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Post by 边 草 on Feb 17, 2022 21:52:36 GMT -5
尺有所短,寸有所长,Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses.
# 255:
A gnat came and said to a Lion, “I do not in the least fear you, nor are you stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth as a woman in her quarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you; and if you doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer.” The Gnat, having sounded his horn, fastened himself upon the Lion and stung him on the nostrils and the parts of the face devoid of hair. While trying to crush him, the Lion tore himself with his claws, until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over the Lion, and, buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortly afterwards he became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb and was eaten by a spider. He greatly lamented his fate, saying, “Woe is me! that I, who can wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should perish myself from this spider, the most inconsiderable of insects!”
Moral: The least of our enemies is often the most to be feared. Pride over a success should not throw us off our guard.
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Post by 溪山 on Feb 18, 2022 2:52:15 GMT -5
一物降一物。Everything has its vanquisher.
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Post by 李斯 on Mar 14, 2022 22:59:39 GMT -5
#227
燕子在法庭的屋檐下搭了一个巢,并孵化了七只幼鸟,不料却被蛇吃掉了。 当燕子飞回来发现窝里空空荡荡时她惊呼道:哎呀,在这个人人都来声张正义的地方,我的权益则没人能够保护,难道法律因人而异吗?:-)
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Post by 溪山 on Mar 16, 2022 16:59:22 GMT -5
All are NOT created equal. All are NOT treated equally,even before the law.
zt:
A Swallow nested on the Court of Justice. A Snake came and ate her babies. She bemoaned how she got no justice where others did.
Justice is fickle.
A Swallow built herself a next in the wall of a Court of Justice and hatched seven young birds. A Serpent, gliding past the next, ate all seven nestlings. The Swallow, on returning and finding her next empty exclaimed: “Woe, that in this place where all others’ rights are protected, I should suffer wrong.”
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Post by 李斯 on Mar 21, 2022 22:25:45 GMT -5
A wild boar stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, “I do it advisedly; for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them.”
# 224
Moral: Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace.
Application: All business that is necessary to be done should be done betimes: for there is as little trouble in doing it in season as out of season; and he that is always ready can never be taken by surprise. Wise, just, and vigilant governments know that they cannot be safe in peace, unless they are always prepared for war, and are ready to meet the worst that can happen.
For those who love peace, the lesson learnt from Ukraine is that you don't give up your nuclear weapons especially when you have a neighbor with such powerful killing apparatus.
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Post by 溪山 on Mar 22, 2022 22:51:08 GMT -5
zt: 不戰而勝,善之善者。 The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
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Post by 边 草 on Mar 27, 2022 8:36:55 GMT -5
A certain woman had a Drunken Husband, whom she had tried in many ways to reclaim. It was all of no use. One night when he was brought home, as usual, quite unconscious, she had him carried to a neighboring tomb. Dressing herself in a weird costume. and with a mask upon her face, she awaited his return to his senses. Then, advancing in a solemn manner, she offered him some food, saying in a sepulchral tone, “Arise and eat. It is my office to bring food to the dead.” “Ah,” said he, “if you had known me better, you would have brought me something to drink instead.”
某女有一个酒鬼丈夫,她想尽一切办法让他戒掉那个坏习惯,可是什么办法都没有用。一天当他像往常一样醉得昏迷不醒被别人送回家时,她让人把他抬到附近墓地埋到一座坟穴里去了。然后这妻子脸带面具,穿上奇怪的服装在一边等着他清醒过来。当酒鬼丈夫醒来后,她神色凝重地递给他一些食物,用阴森森的语气说道:“起来吃吧。 给死者送食物是我的职责。” “啊,”他说,“如果你更了解我的话,你就会给我拿点喝的而不是吃的。”
Lol!
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Post by 边 草 on Apr 1, 2022 21:16:05 GMT -5
#226: Men see other’s faults but not their own.
Every man, according to an ancient legend, is born into the world with two bags suspended from his neck: all bags in front full of his neighbors’ faults, and a large bag behind filled with his own faults. Hence it is that men are quick to see the faults of others, and yet are often blind to their own failings.
