英語美文背誦文選100篇

英語美文背誦文選100篇之遲辟智美創(chuàng)作1.TheFirstSnowThefirstsnowcame.Howbeautifulitwas,fallingsosilentlyalldaylong,allnightlong,onthemountains,onthemeadows,ontheroofsontheliving,onthegravesofthedead!Allwhitesavetheriver,thatmarkeditscoursebeawindingblacklineacrossthelandscape;andtheleaflesstress,thatagainsttheleadenskynowrevealedmorefullythewonderfulbeautyandintricaciesoftheirbranches.Whatsilence,too,camewiththesnow,andwhatseclusion!Everysoundwasmuffled,everynoisechangedtosomethingsoftandmusical.Nomoretrampinghoofs,nomorerattlingwheels!Onlythechimingofsleigh-bell,beatingasswiftandmerrilyastheheartsofchildren.(118words)FromKavanaghByHenryWadsworthLongfellow2.TheHumming-birdOfallanimalsbeingthisisthemostelegantinformandthemostbrilliantincolors.ThestonesandmetalspolishedbyourartsarenotcomparabletothisjewelofNature.Shehasplaceditleastinsizeoftheorderofbirds."maximeMirandainminimis."Hermasterpieceisthislittlehumming-bird,anduponitshehasheapedallthegiftswhichtheotherbirdsmayonlyshare.Lightness,rapidity,nimbleness,grace,andrichapparelallbelongtothislittlefavorite.Theemerald,theruby,andthetopazgleamuponitsdress.Itneversoilsthemwiththedustofearth,andinitsaeriallifescarcelytouchestheturfaninstant.Alwaysintheair,flyingfromflowertoflower,ithastheirfreshnessaswellastheirbrightness.Itlivesupontheirnectar,anddwellsonlyintheclimateswheretheyperenniallybloom.(149words)FromNaturalHistoryByGeorgeLouiseBuffon陳冠商《英語背誦文選》3.PinesThepine,placednearlyalwaysamongscenesdisorderedanddesolate,bringintothemallpossibleelementsoforderandprecision.Lowlandtreesmayleantothissideandthat,thoughitisbutameadowbreezethatbendsthemorabankofcowlipsfromwhichtheirtrunksleanaslope.Butletstormandavalanchedotheirworst,andletthepinefindonlyaledgeofverticalprecipicetoclingto,itwillneverthelessgrowstraight.Thrustarodfromitslastshootdownthestem;itshallpointtothecenteroftheearthaslongasthetreelives.Itmaybewellalsoforlowlandbranchestoreachhitherandthitherforwhattheyneed,andtotakeallkindsofirregularshapeandextension.Butthepineistrainedtoneednothingandendureeverything.Itisresolvedlywhole,self-contained,desiringnothingbutrightness,contentwithrestrictedcompletion.Tallorshort,itwillbestraight.(160words)FromModernPaintersByJohnRuskin陳冠商《英語背誦文選》4.ReadingGoodBooksDevotesomeofyourleisure,Irepeat,tocultivatingaloveofreadinggoodbooks.Fortunateindeedarethosewhocontrivetomakethemselvesgenuinebook-lovers.Forbooklovershavesomenoteworthyadvantagesoverotherpeople.Theyneedneverknowlonelyhourssolongastheyhavebooksaroundthem,andthebetterthebooksthemoredelightfulthecompany.Fromgoodbooks,moreover,theydrawmuchbesidesentertainment.Theygainmentalfoodsuchasfewcompanionscansupply.Evenwhilerestingfromtheirlaborstheyare,throughthebookstheyread,equippingthemselvestoperformthoselaborsmoreefficiently.Thisalbeittheymaynotbedeliberatelyreadingtoimprovetheirmind.Allunconsciouslytheideastheyderivefromtheprintedpagedarestoredup,tobeworkedoverbytheimaginationforfutureprofit.