推荐十篇英文哲理故事

第一篇：推荐十篇英文哲理故事

生活的迷茫、职场的紧张有时候会压得你喘不过气来，为大家推荐英文哲理故事，有空可以看看喔！

第一篇：A Goodbye Kiss

推荐理由：

我们每个人都有过那样的时代，开始想要拒绝父母，想要成为自己，只是在那个年龄我们不曾意识到，无论怎样我们都是父母眼里永远的孩子，需要疼爱需要呵护。

一个不美满的结局，一个永不可能实现的心愿，一个父亲伟大的心，一个儿子深切的忏悔。

很感人，很动人，几乎让人流泪。

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

推荐理由：

类似的故事看过不少，可是仍然没有办法不揪心。眼睁睁地看着四岁的儿子消失在眼前，对于一个父亲来说，最痛苦的事莫过于此。可是谁能给他不牺牲的理由？

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)

推荐理由：

生活就是一面镜子，你对它微笑，它也对你微笑；你对它哭泣，它也对你哭泣。

可能有些老套。但是这是英文版的。

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

推荐理由：

这篇故事里，一个父亲，不仅原谅了杀害儿子的凶手，而且希望能收凶手为养子，让他做自己的继承人。

再不可思议的事情，也有它的理由。

如果连这都可以原谅，那么这世间再没有任何事让你记恨。

让更多人来感受一颗博大宽容的心吧。

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

推荐理由：

生活中不是缺少美，而是缺少发现美的眼睛；生活中不是缺少快乐，而是缺少感受快乐的心。

如果双目失明，我们是不是一定不快乐？如果健健康康，我们是不是一定快乐？

它再一次告诉我们，快乐在心。

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

推荐理由：

总有一天，算计别人的时候，会算到自己的头上。

故事有些小小的幽默，并且意味深长。

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

推荐理由：

永远积极面对人生，真的那么容易吗?每一天,你都可以选择开心或是不开心；但是有一天，你必须去选择，是生，还是死，你发现只要你选择生存，你就一定可以。态度就是一切。

禁不住想为主人公JERRY喝彩。

这是一篇很容易懂的文章，越到后面一切越出人意料。极力推荐。

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

推荐理由：

从这篇文章里面，我至少感受到两点：第一，人的潜力是无穷的，很多时候你认为自己做不到的事情，其实可以。就像一些看似根深蒂固的习惯，其实可以改变。第二，正如文中所说，言语的伤害有时候比身体的伤害更严重，这个道理谁都懂，但是文中所用的比喻真的太绝妙。

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

推荐理由:

在每一个爱你的人眼里，你都是最美丽的，连缺点都是美丽的。

所以我们每个人都可以自信满满，有理由有资本去自信，只要拥有了爱。

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：中国传统文化经典哲理故事(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．”

庄周梦蝶

一天，落日时分，庄子梦见自己变成一只蝴蝶。他扑打扑打翅膀，确信自己已经变成一只蝴蝶。这时他十分惬意，飘飘然竟完全忘记了自己是庄子。一会儿醒来，他明白了，那只骄傲的蝴蝶正是梦见自己变成蝴蝶的庄子。或许是蝴蝶做梦自己变成了庄子也未可知。

庄子是蝴蝶?亦或蝴蝶是庄子?这正是所谓的“事物转换”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．

南柯一梦

在中国唐朝，有个人叫淳于棼。一天他过生日，在门前大槐树下摆下宴席和朋友饮酒作乐，好不快活。喝醉了之后，他便睡着了。迷迷糊糊之中，他突然感觉有两个使者请他上车，马车朝大槐树下一个树洞驶去，驶向“槐安国”。

他发现树洞里另有一番仙境。有许多朱红色的大门，大门里面是华丽的宫殿，周围是亭台楼阁和美丽的花园。

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．

国王非常欣赏淳于棼，封他为“南柯郡太守”。后来，国王还将公主许配给他。淳于棼与公主过得非常幸福以致完全忘了自己的家 乡。淳于棼上任南柯郡太守后，前后二十年的时间，把南柯郡治理得井井有条，还和公主生了五个儿子，两个女儿。

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，有个国家突然入侵，淳于棼不得不率兵迎击，不过他还是打了败仗。这时公主又不幸去世了。淳于棼决定离开“槐安国”，仍是由

两名使者送行。淳于棼回到家中，突然惊醒过来，原来是一场梦。不过是小睡一会儿，而梦中经历却整整二十年。

淳于棼把梦境告诉朋友，大家感到十分有趣，一齐找到大槐树下，挖出一个很大的蚂蚁洞，旁边有孔，通向南边树枝，那里有一个小蚂 蚁洞。很显然，这就是所谓的“南柯郡”、“槐安国”！

〖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?”