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Post by 溪山 on Apr 2, 2022 23:12:56 GMT -5
Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
This verse continues the metaphor of a person with a plank in their own eye who criticizes someone for a speck in that person's eye. In this verse, Jesus argues that one must first remove the plank before going on to remove the speck. This verse warns us against hypocrisy, seeing the flaw (sin) in another while ignoring the obvious sin in our own lives. Jesus always made clear that judging was to be done by the Father, and humans should concern themselves with making their own soul ready for acceptance into the kingdom of God. The focus should always be on God’s grace, and in obedience rooting out the sin in our lives rather than concerning ourselves with the sins of others.(zt)
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Post by 边 草 on Apr 11, 2022 20:54:29 GMT -5
# 281 “祸兮福所倚,福兮祸所伏”——《老子》 Two game Cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.
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Post by 溪山 on Apr 12, 2022 17:23:29 GMT -5
樂極生悲,悲極生樂
Extreme joy begets sorrow. Misfortune is a blessing in disguise.
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Post by 边 草 on Apr 15, 2022 22:42:39 GMT -5
A MAN having a Wooden God, worshipped it every day; and among other things, prayed particularly for wealth, because his circumstances were but low. But when he had continued to do this for many days to no purpose, in a passion at the disappointment, he took the image by the legs, knocked it against the pavement, and broke it in pieces; upon which a great quantity of money, which had been inclosed within it, flew about the room. The Man no sooner perceived this, but addressing himself to the idol, Thou obstinate, perverse deity, says he, who, while I humbly besought thee, hadst no regard to my prayers, but now thou art used ill, and broken to pieces, dost pour forth good things, in even a greater abundance than I could desire. 这个寓言想告诉人们什么?难道信教基于利益,而不是真的有什么信仰去崇拜上帝? # 285
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Post by 溪山 on Apr 22, 2022 19:36:26 GMT -5
這裡的 Wooden God 大概指偶像崇拜,idolatry. 基督教早期禁止聖像之類。
dry as a wooden god: very dry area or very thirsty That desert is as dry as a wooden god. I've got a thirst like a wooden god.
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Post by 边 草 on Apr 23, 2022 7:18:43 GMT -5
這裡的 Wooden God 大概指偶像崇拜,idolatry. 基督教早期禁止聖像之類。 dry as a wooden god: very dry area or very thirsty That desert is as dry as a wooden god. I've got a thirst like a wooden god. 看到这“Wooden God”时,我脑子里想到一个palm-size statue。还想到一个词:神龛。小时候很多年这“龛”字不会念,自己给它一个code:“合龙”。肚子里默读“合龙”时,脑子里就出现了一个放在炉灶上的神龛了!
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Post by 李斯 on May 12, 2022 22:14:06 GMT -5
Do not rush to change evils.
The Oxen gathered to plot the destruction of the Butchers who they saw as the enemy. But, an older and wiser member of the herd said: “It’s true the Butchers slaughter us, but they do it skillfully. If the Butchers are destroyed we shall be subject to unskilled people and suffer greatly. Butchers or not, men will always want our meat.”
# 290
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Post by 溪山 on May 14, 2022 17:51:11 GMT -5
甫出龙潭, 又入虎穴。/ 才出虎穴,又入狼窝。
out of the frying pan into the fire -- from a bad situation to one that is worse.
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Post by 边 草 on May 29, 2022 21:30:03 GMT -5
A carter was driving a wagon along a country lane, when the wheels sank down deep into a rut. The rustic driver, stupefied and aghast, stood looking at the wagon, and did nothing but utter loud cries to Hercules to come and help him. Hercules, it is said, appeared and thus addressed him: “Put your shoulders to the wheels, my man. Goad on your bullocks, and never more pray to me for help, until you have done your best to help yourself, or depend upon it you will henceforth pray in vain.”
Moral:Self-help is the best help.
# 291
除此之外,自己遇到困难不想办法解决而只是想让别人来帮忙,这从道德角度也说不过去吧?中国老话里有“救急不救穷”一说,同这个伊索寓言有点相似。穷是一个渐进的过程,也可能出于个人原因,比如人懒,不肯吃苦,怕脏等等。“急”可能是处于一个状况个人无法利用自身的力量来解脱。中国老话还有雪中送炭和锦上添花的对比,前者是应该的,后者就没有什么必要,道理就是这样。
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Post by 溪山 on May 30, 2022 15:24:51 GMT -5
"God helps those who help themselves": The phrase originated in ancient Greece as "the gods help those who help themselves" and may originally have been proverbial. It is illustrated by two of Aesop's Fables and a similar sentiment is found in ancient Greek drama. The same concept is found in the fable of Hercules and the Wagoner, first recorded by Babrius in the 1st century AD.