(135words)FromSelf-DevelopmentByHenryAddingtonBruce陳冠商《英語背誦文選》5.OnEtiquetteEtiquettetosocietyiswhatapparelistotheindividual.Withoutapparelmenwouldgoinshamefulnuditywhichwouldsurelyleadtothecorruptionofmorals;andwithoutetiquettesocietywouldbeinapitiablestateandthenecessaryintercoursebetweenitsmemberswouldbeinterferedwithbyneedlessoffencesandtroubles.Ifsocietywereatrain,theetiquettewouldbetherailsalongwhichonlythetraincouldrumbleforth;ifsocietywereastatecoach,theetiquettewouldbethewheelsandaxisonwhichonlythecoachcouldrollforward.Thelackofproprietieswouldmakethemostintimatefriendsturnstobethemostdecidedenemiesandthefriendlyoralliedcountriesdeclarewaragainsteachother.Wecanfindmanyexamplesinthehistoryofmankind.ThereforeIadviseyoutostandonceremonybeforeanyoneelseandtotakepainsnottodoanythingagainstetiquettelestyougiveoffencesormakeenemies.(160words)byWilliamHazlitt陳冠商《英語背誦文選》6.AnHourBeforeSunriseAnhourbeforesunriseinthecitythereisanairofcold.Solitarydesolationaboutthenoiselessstreets,whichweareaccustomedtoseethrongedatothertimesbyabusy,eagercrowd,andoverthequiet,closelyshutbuildingswhichthroughoutthedayarewarmingwithlife.Thedrunken,thedissipated,andthecriminalhavedisappeared;themoresoberandorderlypartofthepopulationhavenotyetawakenedtothelaborsoftheday,andthestillnessofdeathisoverstreets;itsveryhueseemstobeimpartedtothem,coldandlifelessastheylookinthegray,somberlightofdaybreak.Apartiallyopenedbedroomwindowhereandtherebespeakstheheatoftheweatherandtheuneasyslumbersofitsoccupant;andthedimscantyflickerofalightthroughtheblindsofyonderwindowsdenotesthechamberofwatchingandsickness.Saveforthatsadlight,thestreetspresentnosignsoflife,northehousesofhabitation.(166words)FromBozByCharlesDickens陳冠商《英語背誦文選》7.TheImportanceofScientificExperimentsTheriseofmodernsciencemayperhapsbeconsideredtodateasfarasthetimeofRogerBacon,thewonderfulmonkandphilosopherofOxford,wholivedbetweentheyears1214and1292.Hewasprobablethefirstinthemiddleagestoassertthatwemustlearnsciencebyobservingandexperimentingonthethingsaroundus,andhehimselfmademanyremarkablediscoveries.Galileo,howeverwholivedmorethan300yearslater(1564to1642),wasthegreatestofseveralgreatmen,whoinItaly,France,GermanyorEngland,beganbydegreestoshowhowmanyimportanttruthscouldbediscoveredbywell-directedobservation.BeforethetimeofGalileo,learnedmenbelievedthatlargebodiesfallmorerapidlytowardstheearththansmallones,becauseAristotlesaidso.ButGalileo,goingtothetopoftheLeaningTowerofPisa,letfalltwounequalstones,andprovedtosomefriends,whomhehadbroughttheretoseehisexperiment,thatAristotlewasinerror.ItisGalileo'sspritofgoingdirecttoNature,andverifyingouropinionsandtheoriesbyexperiment,thathasledtoallthegreatdiscoveriesofmodernscience.(196words)FromLogicByWilliamStanleyJevons陳冠商《英語背誦文選》8.AddressatGettysburgFourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinentanewnationinliberty,anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal.Nowweareengagedinagreatcivilwar,testingwhetherthatnation,oranynationsoconceivedandsodedicated,canlongendure.Wearemetonagreatbattlefieldofthatwar.Wehavecometodedicateaportionofthatfieldasafinalrestingplaceforthosewhoheregavetheirlivesthatthatnationmightlive.Itisaltogetherfittingandproperthatweshoulddothis.But,inalargersense,wecannotdedicate-wecannotconsecrate-wecannothallow-thisground.Thebravemen,livinganddead,whostruggledhere,heaveconsecrateditfaraboveourpoorpowertoaddordetract.Theworldwilllittlenotenorlongrememberwhatwesayhere,butitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhere.Itisforus,theliving,rather,tobededicatedheretotheunfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvanced.Itisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus-thatformthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheygavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom;andthatgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeople,forthepeople,shallnotperishfromtheearth.