罔两问影

虚影问影子说：“你先前低着头现在仰起头，先前束着发髻现在披着头发，先前坐着现在站起，先前行走现在停下来，这是什么原因呢?”

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：“你为什么拿这样微不足道的事情烦我呢?我就是这样地随意运动，我自己也不知道为什么会是这样。我，就如同寒蝉蜕下来的壳、蛇蜕下来的皮，跟那本体事物相似却又不是那事物本身。火光与阳光使我显现，阴暗与黑夜使我隐形。

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?”

我依赖有形的事物吗?而有形的事物又依赖什么呢?有形的物体到来我便随之而来，有形的物体离去我也随之而去，有形的物体俳徊不定我就随之不停地运动。这有什么可问的呢?”

〖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．”

唇亡齿寒

晋国的国君想要攻打虢国，但隔着一个虞国，讨伐虢国必须经过虞地。对此，虞国的国君可能会拒绝。晋君一直没能想出个好办法。一天，大臣荀息献计说：“大王，如果您能将珍宝献给虞国，他不会不答应借道的。”

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．

晋献公一听有点舍不得，荀息就说：“即使他接受了礼物，也不意味着他就会拥有它们，很快，我们还会把它们拿回来的。您担心什么呢?”晋献公采纳了荀息的计策。

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.虞国国君见到礼物，当时就满口答应下来。虞国大夫宫之奇听说后，赶快阻止道：“虢国是虞国的近邻，有事可以彼此帮助，我们之间就好像嘴唇和牙齿之间的关系。俗话说：‘唇亡齿亡’，万一虢国灭了，我们虞国也就难保了。如果我们借道给晋国，那么虢国和虞国的灭亡就是旦夕之间的事了。”但虞国国君没有听从宫之奇的劝说，结果不久晋国就灭掉了虢国和虞国。

〖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?”

大公无私

晋平公有一次问大臣祁黄羊说：“南阳县缺个县长，你看，应该派谁去当比较合适呢?”

祁黄羊毫不迟疑地同答说：“解狐。”

平公惊奇地问：“解狐不是你的仇人吗?”

“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．”

祁黄羊回答说：“是的，但陛下问我谁合适，并没有问谁是我的仇人呀!”

于是，解狐就被派到南阳县上任了。到任后，他确实为百姓办了许多好事。

过了一些日子，当平公需要一个人去指挥军队的时候，祁黄羊说：“祁午能够胜任。”

平公又奇怪起来了，问道：“祁午不是你的儿子吗?”

“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．

祁黄羊说：“是的，但这和推荐有什么关系呢?您只问我谁可以胜任，我就表达了我的想法。”

平公就派了祁午去做指挥官，他的表现，证明了这是一个最明智的选择。

孔子听到这两件事，十分赞赏祁黄羊“内举不避亲，外举不避仇”的荐才标准，并且说：“这才够得上‘大公无私’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

战国时，秦国的军队团团包围了赵国的都城邯郸，形势十分危急，赵国国君派平原君到楚国去求援。平原君打算带领二十名门客前去完成这项使命。已挑了十九名，尚少一个定不下来。这时，毛遂自告奋勇提出要去，平原君虽然对他的能力有所怀疑，但最终还是带着他一起前往了楚国。

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．

平原君到了楚国后，立即与楚王谈及“援赵”之事，谈了半天也毫无结果。这时，毛遂对楚王说：“我们来请你派兵援助，你却一言不发。别忘了，虽然楚国比赵国强大，却连连吃败仗，连国都也丢掉了，依我看，楚国比赵国更需要联合起来抗秦呀!”毛遂的一席话说得楚王心服口服，立即答应出兵援赵。

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．”

平原君回到赵国后感慨地说：“毛遂的一席话真是重于九鼎大吕。”

〖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，抛砖引玉

唐代有两个诗人，一个叫常健，一个叫赵嘏。

常健很仰慕赵暇的诗才。一次，赵嘏要去苏州。当常健听说他会去灵岩寺时，使先赶到灵岩，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-在一面显眼的墙上题写了两行诗，希望赵嘏看到后能续成一首。不久赵嘏到了灵岩寺，他一眼就看到了墙上不完整的诗，便续上一两行，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．

