The Joy of Labor

劳动之乐

Wise men of ancient times and successful men of today have told us that labor is sweet.

古时的贤达和今天的成功者都告诉我们劳动是甜美的。

Its reward is not material gain but what one becomes by it.

劳动的报酬不是物质的获得而是人们藉由劳动所达到的成就。

Work does much more for us than just giving us a living;

工作所给予我们的岂止是混口饭吃；

it gives us our life and the reason for living.

它赋予我们生命以及活下去的理由。

The real joys of life come from doing something and doing it well.

人生真正的乐趣就在于能把所做的事做好。

All of us hope for success, but it is illusive and hard to keep.

我们都希望成功，但成功却是虚幻且难以维持的。

It nearly always slips away from one like sand through the fingers, like water through a leaky pail,

除非你能日日、夜夜、年复一年地努力紧守成功，

unless it is held tight by hard work, day by day，night by night, year in year out.

否则它几乎总会从你身边溜走，就如沙粒从指间滑落，或像水从漏桶流失一样。

Everyone who fears failure should work harder and harder with a faithful heart as long as he lasts.

凡是害怕失败的人应该在有生之年，一心一意地更加努力奋发才是。

重点单词

faithful adj. 如实的，忠诚的，忠实的

illusive adj. 幻影的，错觉的，迷惑人的