憂傷的英語文章
傷感和憐憫是偉大的人類情感,無論什麼時期,都不應當被我們遺棄——當你目睹各種有形無形的暴力正在發生時,你也會是那個傷感的人嗎?下面是小編帶來的，歡迎閱讀!
1
To buy an hour from father-Samuel
向爸爸買一個小時
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
一個人工作到很晚，帶著疲憊與憤怒回到家裡，卻發現5歲大的兒子正在門口等他。
“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“爸爸，我可以問你一個問題嗎?”
“Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
“當然，什麼問題?”
“Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
“爸爸，你一個小時賺多少錢?”
“That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.
“這不關你的事。怎麼問這樣一個問題?”父親生氣地說道。
“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy.
“我只是想知道。請告訴我吧，你一個小時賺多少錢?”小男孩乞求地說。
“If you must know, I make $20 an hour.”
“真想知道就告訴你吧，我一小時賺20美元。”
“Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I please borrow $10?”
“噢，”男孩說著，低下了頭。接著，他抬起頭來問：“爸爸，我可以借你10美元錢嗎?”
The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard every day for such childish behavior.”
父親生氣了：“如果你問這個問題，只是為了借錢買無聊的玩具或其他沒用的東西，那就趕緊回你的房間睡覺去。想想你怎麼會這麼自私。我每天工作這麼辛苦，得到的竟是這樣幼稚愚蠢的舉動。”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10 and he really didn’t ask for money very often.
小男孩靜靜地走進自己的房間，關上了門。這個人坐下後，更加為這個男孩的問題生氣了。這孩子怎麼敢問這樣的問題，就為了借些錢呢?大約過了一個小時，他才平靜下來了，開始想：也許他真的需要這10美元買什麼東西呢，他並不是經常要錢花。
The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
於是這個人走到小男孩的門口，打開了門。
“Are you asleep, son?” He asked.
“你睡了嗎，孩子?”他問。
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“沒有呢，爸爸。我醒著，”男孩回答。
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man, “It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $10you asked for.”
“我在想，可能剛才我對你太嚴厲了，”父親說，“經過漫長的一天，我把怒氣都發到你身上了。這是你要的10美元。”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.
小男孩坐直了身子，笑了：“噢，謝謝爸爸!”他忍不住呼喊起來。接著，他伸手到枕頭底下，拿出一把皺巴巴的鈔票。看到男孩已經有錢了，父親又忍不住要發火。小男孩慢慢地數著錢，然後抬頭看著父親。
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“既然你已經有錢了，為什麼還要更多錢?”父親粗魯地抱怨說。
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied. “Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
“因為我的錢不夠，不過現在夠了，”小男孩回答，“爸爸，我現在有20美元了，我可以買你一小時的時間嗎?請你明天早點下班，我想和你一起吃晚飯。”
2
寫給女兒的信
The Letter for My daughter
16:寫給女兒的信
Dear Malia and Sasha,
親愛的馬莉亞和莎夏：
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have.
我知道這兩年你們倆隨我一路競選都有過不少樂子，野餐、遊行、逛州博覽會，吃了各種或許我和你媽不該讓你們吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你們倆和你媽的日子，有時候並不愜意。
But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart.
新來的小狗雖然令你們興奮，卻無法彌補我們不在一起的所有時光。
I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.
我明白這兩年我錯過的太多了，今天我要再向你們說說為何我決定帶領我們一家走上這趟旅程。
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want.
當我還年輕的時候，我認為生活就該繞著我轉：我如何在這世上得心應手，成功立業，得到我想要的。
But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore.
後來，你們倆進入了我的世界，帶來的種種好奇、淘氣和微笑，總能填滿我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之間，我為自己譜寫的偉大計劃顯得不再那麼重要了。
I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours.
我很快便發現，我在你們生命中看到的快樂，就是我自己生命中最大的快樂。而我也同時體認到，如果我不能確保你們此生能夠擁有追求幸福和自我實現的一切機會，我自己的生命也沒多大價值。
In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
總而言之，我的女兒，這就是我競選總統的原因：我要讓你們倆和這個國家的每一個孩子，都能擁有我想要給他們的東西。
I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential--schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them.
我要讓所有兒童都在能夠發掘他們潛能的學校就讀;這些學校要能挑戰他們，激勵他們，並灌輸他們對身處的這個世界的好奇心。
I want them to have the chance to go to college--even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.
我要他們有機會上大學，那怕他們的父母並不富有。而且我要他們能找到好的工作：薪酬高還附帶健康保險的工作，讓他們有時間陪孩子、並且能帶著尊嚴退休的工作。
I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer.
我要大家向發現的極限挑戰，讓你在有生之年能夠看見改善我們生活、使這個行星更乾淨、更安全的新科技和發明。
And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.
我也要大家向自己的人際界限挑戰，跨越使我們看不到對方長處的種族、地域、性別和宗教樊籬。
Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country--but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe.
有時候為了保護我們的國家，我們不得不把青年男女派到戰場或其它危險的地方，然而當我們這麼做的時候，我要確保師出有名，我們盡了全力以和平方式化解與他人的爭執，也想盡了一切辦法保障男女官兵的安全。
And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free--that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
我要每個孩子都明白，這些勇敢的美國人在戰場上捍衛的福祉是無法平白得到的：在享有作為這個國家公民的偉大特權之際，重責大任也隨之而來。
That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.