将诗补充完整。常健的诗没有赵嘏写得好，却能引出赵嘏的佳句。后来的人，就把这种做法叫作“抛砖引玉”，以此比喻用粗浅的意见或文章引发别人发表更高明的见解或作品。

〖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．”

望洋兴叹

秋汛的季节到了，无数条溪流汇入黄河，河水猛涨，河面宽得连对岸的牛马都辨不清。这样一来，河伯就洋洋自得起来了，以为世界上

所有壮丽的景色都集中在自己身上了。他顺看河水向东行，一直来到北海，向东一望，一片辽阔的大海，看不见水的边际。这时，河伯才改变了他骄傲的神态，望着海洋感慨地说：“俗话说‘有人的只学到分之一的道理，就以为谁也比不上自己’，我正是这样的人啊！”

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

量体裁衣

传说以前北京城里有个裁缝，在替人做衣服时，除了量身材尺寸外，还要询问对方的性情、年纪以及中举时间等等。人们感到奇怪，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 问他为什么要这样。他说：如果是青年中举，必定性情骄傲，走起路来抬头挺胸，因此衣服要做得前长后短；如果是老年中举，大都没那

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.么兴奋，走路不免弯腰曲背，衣服就要做得前短后长；性情急躁的，衣服要做得短；性子慢的，衣服应做得长些。后来“量体裁衣”这个成语泛指人们根据具体的情况处理问题。

〖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．”

鲁侯养鸟

从前有只海鸟，在鲁国城门上栖息。因为从来没有人见过这种鸟，所以人们都叫它“神鸟”。

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．

鲁侯命侍从活捉海鸟。侍从将海鸟关在金笼内，并放在太庙里供养。鲁侯视海鸟如国宾。每天都有各式各样的珍馐百味供海鸟 品尝，甚至鲁侯的乐师，也要为海鸟演奏。

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，海鸟却被这些豪华排场所吓倒，心里既惊慌又悲痛，不敢饮食，过了三天，终于死去。鲁侯以为他款待海鸟已十分周到。可不是

吗？他是用对待自己的方法去对待海鸟的。

〖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.鹬蚌相争

一只河蚌躺在河滩上张开壳儿晒太阳。河蚌鲜美的肉吸引了一只沿着河岸散步的鹬鸟。

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．”

鹬鸟立刻扑过来啄河蚌的肉，蚌灵敏地合拢了自己坚硬的壳，把鹬鸟尖尖的长嘴紧紧夹住。现在，他们都被对方钳制住了，动弹不得。鹬

对蚌说：“今天不下雨，明天不下雨，你就会晒死。”蚌也对鹬说：“你的嘴今天拔不出，明天拔不出，你就要渴死饿死!”

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．

鹬和蚌就这样争吵咒骂了半天，谁也不肯让步。这时，一个渔翁碰巧打这儿经过，看到这一情景，十分高兴，跑过去毫不费力地把他们都捉住了。

〖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

宋代画家文同，字与可。他画的竹子远近闻名，每天总有许多人登门求画。文同画竹的妙诀在哪里呢?原来，文同在自己家的房前屋后

种上了各种竹子。无论春夏秋冬，阴晴风雨，他都经常去观察竹子

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． 的生长变化情况，琢磨竹枝的长短粗细，叶子的形态、颜色。每当有新的感受就回到书房，把心中的印象画在纸上。日积月累，竹子在不 同季节、不同天气、不同时辰的形象都深深地印在他的心中，只要凝神提笔，在画纸前一站，平日观察到的各种形态的竹子立刻浮现在眼 前。所以每次画竹，他都很从容自信，画出的竹子，无不逼真传神。

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.诗人晁补之对文同的画很有研究，曾写下诗句：“与可画竹，胸中有成竹。”

“胸有成竹”比喻做事之前已作好充分准备，对成功十分有把握。

〖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．

老马识途

春秋时期，齐国国王齐桓公带兵攻打孤竹国。

齐国大军在孤竹国困了整整一年的时间。春去冬来，当齐军终于打败了孤竹国的时候，却发现他们迷失了方向，找不到回齐国的路了。

这时候，大臣管仲想出了个办法。他让士兵牵出几匹老马在前面带路。大军紧紧地跟在后面，就这样终于走出了孤竹国，回到了故乡。

〖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．

朽木难雕

孔子是春秋时期一位伟大的教育家。他有一个学生，说起话来头头是道，很有自己的理论和见解。孔子以为这个学生日后会有很大的成就。可不久后，这个学生就暴露出懒惰的毛病。

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，孔子在给学生讲课，这个学生却在房间里睡大觉。孔子知道后很难过，他说：“朽烂的木头是不能雕刻的，粪土一样的墙壁是