(268words)ByAbrahamLincoln9.ALittleGirl(1)Sittingonagrassygrave,beneathoneofthewindowsofthechurch,wasalittlegirl.Withherheadbentbackshewasgazingupattheskyandsinging,whileoneofherlittlehandswaspointingtoatinycloudthathoveredlikeagoldenfeatheraboveherhead.Thesun,whichhadsuddenlybecomeverybright,shiningonherglossyhair,gaveitametallicluster,anditwasdifficulttosaywhatwasthecolor,darkbronzeorblack.Socompletelyabsorbedwasshiinwatchingthecloudtowhichherstrangesongorincantationandwenttowardsher.Overherhead,highupintheblue,alarkthatwassoaringtowardsthesamegauzycouldwassinging,asifinrivalry.AsIslowlyapproachedthechild,Icouldseebyherforehead,whichinthesunshineseemedlikeaglobeofpearl,andespeciallybyhercomplexion,thatsheuncommonlylovely.(159words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》10.ALittleGirl(2)Hereyes,whichatonemomentseemedblue-gray,atanotherviolet,wereshadedbylongblacklashes,curvingbackwardinamostpeculiarway,andthesematchedinhuehereyebrows,andthetressesthatweretossedabouthertenderthroatandwerequiveringinthesunlight.AllthisIdidnottakeinatonce;foratfirstIcouldseenothingbutthosequivering,glittering,changefuleyesturnedupintomyface.Graduallytheotherfeatures,especiallythesensitivefull-lippedmouth,grewuponmeasIstoodsilentlygazing.Hereseemedtomeamoreperfectbeautythanhadevercometomeinmyloveliestdreamsofbeauty.Yetitwasnotherbeautysomuchasthelookshegavemethatfascinatedme,meltedme.(129words)(302words)FromAylwinbyTheodoreWatts-Dunton陳冠商《英語背誦文選》11.ChoosinganOccupationHodeslea,Eastbourne,November5,1892DearSir,Iamverysorrythatthepressureofotheroccupationshaspreventedmeformsendinganearlierreplytoyourletter.Inmyopinionaman'sfirstdutyistofindawayofsupportinghimself,therebyrelievingotherpeopleofthenecessityofsupportinghim.Moreover,thelearningtosoworkofpracticalvalueintheworld,inanexactandcarefulmanner,isofitself,averyimportanteducationtheeffectsofwhichmakethemselvesfeltinallotherpursuits.Thehabitofdoingthatwhichyoudonotdareaboutwhenyouwouldmuchratherbedoingsomethingelse,isinvaluable.ItwouldhavesavedmeafrightfulwasteoftimeifIhadeverhaditdrilledintomeinyouth.Successinanyscientificcareerrequiresanunusualequipmentofcapacity,industry,andenergy.Ifyoupossessthatequipment,youwillfindleisureenoughafteryourdailycommercialworkisover,tomakeanopeninginthescientificranksforyourself.Ifyoudonot,youhadbettersticktocommerce.Nothingislesstobedesiredthanthefateofayoungmanwho,astheScotchproverbsays,in'tryingtomakeaspoonspoilsahorn,"andbecomesamerehanger-oninliteratureorinscience,whenhemighthavebeenausefulandavaluablememberofSocietyinotheroccupations.Ithinkthatyourfatheroughttoseethisletter.