這正是我在你們這年紀時，外婆想要教我的功課，她把獨立宣言開頭幾行念給我聽，告訴我有一些男女為了爭取平等挺身而出遊行抗議，因為他們認為兩個世紀前白紙黑字寫下來的這些句子，不應只是空話。
She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better--and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.
她讓我瞭解到，美國所以偉大，不是因為它完美，而是因為我們可以不斷讓它變得更好，而讓它更好的未竟工作，就落在我們每個人的身上。這是我們交給孩子們的責任，每過一代，美國就更接近我們的理想。
I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had.
我希望你們倆都願接下這個工作，看到不對的事要想辦法改正，努力幫助別人獲得你們有過的機會。
Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much--although you do have that obligation.
這並非只因國家給了我們一家這麼多，你們也當有所回饋，雖然你們的確有這個義務，而是因為你們對自己負有義務。
But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.
因為，唯有在把你的馬車套在更大的東西上時，你才會明白自己真正的潛能有多大。
These are the things I want for you--to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world.
這些是我想要讓你們得到的東西：在一個夢想不受限制、無事不能成就的世界中長大，長成具慈悲心、堅持理想，能幫忙打造這樣一個世界的女性。
And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.
我要每個孩子都有和你們一樣的機會，去學習、夢想、成長、發展。這就是我帶領我們一家展開這趟大冒險的原因。
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.
我深以你倆為榮，你們永遠不會明白我有多愛你們，在我們準備一同在白宮開始新生活之際，我沒有一天不為你們的忍耐、沉穩、明理和幽默而心存感激。
Love, Dad
愛你們的老爹
3
Memo From A Child To Parents
孩子給爸爸媽媽的備忘錄
這是一份《美國幼兒園給家長的備忘錄》，是老師以孩子的口吻，提醒父母對待孩子時的注意事項，用心閱讀的家長和老師從中一定都會有所啟示和收穫，也許對你教育孩子以及每個成年人對待自己的成長經歷與自我成長及對幼小心靈的認同有所幫助。
1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all I ask for. I'm only testing you.
別溺愛我。我很清楚地知道，我不應該得到每一樣我所要求的東西，我哭鬧不休其實只是在試探你。
2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel secure.
別害怕對我保持公正的態度，這樣反倒讓我有安全感。
3. Don't let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
別讓我養成壞習慣，在年幼的此刻，我得依靠你來判斷和培養。
4. Don't make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly "big".
別讓我覺得自己比實際的我還渺小，這隻會讓我假裝出一副和我實際年齡不符的傻樣。
5. Don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. I'll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
可能的話，儘量不要在人前糾正我的錯誤，我會感到很沒面子，進而和你作對。你私下提醒，效果會更好。
6. Don't make me feel that my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
別讓我覺得犯了錯就是犯了罪，它會削弱我對人生的希望。
7. Don't protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way sometimes.
別過度保護我，怕我無法接受某些“後果”。很多時候，我需要經由痛苦的經歷來學習。
8. Don't be too upset when I say "I hate you". Sometimes it isn't you I hate but your power to thwart me.
當我說“我恨你”的時候別往心裡去。我恨的絕對不是你，我恨的是你加在我身上的那些壓力。
9. Don't take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
別太在意我的小病痛。有時，我只是想得到你的注意而已。
10. Don't nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
別對我嘮叨不休，否則我會裝聾作啞。
11. Don't forget that I cannot explain myself as well as I should like. That is why I am not always accurate.
我有時不能把事情解釋得很清楚，會詞不達意。這也是為什麼我有時不能準確地表達自己。
12. Don't put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
當我問你問題的時候，請別敷衍我或者拒絕我。否則我將停止發問，轉向它處尋求答案。
13. Don't be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
請別在管教原則上前後不一出爾反爾。這樣會讓我疑惑，進而失去對你的信任。
14. Don't tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
我害怕的時候，不要覺得我很傻很可笑。如果你試著去了解，便會發現我當時有多恐懼。
15. Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
別對我暗示你永遠正確、無懈可擊。當我發現你並非如此的時候，對我將是一個多麼大的打擊。
16. Don't ever think that it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm towards you.
別認為向我道歉是沒有尊嚴的事。一個誠懇的道歉，會讓我和你更接近，更尊重你，感覺更溫暖。
17. Don't forget I love experimenting. I couldn't get along without it, so please put up with it.
別忘記我喜歡親自嘗試，如果我不嘗試就寸步難行，所以請你包容。
18. Don't forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult for you to keep pace with me, but please do try.
別忘了我很快就會長大，對你來說，和我一起成長是很不容易的事，但請你嘗試一下吧。
19. Don't forget that I don't thrive without lots of love and understanding, but I don't need to tell you, do I?
不要忘了離開了厚愛和理解我不會茁壯成長，但是，這一點我不需要提醒你吧?
20. Please keep yourself fit and healthy. I need you.
請保持身體健康，因為我需要你。