粉刷不了的。那是一个说话与行为不一致的学生。他给了我一个教训：我应该以实际行为而不是言谈来评价学生”。

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.后来，人们用这个成语“朽木难雕”比喻那难以教化、不能造就成才的人。

immense image without Shape

大象无形

〖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

赵国有个学者名字叫公孙龙。他曾对弟子说：“我不会和没有本领的人交往。”一天，有个衣衫褴褛的人，走上前对他说：“请您收我做

徒弟吧!”公孙龙打量了那人一番，问道：“你有何本领?”

“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．

那人回答说：“我有一个洪亮的嗓音，它能传得很远。”公孙龙问弟子道：“你们当中有没有声音洪亮的?”弟子回答说：“没 有。”于是公孙龙收那人做徒弟。其他弟子窃窃私语，还嘲笑道：“声音洪亮有什么用?”

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.过了几天，公孙龙和弟子们要到燕国去。他们来到一条大河前，可是岸边却没有渡船，只有一艘船停泊在远远的对岸。公孙龙就令新弟

了施展其技。新弟子欣然答允，便大喊一声。很快，那艘渡船就划了过求，载他们渡河去。

〖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

阳子到宋国去，住在旅馆里。旅馆的主人有两个姨太太，一个很美丽，另一个很丑陋。丑的受宠，美的反倒不受宠。阳子问店主为什 么会是这样，店主回答说：“那个美的觉得她自己很美，可是我并不感到她美；那个丑的觉得她自己很丑，可是我并不感到她丑。”阳子说：

“徒弟们记住这句话，要是一个人做高尚的事，又没有觉得自己很高尚的心理，那么他到哪儿都会受到欢迎的。”

〖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，青蛙在井边遇上了一只从海里来的大龟。青蛙就对大龟夸口说：“你看，我住在这里多么快乐啊!高兴的时

候，可以在井栏边跳跃玩耍；疲倦的时候，就回到井里睡在砖洞里。如果我跳入水中，水流穿过我的腋窝，支撑我的头部。如果我在泥地上走，泥浆便盖过我的脚面。我看看周围的蚯蚓啦、螃蟹啦、还有蝌蚪

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，他们哪里能跟我比呢? 我是这个井里的主人，自由自在的好不逍遥快乐!亲爱的海龟，你常到我的井里来游玩吧!”

大龟试着把它的左脚伸进井里去，但是右腿已经被绊住了。它踟躇着退却下来，对青蛙说：

“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．

“你见过大海吗?海的广大，何止千里；海的深度，何止千丈。夏朝的时候，每十年中有九年发大水，但是海里的水并不涨；到后来商

朝，每八年中有七年大旱，海里的水，也没有少了多少。住在大海里，才是真正的快乐呢!”

青蛙听了海龟的话，吃惊不小，开始认识到自己的浅薄和无知。

〖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、王屋两座山，方圆七百里，高数万丈。

北山住着一个名叫愚公的老人，年纪将近九十岁了。他的家门正面对着这两座大山。愚公苦于道路阻塞，出去进来都要绕远路，便召集全家人商量说：“我和你们尽力挖平两座大山，直通到豫州南部，到达汉水南岸，好吗?”大家纷纷表示赞同。

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．”

愚公于是带领子孙中能挑担子的三个儿子和孙子们干了起来。凿石头，挖泥土，用畚箕运送到渤海的边上。

住在黄河支流边河曲的一个名字叫智叟的老人笑着阻止愚公说：“你怎么那么傻呀，凭你的有生之年和余力，尚不能毁掉山上的草木，更不用说泥土和石头啦!”

