優美英語美文摘抄精選

　　通過美文的賞析,陶冶學生的思想情操,開闊視野,提高對優美散文的鑑賞能力,提高人文素養;同時培養學生的認知水平、情感態度、文化意識,激發學習英語的興趣,為他們的跨文化交際能力和終身學習英語的能力打下良好的基礎。小編整理了優美英語美文，歡迎閱讀!

　　優美英語美文：A Greek to Remember

　　一位值得紀念的希臘人

　　Diogenes was a famous Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C.，who established the philosophy of cynicism.He often walked about in the daytime holding a lighted lantern，peering around as if he were looking for something.When auestioned about his odd behavior，he would reply，"I am searching for an honest man."

　　Diogenes held that the good man was self-sufficient and did not require material comforts or wealth.He believed that wealth and possessions constrained humanity's natural state of freedom.In keeping with his philosophy，he was perefectly satisfied with making his home in a large tub discarded from the temple of Cybele，the goddess of nature.

　　This earthen tub，called a pithos，and formerly been used for holding wine or oil for the sacrifices at the temple.

　　One day，Alexander the Great ，conqueror of half the civilized world，saw Diogenes sitting in this tub in the sunshine. So the king，surrounded by his countries，approached Diogenes and said，"I am Alexander the Great."The philosopherreplied rather contemptuously，"I am Diogenes，the Cynic."Alexander then asked him if he could help him in any way."

　　Yes，"shot back Diogenes，"don't stand between me and the sun."A surprised Alexander then replied quickly，"If I were not Alexander，I would be Diogenes."

　　提奧奇尼斯是公元前四世紀一位著名的希臘哲學家，就是他創立了犬儒派哲學。他經常在白天點著燈籠四處走動、張望，像是在找什麼東西似的。哪人們問起他這古怪行為時，他會回答說：“我正在尋找正人君子。”

　　提奧奇尼斯認為好人是自給自足的，不需要物質享受和財富。他認為財富、財產束縛了人們天生的自由狀態。與他的哲學相一致，他拿一個從別人從自然之母的廟裡丟棄的大壇作為自己的家，還對此萬分滿意。這個陶製的大壇叫做聖壇，過去在廟裡是用來盛裝祭祀用的酒和油的。

　　一天，征服了半個文明世界的亞歷山大大帝看見提奧奇尼斯坐在大壇裡晒太陽。於是這位君主在大臣們的簇擁下走過去，對提奧奇尼斯說：“我是亞歷山大大帝。”哲學家相當傲慢地回答說：“我是提奧奇尼斯————犬儒學者。”然後亞歷山大問他是否需要任何幫助。“

　　是的“，提奧奇尼斯駁回道，”別站在我和太陽之間。“大吃一驚的亞歷大繼而迅速回答道：”假如我不是亞歷山大，我就會是提奧奇斯。

　　優美英語美文：The Cobbler and the banker

　　La Fontaine/拉。封丹

　　皮匠和銀行家

　　A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night;it was wonderful to see，wonderful to hear him;he was more contented in shoes，than was any of the seven sages.His neighbor，on the contrary，who was rolling in wealth，sung but little and slept less.He was a banker;when by chance he fell into a doze at day-break，the cobbler awoke him with his song.The banker complained sadly that Providence had not made sleep a saleable commodity，like edibles or drinkables.Having at length sent for the songster，he said to him，"How much a year do you earn，Master Gregory?"

　　"How much a year，sir?"said the merry cobbler laughing，"I have reckon in that way，living as I do from one day to another;somehow I manage to reach the end of the year;each day brings its meal."

　　"Well then!How much a day do you earn，my friend?"

　　"Sometimes more，sometimes less;but the worst of it is，-and，without that our earnings would be very tolerable，-a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work;and the curate，moreover，is constantly adding some new saint to the list."

　　The banker，laughing at his simplicity，said，"In the future I shall place you above want.Take this hundred crowns，preserve them carefully，and make use of them in time of need."

　　The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind.Returning home，he buried his money and his happiness at the same time，No more singin;he lost his voice，the moment he acquired that which is the source of so much grief.Sleep quitted his dwelling;and cares，suspicions，and false alarms took its place，All day，his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure;and at night，if some stray cat made a noise，the cat was robbing him.At length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbor;"Give my back." said he，"sleep and my voice，and take your hundred crowns."