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Post by 边 草 on Jun 7, 2022 21:00:29 GMT -5
“中看不中用”
看到一只鹤正走近自己时,孔雀赶忙张开它绚丽的尾巴。“看,我这身穿得像国王的长袍那样辉煌耀眼,又如同天边的彩虹五彩夺目”。而你,孔雀接着说,“除了灰白的羽毛,全身上下不带一点点颜色。” “是的,”鹤回答道。“但我能够自由地翱翔在天空,同群星大声谈笑。可你却只能混迹于鸡禽之中,栖息于同类们的排泄物之旁”。
Townsend version
A peacock spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by, ridiculing the ashen hue of its plumage and saying, “I am robed, like a king, in gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow; while you have not a bit of color on your wings.” “True,” replied the Crane; “but I soar to the heights of heaven and lift up my voice to the stars, while you walk below, like a cock, among the birds of the dunghill.”
Moral
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
# 294
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Post by 边 草 on Aug 2, 2022 22:31:24 GMT -5
Return favors
#296
A peasant found an Eagle captured in a trap, and much admiring the bird, set him free. The Eagle did not prove ungrateful to his deliverer, for seeing the Peasant sitting under a wall which was not safe, he flew toward him and with his talons snatched a bundle from his head. When the Peasant rose in pursuit, the Eagle let the bundle fall again. Taking it up, the man returned to the same place, to find that the wall under which he had been sitting had fallen to pieces; and he marveled at the service rendered him by the Eagle.
好人有好报吗?当然不是。这则寓言的意义在于,如果鼓励提倡个人见义勇为、乐善好施的行为能够间接地提升整体社会风气。另外,这也并不是渲染一个人做了一点好事就一定要得到回报。
这同忍辱负重,逆来顺受(二舅?)是不一样的。
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Post by 溪山 on Aug 3, 2022 19:59:38 GMT -5
“中看不中用” 看到一只鹤正走近自己时,孔雀赶忙张开它绚丽的尾巴。“看,我这身穿得像国王的长袍那样辉煌耀眼,又如同天边的彩虹五彩夺目”。而你,孔雀接着说,“除了灰白的羽毛,全身上下不带一点点颜色。” “是的,”鹤回答道。“但我能够自由地翱翔在天空,同群星大声谈笑。可你却只能混迹于鸡禽之中,栖息于同类们的排泄物之旁”。 Townsend version A peacock spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by, ridiculing the ashen hue of its plumage and saying, “I am robed, like a king, in gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow; while you have not a bit of color on your wings.” “True,” replied the Crane; “but I soar to the heights of heaven and lift up my voice to the stars, while you walk below, like a cock, among the birds of the dunghill.” Moral Fine feathers don’t make fine birds. # 294 Fine feathers make fine birds. 人靠衣裳馬靠鞍 / 人靠衣裳佛靠金裝。 Fine feathers don’t make fine birds. “中看不中用”。 金玉其外,敗絮其中。 華而不實 apple of Sodom 所多瑪的蘋果/死海果子: a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of fair appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes when plucked. zt: (中文百科) 死海蘋果,死海果子,這是在古代流傳於南歐洲的一個傳說,說是在死海的附近長有一種非常美麗、鮮艷、香甜、誘人的水果,但是當人將它摘下來的時候,它就即刻在人的手中化為灰燼,不能吃,也不能看。後世的人就以此種蘋果來說明一些表面上看起來美麗漂亮的事物,卻無實際用途,也無真正價值的東西;猶如中國成語中的“金玉其表,敗絮其中”。 另說典故來自舊約聖經,根據記載,在死海本來有一座城叫做索多瑪,那裡長著一顆奇樹,樹上結著美麗的蘋果。但你把果子摘下來,咬一口,果子原來全是灰寂。索多瑪城的人荒淫過度,被上帝懲罰降下大火把整座城燒光。從此死海的果子成為一個有名的典故,代表頓悟後的看破和空澄。
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Post by 溪山 on Aug 3, 2022 21:49:09 GMT -5
Return favors #296 A peasant found an Eagle captured in a trap, and much admiring the bird, set him free. The Eagle did not prove ungrateful to his deliverer, for seeing the Peasant sitting under a wall which was not safe, he flew toward him and with his talons snatched a bundle from his head. When the Peasant rose in pursuit, the Eagle let the bundle fall again. Taking it up, the man returned to the same place, to find that the wall under which he had been sitting had fallen to pieces; and he marveled at the service rendered him by the Eagle. 好人有好报吗?当然不是。这则寓言的意义在于,如果鼓励提倡个人见义勇为、乐善好施的行为能够间接地提升整体社会风气。另外,这也并不是渲染一个人做了一点好事就一定要得到回报。 这同忍辱负重,逆来顺受(二舅?)是不一样的。 知恩圖報 return the favor. or pay it forward :to perform some act of kindness for someone else after being the recipient of such an act oneself. 