Blessing or Bane (Sai Weng Shi Ma, Yan Zhi Fei Fu)
Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said his father.
Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of
纽约有名的古老旅馆 Algonquin Hotel 最近推出一种价值一万美元一杯的martini酒，酒底下带有一颗钻石。目前还未有人 购买，不过旅馆经理说已经有很多人表示对它有兴趣。旅馆期望哪天有某浪漫的人 会首先买下这种酒。 NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Drinkers might want to keep a clear head when ordering a martini at New York's historic Algonquin Hotel or they might pay $10,000 for that cold sip. The landmark hotel, where famed wit Dorothy Parker and fellow literary lights at the Round Table imbibed, offers a $10,000 martini, complete with a loose diamond at the bottom. No one has ordered one yet, in the martini's first week on the menu, but the hotel hopes some romantic soul will buy one any day now. "We haven't had any buyers yet, but a lot of people are talking about it," said Anthony Melchiorri, the hotel's general manager, on Wednesday. The drink is designed to fit with tradition at the Algonquin, where Round Table members including Parker, writer Robert Benchley,
１ 夏天的飞鸟，飞到我的窗前唱歌，又飞去了。 秋天的黄叶，它们没有什么可唱，只叹息一声，飞落在那里。 stray birds of summer come to my window to sing and fly away. and yellow leaves of autumn, which have no songs, flutter and fall there with a sign. ２ 世界上的一队小小的漂泊者呀，请留下你们的足印在我的文字里。 o troupe of little vagrants of the world, leave your footprints in my words. ３ 世界对着它的爱人，把它浩翰的面具揭下了。 它变小了，小如一首歌，小如一回永恒的接吻。 the world puts off its mask of vastness to its lover. it becomes small as one song, as one kiss of the eternal. ４ 是大地的泪点，使她的微笑保持着青春不谢。 it is the tears of the earth that keep here smiles in bloom. ５ 无垠的沙漠热烈追求一叶绿草的爱，她摇摇头笑着飞开了。 ……
A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. ‘That’s for me, as I am a Fox,’ said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. ‘Good-day, Mistress Crow,’ he cried. ‘How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.’ The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. ‘That will do,’ said he. ‘That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future .’Do not trust flatterers.’
Proud Maisie is in the wood, Walking so early; Sweet Robin sits on the bush, Singing so rarely. “tell me ,thou bonny bird, when shall I marry me?” -“when six braw gentlemen kirkward shall carry ye.” “who makes the bridal bed, birdie, say truly?” -“The gray-headed sexton That delves the grave duly. “The glowworm o’er grave and stone Shall light thee steady; The owl from the steeple sing, Welcome, proud lady.”
Love's Witness Slight unpremeditated Words are borne By every common Wind into the Air; Carelessly utter'd, die as soon as born， And in one instant give both Hope and Fear： Breathing all Contraries with the same Wind According to the Caprice of the Mind. But Billetdoux are constant Witnesses， Substantial Records to Eternity; Just Evidences，who the Truth confess, On which the Lover safely may rely； They're serious Thoughts，digested and resolv'd； And last，when Words are into Clouds devolv'd.
Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter ofrosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, aquality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a tempera-mental predominance of courage over timidity, of theappetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spring back to dust.
Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder,the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my he ……
Tom had this problem of getting up late in the morning and was always late for work.His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn't do something about it.SO Tom went to his docor who gave him apill and told him to take it before he went to bed.Tom slept well and in fact beat the alarm in the morning.He had a leisurely breakfsst and drove cheerfully to work."Boss",he said,"The pill actually worked!""That's all fine"Said the boss,"but where were you yesterday?"