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.愚公长叹一声说：“即使我死了，还有儿子在呀；儿子又生孙子，孙子又生儿子；子子孙孙没有穷尽的，可是山不会增高加大，何愁挖不平它们呢?”河曲智叟没有话来回答。

天帝被愚公的诚心感动，命令夸娥氏的两个儿子背走两座山，一座放在朔州的东部，一座放在雍州的南部。从此以后，从豫州的南部，直

到汉水的南面，再也没有大山挡路了。

〖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．

班门弄斧

从古代时起，鲁班被认为是一个建筑与雕塑方面的艺术大师，木匠们把鲁班奉为他们的始祖。据说，他曾经惟妙惟肖地雕刻出一个木凤

凰，木凤凰栩栩如生竟然真的在天上飞了三天。谁敢在鲁班面前卖弄使用斧子的技术，也就是说，想在大行家面前显示自己的本领，被 人们认为是十分荒唐可笑的行为。

这个成语用来讽刺那些在专家面前卖弄的人。

〖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．”

东郭先生

东郭先生是一个仁慈的学者，很乐于助人。一天，他背着书袋在路上走着。忽然，从后面跑来一只狼。狼对东郭先生说：“先生，救救我吧!有人要杀我!”

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?”

于是东郭先生倒出口袋里的书，把狼藏了进去。

不一会儿，一个人找了来，问东郭先生：“看见一只狼没有?”东郭先生说：“我 没看见。”

猎人走了，狼在口袋里喊到：“让我出去!”东郭先生把它放了出来。狼嚷道：“我要饿死了，东郭先生，我要吃了你!”

这时有个农夫走过来。东郭先生急忙把事情的经过告诉他，求他救命。狼却对农夫说：“他把我装进口袋，差点把我闷死。我不应该 吃他吗?”

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．”

农夫对狼说：“那么小的口袋怎么能装得下你?”狼说：“好吧，我给你看看是怎么装的。”它让东郭先生再次把它装进口袋。这时农夫说：“快，把口袋扎紧，用铁锹把它打死。你对狼怎么能讲仁慈? 狼都不是好东西!”

〖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．

请君入瓮

唐朝女皇武则天，为了镇压反对她的人，任用了一批酷吏。其中两个最为狠毒，一个叫周兴，一个叫来俊臣。有一回，武则天收到一封信，竟是告发周兴与人联络谋反。武则天大怒，责令来俊臣严查此事。

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

来俊臣知道周兴狡猾奸诈，仅凭一封信，是无法让他说实话的。于是，来俊臣准备了一桌丰盛的酒席，把周兴请到家里。两个人你劝我

喝，边喝边聊。来俊臣假装叹气说：“兄弟我平日办案，常遇到一些犯人死不认罪，不知老兄有何办法?”周兴阴笑着说：“你找一个大 瓮，四周用炭火烤热，再让犯人进到瓮里，他还会不招供吗?”来俊

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．”

臣连连点头称是，随即命人抬来一口大瓮，按周兴说的那样，在四周点上炭火，然后对周兴说：“宫里有人密告你谋反，上边命我严 查。对不起，现在就请老兄自己钻进瓮里吧。”周兴一听，连连磕头说：“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．

同舟共济

古时候，有两个相邻的国家经常打仗，两国的人民也互相将对方视为仇人。

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，两群人乘坐同一条船渡河。船快要开的时候，乘客才发现对方是敌国的人。一时间，两群人都握紧了拳头，互相瞪着对方，一副要打架的样子。船行驶到河中间时，突然刮起了大风，下起了暴雨。木船在大浪中被抛来抛去，眼看就要翻船了。这时，船上的人 为了保住性命，都顾不得那么多了，完全忘了彼此是敌人，大家一条心紧密配合，在风浪中稳住了船身。在全船人的齐心协力下，船终于 安全到达了河对岸。

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，人们后来常用“同舟共济”这个成语比喻在危急的环境中，大家同心协力，渡过难关、战胜困难。

Devise Strovtegies

运筹帷幄

〖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

万事俱备，只欠东风

故事发生在三国时期。有一次，魏国的曹操带了二十万精兵南下攻打吴国和蜀国，准备消灭它们。为了应敌，吴国利蜀国结成同盟国。曹军驻扎在长江北岸。曹操让手下用铁链将战船连在一起，好让曹军渡江攻打南岸的盟军。盟军由吴国将领周瑜带领。他仔细分析了形势，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．”

最后决定用火烧掉敌人的船。于是，他开始准备一切，当他将一切准备好时，发现还需要东风。可连续几天都没有东风，周瑜急得病倒了。这时，蜀国的军师诸葛亮叫人送了一张纸条给他，上面写着：

“要赢曹操，须用火攻。万事俱备，只欠东风。”

