Companionship of Books
Author: Samuel Smiles
Narrator: Guxin A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, ‘Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this:” Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.
A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man’s life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see the as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which on still listens. 
以書為伴（節選）
作者：塞繆爾·斯邁爾斯
來源：美語世界 穀興
通常看一個讀些什麽書就可知道他的為人，就像看他同什麽人交往就可知道他的為人一樣，因為有人以人為伴，也有人以書為伴。無論是書友還是朋友，我們都應該以最好的為伴。
好書就像是你最好的朋友。它始終不渝，過去如此，現在如此，將來也永遠不變。它是最有耐心，最令人愉悅的伴侶。在我們窮愁潦倒，臨危遭難時，它也不會拋棄我們，對我們總是一如既往地親切。在我們年輕時，好書陶冶我們的性情，增長我們的知識；到我們年老時，它又給我們以慰藉和勉勵。
人們常常因為喜歡同一本書而結為知已，就像有時兩個人因為敬慕同一個人而成為朋友一樣。有句古諺說道：“愛屋及屋。”其實“愛我及書”這句話蘊涵更多的哲理。書是更為真誠而高尚的情誼紐帶。人們可以通過共同喜愛的作家溝通思想，交流感情，彼此息息相通，並與自己喜歡的作家思想相通，情感相融。
好書常如最精美的寶器，珍藏著人生的思想的精華，因為人生的境界主要就在於其思想的境界。因此，最好的書是金玉良言和崇高思想的寶庫，這些良言和思想若銘記於心並多加珍視，就會成為我們忠實的伴侶和永恒的慰藉。
書籍具有不朽的本質，是為人類努力創造的最為持久的成果。寺廟會倒坍，神像會朽爛，而書卻經久長存。對於偉大的思想來說，時間是無關緊要的。多年前初次閃現於作者腦海的偉大思想今日依然清新如故。時間惟一的作用是淘汰不好的作品，因為隻有真正的佳作才能經世長存。
書籍介紹我們與最優秀的人為伍，使我們置身於曆代偉人巨匠之間，如聞其聲，如觀其行，如見其人，同他們情感交融，悲喜與共，感同身受。我們覺得自己仿佛在作者所描繪的舞台上和他們一起粉墨登場。
即使在人世間，偉大傑出的人物也永生不來。他們的精神被載入書冊，傳於四海。書是人生至今仍在聆聽的智慧之聲，永遠充滿著活力。
林貝卡 2010年8月1日 夏 於美國 |
來源: [美語世界] 海外逸士 於 10-08-07 07:41:31
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=mysj&MsgID=82844
勵學篇
（宋）真宗
Encourage to Study
by Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty
富家不用買良田，書中自有千鍾粟。
Rich families don’t need to buy fertile fields;
There are a thousand bushels of millet in books.
安居不用架高樓，書中自有黃金屋。
Don't need to build high towers for cozy living;
There are houses of gold in books.
娶妻莫恨無良媒，書中自有顏如玉。
Don't need regret there's no match-maker for marrying a wife;
There are fairs with jade-white cheeks in books.
出門莫恨無人隨，書中車馬多如簇。
Don't need regret there is no servant to follow you when going out;
There are group of coaches and horses in books.
男兒欲遂平生誌，五經勤向窗前讀。
If a man wants to achieve what he wishes;
Read the five sutras in front of the win-dow.
天寺小妹,
願你的歲月如生日那樣快樂開心。
Friends forever,
Rebecca
生日原本是一個平淡的日子，卻因為寫進了一份友誼，而來得別具一格，久違的親密，是對往昔膩在一起歡笑的回憶。
走過四季，我們眼角的皺紋是歲月留下的印記，我們成長的閱歷，悄悄在部落格的白板上填滿。
祝我們的友誼常駐~
來源: [ 美語世界 ] 穀興 於 09-05-25 19:32:26
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=mysj&MsgID=48327
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Smiles (23 December 1812 – 16 April 1904), was a Scottish author and reformer.
Self help topics
Self-Help, London, 1859
Character, London, 1871
Thrift, London, 1875
Duty, London, 1880
Life and Labour, London 1887
Every human being has a great mission to perform, noble faculties to cultivate, a vast destiny to accomplish. He should have the means of education, and of exerting freely all the powers of his godlike nature.
---Samuel Smiles