(244words)YoursfaithfullyT.H.HuxleyFromLifeandLettersofThomasHenryHuxleyByLeonardHuxley陳冠商《英語背誦文選》12.AnImportantAspectofCollegeLifeItisperfectlypossibletoorganizethelifeofourcollegesinsuchawaythatstudentsandteachersalikewilltakepartinit;insuchawaythataperfectlynaturaldailyintercoursewillbeestablishedbetweenthem;anditisonlybysuchanorganizationthattheycanbegivenrealvitalityasplacesofserioustraining,bemadecommunitiesinwhichyoungsterswillcomefullytorealizehowinterestingintellectualworkis,howvital,howimportant,howcloselyassociatedwithallmodernachievement-onlybysuchanorganizationthatstudycanbemadetoseempartoflifeitself.Lecturesoftenseemveryformalandemptythings;recitationsgenerallyprovedverydullandunrewarding.Itisinconversationandnaturalintercoursewithscholarschieflythatyoufindhowlivelyknowledgeis,howittiesintoeverythingthatisinterestingandimportant,howintimateapartitisofeverythingthatisinterestingandimportant,howintimateapartitisofeverythingthatis"practical"andconnectedwiththeworld.Menarenotalwaysmadethoughtfulbybooks;buttheyaregenerallymadethoughtfulbyassociationwithmenwhothink.(195words)ByWoodrowWilson陳冠商《英語背誦文選》13.Night(1)Nighthasfallenoverthecountry.Throughthetreesrisestheredmoon,andthestarsarescarcelyseen.Inthevastshadowofnightthecoolnessandthedewsdescend.Isitattheopenwindowtoenjoythem;andhearonlythevoiceofthesummerwind.Likeblackhulks,theshadowsofthegreattreesrideatanchoronthebillowyseaofgrass.Icannotseetheredandblueflowers,butIknowthattheyarethere.FarawayinthemeadowgleamsthesilverCharles.Thetrampofhorses'hoofssoundsfromthewoodenbridge.Thenallisstillsavethecontinuouswindorthesoundoftheneighboringsea.Thevillageclockstrikes;andIfeelthatIamnotalone.(128words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》14.Night(2)Howdifferentitisinthecity!Itislate,andthecrowdisgone.Youstepoutuponthebalcony,andlieintheverybosomofthecool,dewynightasifyoufoldedhergarmentsaboutyou.Beneathliesthepublicwalkwithtrees,likeafathomless,blackgulf,intowhosesilentbelovedspiritclaspedinitsembrace.Thelampsarestillburningupanddownthelongstreet.Peoplegobywithgrotesqueshadows,nowforeshortened,andnowlengtheningawayintothedarknessandvanishing,whileanewonespringsupbehindthewalker,andseemstopasshimrevolvinglikethesailofawindmill.Theirongatesoftheparkshutwithajanglingclang.Therearefootstepsandloudvoices;--atumult;--adrunkenbrawl;--analarmoffire;--thensilenceagain.Andnowatlengththecityisasleep,andwecanseethenight.Thebelatedmoonlooksovertheroofs,andfindsnoonetowelcomeher.Themoonlightisbroken.Itlieshereandthereinthesquares,andtheopeningofthestreets-angularlikeblocksofwhitemarble.(195words)(323words)ByNathanialHawthorne陳冠商《英語背誦文選》15.AnOctoberSunrise(1)IwasupthenextmorningbeforetheOctobersunrise,andawaythroughthewildandthewoodland.Therisingofthesunwasnobleinthecoldandwarmthofit;peepingdownthespreadoflight,heraisedhisshoulderheavilyovertheedgeofgraymountainandwaveringlengthofupland.Beneathhisgazethedew-fogsdippedandcrepttothehollowplaces,thenstoleawayinlineandcolumn,holdingskirtsandclingsubtlyattheshelteringcornerswhererockhungovergrass-land,whilethebravelinesofthehillscameforth,onebeyondothergliding.Thewoodsaroseinfolds,likedraperyofawakenedmountains,statelywithadepthofawe,andmemoryofthetempests.Autumn'smellowhandwasuponthem,astheyownedalready,touchedwithgoldandredandolive,andtheirjoytowardsthesunwaslesstoabridegroomthanafather.