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，立刻向诸葛亮求助。诸葛亮叫周瑜不要着急，两天后，将有东风。果然，两天后，刮起东风。周瑜趁这个机会将曹军的 战船烧毁，最后，曹操被打败了。

后来，人们用这个成语来比喻样样都准备好了，只差最后一个重要条件。

〖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

三国时代，一次曹操与刘备交战。刘备命令大将赵云、黄忠去抢夺曹操的粮草。曹操带领大军追赶赵云。赵云一直退到营寨前，叫士兵

打开营门，放倒军旗，停止擂鼓，在营外设好埋伏。曹军追到，看到这种情景，怀疑有埋伏，就撤退了。

“偃旗息鼓”这个成语现在用来比喻停止攻击或者事情中止。

〖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．

一鼓作气

春秋时期，齐国派兵攻打鲁国。鲁国的国王鲁庄公带着谋士曹刿指桎作战。

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

齐军第一次击鼓以后，鲁王准备发起进攻。曹刿却说：“不行，等齐军击鼓三次后再进攻。”齐军三次击鼓以后，曹刿才指挥进攻。结果齐军大败。战斗结束后，鲁庄公问曹刿为什么提出这样奇怪的建议。曹刿回答说：“打仗要靠勇气。第一次击鼓，士气十分旺盛；第二次击

鼓，士气有些衰落；第三次击鼓，士气就消耗尽了。敌人士气耗尽，我们发起进攻，所以取得了胜利。”

后来，“一鼓作气”形容做事情要鼓足勇气，一气呵成。

〖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

春秋时期，晋献公听信谗言，杀了太子申生，又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳。重耳闻讯，逃出了晋国，在外流亡十几年。经过千辛万苦，重耳来到楚国。楚成王认为重耳口后必有大作为，就以国君之礼相迎，待他如上宾。

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．”

楚成王设宴招待重耳，两人饮酒叙话，气氛十分融洽。忽然楚成王问重耳：“你若有一天回晋国当上国君，该怎么报答我呢?”重耳 笑笑回答道：“要是托您的福，果真能回国当政的话，我愿与贵国友好。假如有一天，晋楚两国之间发生战争，我一定命令军队先退避三 舍，如果还不能得到您的原谅，我再与您交战。”

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，重耳如期回到晋国当了国君，即历史上有名的晋文公。晋国在他的治理下日益强大。公元前633年，楚国和晋国的军队在作战

时相遇。晋文公为了实现他许下的诺言，下令军队后退二十里，后来反击，大败楚军。

〖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

春秋时期，吴王夫差率领大队人马向晋军进军。他命令将士们摆成三个方阵。当中的都穿白色衣服，拿着白色的旗帜，远远望去就 像遍地盛开着白色荼花。左边的穿红色衣服，拿着红色的旗帜，远远望去就像满山燃烧着熊熊火焰。右边的穿黑色衣服，拿着黑色的 旗帜，远远望去就像满天结集着浓密的乌云。夫差想利用这种声势去压倒对方。

“如火如荼”这个成语形容气势旺盛，场面热烈的景象。

〖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，楚和汉争夺天下。楚王项羽被汉王刘邦的军队紧紧地围困在垓下这个地方。项羽已身处绝境，粮食几乎

吃光了，将士也所剩无几。

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，四面包围着的汉军唱起了楚国的民歌。项羽听了，非常吃惊地说：“汉军已经全部占领了整个楚国的土地吗?为什么在汉军中有 这么多的楚国人呢?”说完便带着残余的士兵惊慌地逃走了。项羽看到自己末路途穷，终于在乌江边拔剑自刎。一代英豪以悲剧结束了自己的 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”这个成语比喻四面受到敌人的攻击，处于孤立危急的困境。

〖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．

以逸待劳

西汉末年，军阀隗嚣脱离刘秀，去投靠在四川称帝的公孙述。刘秀大怒，派兵去攻打隗嚣，结果反被隗嚣打败。

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.刘秀重新组织兵力并派爱将冯异前去占领枸邑。隗嚣得到消息，命令部将行巡立刻去枸邑抢占有利地形。冯异的部将们都劝冯异不要和行巡大军作战。冯异斩钉截铁地说：“我们必须抢占枸邑‘以逸待劳’。”冯异命令部队急行军，抢在行巡之前，占领了枸邑。冯异严密封锁消息，紧闭城门，偃旗息鼓，让将士们休整。行巡的部分急匆匆地刚赶到城下，城楼上突然鼓声大作，亮出了冯异的帅旗。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.军队毫无防备，吓得四下逃窜。冯异大开城门，领兵冲出城来，大败敌军。