忘恩負義: bite the finger that feeds you / throw stones into the well that quenched your thirst The Stag and the Vine: An Aesop FableThe Stag and the Vine, a tale by Aesop, a Greek slave who lived some 2,500 years ago is still timeless today. I have several collections Aesop’s tales and I’ll be sharing some of my favorites over the next few days. I hope you enjoy thinking about them as much as I do. 🌿 A stag, pursued by hunters and wearing from the long chase, took refuge among the branches of a vine where he concealed himself amidst the foliage. The hunters passed within a few yards of him without discovering his hiding place. As the sound of their voices died away, the stag believed he was safe, so he began nibbling at the tender green leaves that had sheltered and protected him. 🌿 As he tugged at the leaves, the movement and sounds of the branches caught the attention of one of the hunters. Guessing at once that the stag might be hiding there, the hunter drew his bow and shot an arrow into the rustling vines and killed the stag. 🌿 As the animal lay dying he groaned: “I am being justly punished for my ingratitude toward the vine that had protected me in my time of danger.” 🌿 The Moral of the Story: Throw no stones into the well that quenched your thirst. Ingratitude can bring its own consequences. silverdisobedience.rocks/the-stag-and-the-vine-an-aesop-fable/
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Post by 边 草 on Aug 4, 2022 21:53:13 GMT -5
The stag believed he was safe, so he began nibbling at the tender green leaves that had sheltered and protected him.
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Post by 边 草 on Aug 30, 2022 21:07:13 GMT -5
If words are not enough, action must be taken.
#297
Some cranes made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying to each other, “It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in earnest what he can do.”
呵呵,人同鸟斗了无数年,最后恐怕还是人输。因为人不能伤害它们。美东北、新英格兰地区啄木鸟特别厉害,对此我已经认输了。也听到不少怎么都无法驱赶它们避免损坏外墙的事例。下面内容是“狗”来的:
How do you get the woodpeckers to keep visiting your feeders but leave your house alone?
The Cornell Lab tested six common long-term deterrents to see how well each prevented woodpecker damage. The results were published in 2007 in the Journal of Wildlife Management (abstract). The methods tested included:
1,life-sized plastic owls with paper wings, 2,reflective streamers, 3,plastic eyes on fishing line, 4,roost boxes, 5,suet feeders, 6. a sound system which broadcasts woodpecker distress calls followed by the call of a hawk.
Only the streamers worked as a deterrent with any consistency: the shiny coating and movement in the wind kept the woodpeckers at bay and completely eliminated damage at half of the 16 test sites. Plastics owls and distress calls may work at first, but after a while the woodpeckers get used to them and go back to their old habits. Bottom line, unfortunately: nothing works all the time.
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Post by 李斯 on Nov 29, 2022 22:14:57 GMT -5
一组同树有关的:
302-1:树给农夫一根枝干,农夫拿它做了斧柄后把树全坎倒了。树说,第一步错了,就失去了止错的机会。Nothing goes nearer a man in his misfortunes, then to find himself undone by his own folly, or but any way accessory to his own ruine.
302-2:橡树向朱庇特抱怨说自己怎么都逃脱不了最终被砍伐的悲惨结果,众神之王告诉橡树说,如果你们长得有如歪瓜劣枣,那么命运就不至于如此不堪了!The Oaks complained to Jupiter about being cut so often. Jupiter told them they make excellent structures; if they did not then they would be cut less.
303:伐木工用砍倒的树干做裂木的契子。树说,你把我砍了,我且认命。但你用我的身体把整个树都剁开成了木柴则让我看到十分地悲哀。Misfortunes springing from ourselves are the hardest to bear.
304:杉树因为自己是建房材料而看不起荆棘,说它一无是处。荆棘回答说,如果你想到自己随时会被人砍倒,那么就会羡慕还是荆棘命好了。Better poverty without care, than riches with.
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