(152words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》16.AnOctoberSunrise(2)Yetbeforethefloatingimpressofthewoodscouldclearitself,suddenlythegladsomelightleapedoverhillandvalley,castingamber,blue,andpurple,andatintofrichredrose,accordingtothescenetheyliton,andthecurtainflungaround;yetallalikedispellingfearandthecovenhoofofdarkness,allonthewingsofhopeadvancing,andproclaiming,"Godishere!"Thenlifeandjoysprangreassuredfromeverycrouchinghollow;everyflowerandbudandbirdhadaflutteringsenseofthem,andalltheflashingofGod'sgazemergedintosoftbeneficence.So,perhaps,shallbreakuponusthateternalmorning,whencragandchasmshallbenomore,neitherhillandvalley,norgreatunvintagedocean;whengloryshallnotscarehappiness,neitherhappinessenvyglory;butallthingsshallarise,andshineinthelightoftheFather'scountenance,becauseitselfisrisen.(153words)(305words)ByRichardD.Blackmore陳冠商《英語背誦文選》17.OfStudies(1)Studiesservefordelight,forornamental,andforability.Theirchiefusefordelight,inprivatenessandretiring;forornament,isindiscourse;andforability,isinthejudgmentanddispositionofbusiness.Forexpertmencanexecute,andperhapsjudgeofparticulars,onebyone;butthegeneralcounsels,andtheplotsandmarshallingofaffairs,comebestfromthosethatarelearned.Tospendtoomuchtimeinstudiesissloth;tousethemtoomuchforornament,isaffectation;tomakejudgmentwhollybytheirrules,isthehumourofascholar.Theyperfectnature,naturalplants,thatneedproyningbystudy;andstudiesthemselvesdogiveforthdirectionstoomuchatlarge,excepttheybeboundedinbyexperience.Craftymencontemnstudies,simplemenadmirethem,andwisemenusethem;fortheyteachnottheirownuse;butthatisawisdomwithoutthem,andabovethem,wonbyobservation.(157words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》18.OfStudies(2)Readnottocontradictandconfute;nortobelieveandtakeforgranted;nortofindtalkanddiscourse;buttoweighandconsider.Somebooksaretobetasted;otherstoswallowed,andsomefewtobechewedanddigested;thatis,somebooksaretobereadonlyinparts;otherstoberead,butnotcuriously;andsomefewtobereadwholly,andwithdiligenceandattention.Somebooksalsomaybereadbydeputy,andextractsmadeofthembyothers;butthatwouldbeonlyinthelessimportantarguments,andthemeanersortofbooks;elsedistilledbooksarelikecommondistilledwaters,flashythings.Readingmakethafullman;conferenceareadyman;andwritinganexactman.Andtherefore,ifamanwritelittle,hehadneedhaveagreatmemory;ifheconferlittle,hehadneedhaveapresentwit;anifhereadlittle,hehadneedhavemuchcunning,toseemtoknowthathedothnot.(170words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》19.OfStudies(3)Historiesmakemenwise;poetswitty;themathematicssubtile;naturalphilosophydeep;moralgrave;logicandrhetoricabletocontend.Abeuntstudiainmores.Naythereisnostondorimpedimentinthewit,butmaybewroughtoutbyfitstudies:likeasdiseasesofthebodymayhaveappropriateexercises.Bowlingisgoodforthestoneandreins;shootingforthelungsandbreast;gentlewalkingforthestomach;ridingforthehead;andthelike.Soifaman'switbewandering,lethimstudythemathematics;fordemonstrations,ifhiswitbecalledawayneversolittle,hemustbeginagain.Ifhiswitbenotapttodistinguishorfinddifferences,lethimstudytheschoolmen;fortheyarecyminisectores.Ifhebenotapttobeatovermatters,andtocalluponethingtoproveandillustrateanother,lethimstudythelawyers'cases.Soeverydefectofthemindmayhaveaspecialreceipt.