“以逸待劳”这一成语指让自己的军队养精蓄锐，以等候疲惫赶来的敌军，将其打败。

〖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

东晋时代，秦王苻坚控制了北部中国。公元383年，苻坚率兵攻打晋朝。苻坚得知晋军兵力不足，就想以多胜少，抓住机会，迅速 出击。

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．

谁料，苻坚的部队被晋军击败了，损失惨重，大将被杀，士兵死伤万余。秦军的锐气大挫，军心动摇。此时，苻坚望见晋军队伍严整，士气高昂，山上一草一木都像晋军的士兵一样。他后悔自己过于轻敌了。

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.出师不利给苻坚心头蒙上了阴影，他最终中箭而逃。晋军以有限的兵力大败敌军，赢取了胜利。

成语“草木皆兵”，形容神经过敏、疑神疑鬼的惊恐心理。

Supreme Eloquence

大辩若讷

〖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.盲人问日

从前，有一个生来就失明的盲人，从来没有见过太阳。他问别人太阳是什么样子的。

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．

一个人告诉他：“太阳的形状像铜盘。”他敲敲铜盘，听见了铜盘叮叮当当的声音。后来，他听见了庙里的钟声，就以为这是太阳 了。又有一个人告诉他：“太阳像蜡烛一样发光。”他摸摸蜡烛，感受到了它的形状。后来，他摸到了一支短笛，就以为是太阳了。

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．

可是我们知道太阳与钟声或笛子是多么的不同啊!因为盲人从来没有见过太阳，只是听别人描述而已，所以才造成这样的误解。

〖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．”

二童辩日

孔子东游的途中，见到两个小孩在面红耳赤地争论什么，就走上前去，问他们在争论什么。

“我认为太阳在黎明的时候离我们最近，而在正午时离我们最远。”一个小孩儿说。

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?”

另一个小孩儿立即争辩说：“我认为太阳在黎明的时候离我们最远，而在正午时离我们最近。”

一个小孩说：“太阳刚出来时像个大圆车篷，等到正午时像个盘子或盂，这不是远处的小而近处的大的道理吗?”

另一个小孩说：“太阳刚出来时清凉寒冷，等到了正午，它热得像把手伸向热水里。这不正是距离近的就觉得热，距离远的就觉得凉 的道理吗? ”

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

孔子不能够断定谁是谁非。两个小孩笑看说：“是谁说你是学多才的人呢?”

〖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?”

濠梁之辩

庄子和朋友惠施在濠水的一座桥梁上散步。庄子看着水里的苍鲦鱼说：“苍鲦鱼在水里悠然自得，这是鱼的快乐啊。”

惠施说：“你不是鱼，怎么知道鱼的快乐呢?”

“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．”

庄子说：“你不是我，怎么知道我不知道鱼的快乐呢?”

惠施说：“我不是你，固然不知道你；你不是鱼，无疑也没法儿知道鱼是不是快乐。”

“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．”

庄子说：“请回到我们开头的话题。你问‘你怎么知道鱼快乐’，这句话表明你已经肯定了我知道鱼的快乐了，而我则是在濠水的桥上知道鱼儿快乐的。”

〖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．”

亡羊补牢

战国时期，楚襄王十分昏庸无道。楚国有一个大臣，名叫庄辛。有一次他对楚襄王说：“您在宫里面的时候，周侯和夏侯伴您的左右，您整天想的是吃喝玩乐，却一点也不在乎国家的治理，因此国家已处在危险之中!您如果不信我的话，请允许我到赵国躲一躲，看事情究竟会怎样。”

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．

庄辛到赵国才住了五个月，秦国果然派兵侵楚，这时楚襄王才觉得庄辛的话不错，赶紧派人把庄辛请回来，问他有什么办法。

庄辛回答说：“丢了羊，及时把羊圈修好，不算迟。然后他提出一些好的建议，帮助楚国振兴，收复失地。

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，我们仍用成语“亡羊补牢”来比喻事情出了差错，有了损失，仍然要及时吸取教训，设法给予补救。

〖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．”

塞翁失马

很久很久以前，有一位老人，名叫塞翁。一天，他发现他的马走失了。据说有人看见马跑过了边境。邻居们听到这事，都来安慰他。塞翁

却显得非常平静，他对来人说：“没关系，也未见得是一件环事。相反，还可能是件好事呢!”

