife wanted to travel around the world.The fairy waved her hand, and Boom!She had the tickets in her hand.Next, it was the husband‘s turn.He paused for a moment, then said shyly, “Well, I‘d like to have a woman 30 years younger than me.”

The fairy picked up her wand, and Boom!He was ninety.Midway Tactics

Three competing store owners rented adjoining shops in a mall.Observers waited for mayhem to ensue.The retailer on the right put up huge signs saying, “Gigantic Sale!” and “Super Bargains!” The store on the left raised bigger signs proclaiming, “Prices Slashed!” and “Fantastic Discounts!” The owner in the middle then prepared a large sign that simply stated, “ENTRANCE”.That man knows the future Nasreddin was cutting a branch of a tree in his garden.While he was sawing, another man passed in the street.He stopped and said, 'Excuse me, but if you continue to saw that branch like that, you will fall down with it.' He said this because Nasreddin was sitting on the branch and cutting it at a place between himself and the trunk of the tree.Nasreddin said nothing.He thought, 'This is some foolish person who has no work to do and goes about telling other people what to do and what not to do.' The man continued on his way.Of course, after a few minutes, the branch fell and Nasreddin fell with it.'My God!' he cried.'That man knows the future!' and he ran after him to ask how long he was going to live.But the man had gone.A Good Boy Little Robert asked his mother for two cents.“What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?” “I gave it to a poor old woman,” he answered.“You're a good boy,” said the mother proudly.“Here are two cents more.But why are you so interested in the old woman?” “She is the one who sells the candy.”

Drunk One day, a father and his little son were going home.At this age, the boy was interested in all kinds of things and was always asking questions.Now, he asked, “What's the meaning of the word 'Drunk', dad?” “Well, my son,” his father replied, “look, there are standing two policemen.If I regard the two policemen as four then I am drunk.” “But, dad,” the boy said, “There’s only ONE policeman!”

Hospitality The hostess apologized to her unexpected guest for serving an apple-pie without any cheese.The little boy of the family left the room quietly for a moment and returned with a piece of cheese which he laid on the guest's plate.The visitor smiled, put the cheese into his mouth and then said: “You must have better eyes than your mother, sonny.Where did you find the cheese?” “In the rat-trap, sir,” replied the boy.How many children will I have Four best friends met at the hospital since their wives were giving births to their babies.The nurse comes up to the first man and says, “Congratulations, you got twins.” The man said “How strange, I'm the manager of Minnesota Twins.” After a while the nurse comes up to the second man and says, “Congratulations, you got triplets.” Man was like “Hmmm, strange I worked as a director for the ”3 musketeers.“ Finally, the nurse comes up to the third man and says ”Congratulations, you got twins x2.“ Man is happy and says, ”Ironic, I work for the hotel “4 Seasons.” All three of them are happy until they see their last buddy jumping all over the place, cursing God and banging his head on the wall.They asked him what's wrong and he answered, “What's wrong? I work for 7up”!

You're not going to make it

Gravely ill, a man went to the doctor with his wife.After the examination the physician motioned for the wife to meet him in the hallway.“Your husband is very sick,” the doctor said, “but there are three things you can do to ensure his survival.First, fix him three healthful, delicious meals a day.Next, give him a stress-free environment, and don't complain about anything.Finally, make passionate love to him every day.On the drive home the husband asked, ”What did the doctor say?“ ”I'm sorry,“ she said, ”but you're not going to make it.A lawyer's dog A lawyer's dog，running about unleashed，beelines for a butcher shop and steals a roast.Butcher goes to lawyer's office and asks，“if a dog running unleashed steals a piece of meat from my store，do I have a right to demand payment for the meat from the dog's owner?” The lawyer answers，“Absolutely.”“Then you owe me $8.50.Your dog was loose and stole a roast from me today.”The lawyer，without a word，writes the butcher a check for $8.50.Several days later the butcher opens the mail and finds an envelope from the lawyer: $20 due for a consultation.Time to a pig One day a visitor from the city came to a small rural area to drive around the country roads to see how the farms looked, and perhaps to see how farmers earned their living.The city man saw a farmer in his yard, holding a pig up in his hands, and lifting it so that the pig could eat apples from an apple tree.The city man said to the farmer,“ I see that your pig likes apples, but isn’t that quite a waste of time?” The farmer replied," What’s time to a pig.”

The brave heart

A millionaire called on all the bachelors in the city to his home , and take them to a big pool where lived some crocodiles”I want to find a brave heart, let me see who dare to jump into this pool and swim to the other side--------he will be my son-in-low, get all my fortune and my beautiful daughter.”Sex!But??Every man looked at each other, with a pale and red face.None dare.Suddenly, with a “PUTON”,a bachelor jumped into the water, God!He swam towards the other side at a crazy speed!And at the very lighting speed, he touched the side, and climbed on without even awaking the crocodiles!

The millionaire goes ahead and holds his hand: Congratulations!What a brave heart!I suppose U want to my daughter so much!

“Not at all!”the guy cried,”I just want to know who son of a bitch pushed me into the poor just now！”

第五篇：哲理故事

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哲理故事

一天早上，小和尚發現師父得到了6個饅頭，大師兄也得到了6個饅頭，只有他自己得到了4個饅頭。

小和尚覺得太不公平了。師父得6個饅頭，他沒意見，可大師兄也得6個饅頭，不是跟師父平起平坐了嗎？不行，不行！

于是小和尚找到師父，也要6個饅頭。師父說：“你能吃下6個饅頭嗎？”小和尚大聲說：“能！我要6個饅頭！” 師父看了看小和尚，把自己的饅頭拿了兩個給小和尚。不久，小和尚就將6個饅頭吃完了，他吃得很飽很飽。小和尚拍著肚子高興地對師父說：“師父，你看，6個饅頭我都吃下去了。我能吃6個饅頭，以后每天早上我都像大師兄一樣要6個饅頭！”師父微笑著看小和尚，說：“你是吃下去了6個饅頭，但明天你要不要6個饅頭，還是等會兒再說吧！”

小和尚覺得肚子脹，也口渴，然后就去喝了半碗水。接著，小和尚的肚子比剛才更脹了，而且有點兒發痛。小和尚開始難受起來，根本沒法像平時那樣挑水掃地念經。這時，師父對小和尚說：“平時你吃4個饅頭，今天你卻吃了6個饅頭，你多得到了兩個，可是你卻并沒有享受到這兩個饅頭的好處，相反，它們給你帶來了痛苦。得到不一定就是享受。不要把眼光盯著別人，不要與人比，不貪，不求，自然知足，自然常樂。”

小和尚點點頭，捂著肚子，說：“師父，以后，我還是吃四個饅頭”。