(163words)(490words)ByFrancisBacon陳冠商《英語背誦文選》20.Books(1)Thegoodbooksofthehour,then,--Idonotspeakofthebadones—issimplytheusefulorpleasanttalkofsomepersonwhomyoucannototherwiseconversewith,printedforyou.Veryusefuloften,tellingyouwhatyouneedtoknow;verypleasantoften,asasensiblefriend'spresenttalkwouldbe.Thesebrightaccountsoftravels;good-humouredandwittydiscussionofquestions;livelyorpatheticstory-tellingintheformofnovel;firmfact-telling,bytherealagentsconcernedintheeventsofpassinghistory;--allthesebooksofthehour,multiplyingamongusaseducationbecomesmoregeneral,areapeculiarcharacteristicandpossessionofthepresentage:weoughttobeentirelythankfulforthem,andentirelyashamedofourselvesifwemakenogooduseofthem.Butwemaketheworsepossibleuse,ifweallowthemtousurptheplaceoftruebooks:for,strictlyspeaking,theyarenotbooksatall,butmerelylettersornewspapersingoodprint.Ourfriend'slettermaybedelightful,ornecessary,today:whetherworthkeepingornot,istobeconsidered.(189words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》21.Books(2)Thenewspapermaybeentirelyproperatbreakfasttime,butassuredlyitisnotreadingforallday.Sothoughboundupinavolume,thelongletterwhichgivesyousopleasantanaccountoftheinns,theroads,andweatherlastyearatsuchaplace,orwhichtellsyouthatamusingstory,orgivesyoutherealcircumstancesofsuchandsuchevents,howevervaluableforoccasionalreference,maynotbe,intherealsenseoftheword,a"book"atall,nor,intherealsense,tobe"read".Abookisessentiallynotatalkedthing,butawrittenthing;andwritten,notwiththeviewofmerecommunication,butofpermanence.Thebookoftalkisprintedonlybecauseitsauthorcannotspeaktothousandsofpeopleatonce;ifhecould,hewould-thevolumeismeremultiplicationofhisvoice.YoucannottalktoyourfriendinIndia;ifyoucould,youwould;youwriteinstead:thatismereconveyanceofvoice.Butabookiswritten,nottomultiplythevoicemerely,nottocarryitmerely,buttopreserveit.(190words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》22.Books(3)Theauthorhassomethingtosaywhichheperceivestobetrueanduseful,orhelpfullybeautiful.Sofarasheknows,noonehasyetsaidit;sofarasheknows,nooneelsecansayit.Heisboundtosayit,clearlyandmelodiouslyifhemay;clearly,atallevents.Inthesumofhislifehefindsthistobethething,orgroupofthings,manifesttohim;--thisthepieceoftrueknowledge,orsight,whichhisshareofsunshineandearthhaspermittedhimtoseize.Hewouldfainsetitdownforever;engraveitonrock,ifhecould;saying,"thisisthebestofme;fortherest,Iate,anddrank,andslept,lovedandhated,likeanother;mylifewasasthevapour,andisnot;butthisIsawandknew:this,ifanythingofmine,isworthyourmemory,"Thatishis"writing";itis,inhissmallhumanway,andwithwhateverdegreeoftrueinspirationisinhim,hisinscription,orscripture.Thatisa"Book".(186words)(565words)ByJohnRuskin陳冠商《英語背誦文選》24.TheValueofTime(1)"Time"saystheproverb"ismoney".Thismeansthateverymomentwellspentmayputsomemoneyintoourpockets.Ifourtimeisusefullyemployed,itwilleitherturnoutsomeusefulandimportantpieceofworkwhichwillfetchitspriceinthemarket,oritwilladdtoourexperienceandincreaseourcapacitiessoastoenableustoearnmoneywhentheproperopportunitycomes.Therecanthusbenodoubtthattimeisconvertibleintomoney.Letthosewhothinknothingofwastingtime,rememberthis;letthemrememberthatanhourmisspentisequivalenttothelossofabank-note;anthatanhourutilizedistantamounttosomuchsilverorgold;andthentheywillprobablythinktwicebeforetheygivetheirconsenttothelossofanypartoftheirtime.Moreover,ourlifeisnothingmorethanourtime.Tokilltimeisthereforeaformofsuicide.Weareshockedwhenwethinkofdeath,andwesparenopains,notrouble,andnoexpensetopreservelife.Butwearetoooftenindifferenttothelossofanhourorofaday,forgettingthatourlifeisthesumtotalofthedaysandofthehourswelive.Adayofanhourwastedisthereforesomuchlifeforfeited.Letusbearthisinmind,andwasteoftimewillappeartousinthelightofacrimeasculpableassuicideitself.