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，塞翁听到马叫声便起身看个究竟。令他大吃一惊的是他不但见到了自己的马，还见到了另外一匹骏马。很显然是他的马把自己的伙伴带回了家。听到消息后，邻居们都跑来道喜。然而塞翁在与邻居寒暄时显得不仅平静而且若有所思。他说：“我是白得了一匹马，不过还很难说这是福是祸，没准儿是不祥之物。”

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．

谁想到塞翁竟一语成谶。他的儿子特别喜欢那匹骏马。一天骑马时，他不慎从马背上摔落下来，摔断了左腿。从此，他再也不能像 从前那样自由行走了。对此，塞翁却说：“不碍事，没准是件好事情呢!”

一年以后，很多年轻人都被征兵入伍，多数人都死在战场上。塞翁的儿子却因为残疾免除兵役，从而保全了性命。

〖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?”

庄周贷粟

庄子家里穷得没米下锅了，不得不到监河候那哩去借粮。监河候说：“行啊，我即将领到封邑的薪金，打算借给你三百金，可以吗?”

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

庄子生气得变了脸色，说：“我昨天往你这里来，半路上听到有个声音在呼救，我回头一看，见到车轮碾成的沟里有一条鲋鱼，我问它

说：‘你过来，你是干什么的? ’鲋鱼回答说：‘我是东海龙王的信使，你有一斗的水使我活下去吗?’我说：‘行，我将到南方去游说吴越

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，让他们把西江的水引过来迎接你，可以吗?’鲋鱼生气地变了脸色，说：‘我失去了正常的生活环境，我没有地方可以活下去了，我 只要获得一斗半升的水就能活命了，你竟然这么说，还不如早早地到卖干鱼的集市上去找我。’”

〖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．

洛阳纸贵

晋代文学家左思，小时候是个非常顽皮、不爱读书的孩子。父亲经常为这事发脾气，可是小左思仍然淘气得很，不肯好好学习。

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，左思的父亲与朋友们聊天，朋友们羡慕他有个聪明可爱的儿子。左思的父亲叹口气说：“快别提他了，小儿左思的学习，还不如我小时候，看来没有多大的出息了。”这一切都被小左思看到听到了，他非常难过，觉得自己不好好念书确实很没出息。于是，他暗暗下决心，一定要刻苦学习。

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．

左思渐渐长大了，由于他坚持不懈地发奋读书，终于成为一位学识渊博的人，文章也写得非常好。他用了十年时间撰写成了文学巨著 《三都赋》。由于当时还没有发明印刷术，喜爱《三都赋》的人只能争相抄阅，因为抄写的人太多，洛阳的纸张供不应求，一时间纸价大幅 上升。

成语“洛阳纸贵”用于称颂杰出的作品风行一时。

〖Issue Orders Repeatedly〗

第四篇：英文小故事哲理篇与幽默篇

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





哲理故事

一天早上，小和尚发现师父得到了6个馒头，大师兄也得到了6个馒头，只有他自己得到了4个馒头。

小和尚觉得太不公平了。师父得6个馒头，他没意见，可大师兄也得6个馒头，不是跟师父平起平坐了吗？不行，不行！

于是小和尚找到师父，也要6个馒头。师父说：“你能吃下6个馒头吗？”小和尚大声说：“能！我要6个馒头！” 师父看了看小和尚，把自己的馒头拿了两个给小和尚。不久，小和尚就将6个馒头吃完了，他吃得很饱很饱。小和尚拍着肚子高兴地对师父说：“师父，你看，6个馒头我都吃下去了。我能吃6个馒头，以后每天早上我都像大师兄一样要6个馒头！”师父微笑着看小和尚，说：“你是吃下去了6个馒头，但明天你要不要6个馒头，还是等会儿再说吧！”

小和尚觉得肚子胀，也口渴，然后就去喝了半碗水。接着，小和尚的肚子比刚才更胀了，而且有点儿发痛。小和尚开始难受起来，根本没法像平时那样挑水扫地念经。这时，师父对小和尚说：“平时你吃4个馒头，今天你却吃了6个馒头，你多得到了两个，可是你却并没有享受到这两个馒头的好处，相反，它们给你带来了痛苦。得到不一定就是享受。不要把眼光盯着别人，不要与人比，不贪，不求，自然知足，自然常乐。”

小和尚点点头，捂着肚子，说：“师父，以后，我还是吃四个馒头”。