　　一個皮匠從早到晚在唱歌中度過。無論見到他本人或聽見他的歌聲都使人覺得很愉快。他對於製鞋工作比當上了希臘七對還要滿足。

　　與此相反，他的鄰居是個銀行家，擁有萬貫家財，卻很少唱歌，晚上也睡得不好。他偶爾在黎明時分迷迷糊糊剛入睡，皮匠的歌聲便 於工作把他吵醒了。銀行家鬱鬱寡歡地抱怨上帝沒有睡眠也製成一種像食品或飲料那樣可以買賣的商品。後來，銀行家就叫人把這位歌手請來，問道：“格列戈裡師傅，你一年賺多少錢?”

　　“先生，你問我一年賺多少錢嗎?”快樂的皮匠笑道：“我從來不算這筆帳，我是一天一天地過日子，總而言之堅持到年底，每天掙足三餐。“

　　“啊，朋友，那麼你一天賺多少錢呢?”

　　“有時多一點，有時少一點;不過最糟糕的是一年中總有些日子不准我們做買賣，牧師又常常在聖徒名單上添新名字，否則我們的收入也還算不錯的。“

　　銀行家被皮匠的直率逗笑了，他說：“我要你從今以後不愁沒錢用。這一百枚錢你拿去，小心放好，需要時拿來用吧。”

　　皮匠覺自己好像看到了過去幾百年來大地為人類所需而製造出來的全部財富。他回到家中，埋藏好硬幣，同時也埋葬了他的快樂。他 不再唱歌了;從他得到這種痛苦的根源那一刻起，他的嗓子就啞了。睡眠與他分手;取而代之的卻是擔心、懷疑、虛驚。白天，他的目光盡朝埋藏硬幣的方向望;夜間，如果有隻迷途的貓弄出一點聲響，他就以為是有人來搶他的錢。最後，這個可憐的皮匠跑到他那富有的鄰居家裡說：“把你的一百枚錢拿回去，還我的睡眠和歌聲來。”

　　優美英語美文：Love is a two-way street

　　A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced,

　　“Dad, because this is your birthday and you’re 55 years old, I’m going to give you 55 kisses, one for each year!” When the boy started making good on his word, the father exclaimed, “Oh, Andrew, don’t do it now; I’m too busy!”

　　The youngster immediately fell silent as tears welled up in his big blue eyes. Apologically the father said, “You can finish later.”

　　The boy said nothing but quietly walked away, disappointment written over his face. That evening the father said, “Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!” But the boy didn’t respond.

　　Unfortunately, a few days later after this incident, the boy had an accident and was drowned. His heartbroken father wrote...

　　“If only I could tell him how much I regret my thoughtless words, and could be assured that he knows how much my heart is aching.”

　　…Love is a two-way street. Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar. If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too busy! Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us. Because... there may be no chance at all as in the case of the little boy...

　　父親坐在辦公桌旁，正盯著那些堆積了一個月來的賬單，這時，他的小兒子衝了過來，大聲宣佈：

　　“爸爸，因為今天是你五十五歲的生日， 我想給你五十五個吻，一年一個!”當男孩正要兌現諾言時，他爸爸大聲說道：“哦，安德魯，現在不行，我太忙了!”

　　小男孩馬上不吭聲了，藍色的大眼睛裡湧滿了淚水。父親深表歉意地說：“過會有空再親吧。”

　　男孩什麼也沒說，只是靜靜地走開了，失望的表情溢於言表。那天晚上，父親說：“來吧安德魯，現在可以親了!”但是，孩子卻沒有做出迴應。

　　不幸的是，這件事剛過去幾天之後，小男孩就不幸溺水身亡。傷心欲絕的爸爸寫道：

　　“如果我早告訴他，對於那些無心的話我是多麼後悔，他一定會明白我的心有多麼痛。”

　　愛，是一條雙行道。對於愛的表示一定要熱心地接受，否則對方會以為你拒絕了，從而留下一道傷痕。如果我們忙得連給予和接受愛的時間都沒有，那未免也忙得太過分了!對於那些在我們身邊，對我們彌足珍貴的人，用愛去迴應他們愛的渴望，這最重要不過了!因為……如果發生像小男孩這樣的情況，即使後悔也沒有機會了。