(250words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》25.TheValueofTime(2)Thereisathirdconsiderationwhichwillalsotendtowarnusagainstlossoftime.Ourlifeisabriefspanmeasuringsomesixtyorseventyyearsinall,butnearlyonehalfofthishastobespentinsleep;someyearshavetobespentoverourmeals;someoverdressingandundressing;someinmakingjourneysonlandandvoyagesbysea;someinmerry-making,eitheronourownaccountorforthesakeofothers;someincelebratingreligiousandsocialfestivities;someinwatchingoverthesick-bedsofournearestanddearestrelatives.Nowifalltheseyearsweretobedeductedfromtheternoverwhichourlifeextendsweshallfindaboutfifteenortwentyyearsatourdisposalforactivework.Whoeverremembersthiscanneverwillinglywasteasinglemomentofhislife."Itisastonishing"saysLordChesterfield"thatanyonecansquanderawayinabsoluteidlenessonesinglemomentofthatportionoftimewhichisallottedtousinthisworld.Knowthetruevalueoftime;snatch,seize,andenjoyeverymomentofit!"(187words)陳冠商《英語背誦文選》26.TheValueofTime(3)Alltimeisprecious;butthetimeofourchildhoodandofouryouthismorepreciousthananyotherportionofourexistence.Forthosearetheperiodswhenalonewecanacquireknowledgeanddevelopourfacultiesandcapacities.Ifweallowthesemorninghoursoflifetoslipawayunutilized,weshallneverbeabletorecouptheloss.Aswegrowolder,ourpowerofacquisitiongetsblunted,sothattheartorsciencewhichisnotacquiredinchildhoodoryouthwillneverbeacquiredatall.Justasmoneylaidoutatinterestdoublesandtreblesitselfintime,sotheprecioushoursofchildhoodandyouth,ifproperlyused,willyieldusincalculableadvantages."Everymomentyoulose"saysLordChesterfield"issomuchcharacterandadvantagelost;asontheotherhand,everymomentyounowemployusefullyissomuchtimewiselylaidoutatprodigiousinterest."Aproperemploymentoftimeisofgreatbenefittousfromamoralpointofview.IdlenessisjustlysaidtobetherustofthemindandanidlebrainissaidtobeSatan'sworkshop.Itismostlywhenyoudonotknowwhattodowithyourselfthatyoudosomethingillorwrong.Themindoftheidlerpreysuponitself.AsWatthassaid:InworksoflabourorofskillLetmebebusytoo;ForSatanfindssomemischiefstillForidlehandstodo.(249words(686words)ByRobertWilliamService陳冠商《英語背誦文選》27.SpringTheResurrectionTimeSpringsarenotalwaysthesame,Insomeyears,AprilburstsuponourVirginiahillsinoneprodigiousleap—andallthestageisfilledatonce,wholechorusesoftulips,arabesquesofforsythia,cadenzasoffloweringplum.Thetreesgrowleavesovernight.Inotheryears,springtiptoesin.Itpauses,overcomebyshyness,likemygrandchildatthedoor,peepingin,duckingoutofsight,gigglinginthehallway."Iknowyou'reoutthere,"Icry."Comein!"AndAprilslipsintoarms.Thedogwoodbud,palegreen,isinlaidwithrussetmarkings.Withintheperfectcupascoreofclusteredseedsarenestled.Onceexaminedthebudinawe:WherewerethoseseedsamonthagoTheapplesdisplaytheirmilliner'sscrapsofivorysilk,rose-tinged.Allthesleepingthingswakeup-primr