《應用英文》西方的金句佳言

英(美)語裡有許多金句佳言(如saying, quotation等)，一些是來自思想家、政治家、作家等的名言，也有許多是由歷代流傳下的諺語、俗語或常言(如proverb, slang等)。

這些至理名言，在句子結構和意義上也非十全十美，但人們常作為生活上的「指引」，並常用在談話和寫作，以增生色 (如「常言道」或「正如俗語所說」...As the saying goes....)。

不過，直接引用金句佳言時，通常保持原來句型。本文為瞭解釋「方便」起見，另加一些句子而已，並在句後盡量註明金句佳言的來源。

品德方面﹕

He who receives a good turn should never forget it; he who does one should never remember it.(美國俗語)

接受善事的人，不可忘記；做了善事的人，不要記得。

也就是﹕假如有人幫助你，不要忘記，假如你幫助別人，就要忘記。

(If someone did something for you, don't forget it; if you do something for someone, forget it)

(原文中的turn = deed; one指deed，也就是good turn)

We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less. (美國諺語)

我們有兩個耳朵，只有一個嘴巴，就是要我們多聽少說。

也就是﹕你應該多聽少說。(You should listen more than speak.或It's better to listen than to talk.)

Those who complain most are most to be complained of. (美國格言)

最會埋怨的人，也是最會被人埋怨的。

也就是﹕不要埋怨，否則你自己會成為埋怨的原因。

(Don't complain or you might be the cause of complaint yourself.)

It is easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. (英國諺語)

照字義﹕用蜜捉蒼蠅，要比用醋容易。

也就是﹕親切友善可以讓你交到更多朋友。(Being friendly enables you to make more friends.)

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.(美國聾啞女作家Helen Keller)

保持面對陽光，你就不會見到陰暗。

也就是﹕盡量要樂觀，不可悲觀。 (Try to be optimistic instead of pessimistic.)

The empty vessel makes the greatest sound. (Shakespeare)

空的容器聲音最大。

也就是﹕最好保持低調。(It is better to keep a low profile.)

或者說﹕吹牛的人通常成不了事。(The braggart is not usually accomplished.)

Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heaven above.(美國常言)

做點好事，說些好話，能幫助世界像天堂般幸福。

也就是﹕對人仁慈友愛，能使世界美好。(Being kind and showing love to others can make the world happy.)

(It is ) better (to be) an ugly face than an ugly mind.(美國諺語)

照字義﹕醜的長相要比醜的思想好。

也就是﹕外表不如品格那麼重要。(Appearance is not as important as character.)

(原文的it is和to be多被省去)

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me. (English proverb)

照字義﹕棍子和石頭可以打斷我的骨頭，但話語不會損害我。

也就是﹕我不在乎別人的批評。(I don't care about criticism from others.)

A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.(美國政治家Ben Franklin)

照字義﹕一位靠雙腿把犁的人，比一位卑躬屈膝的的紳士高級。

也就是﹕一位有自尊的工人，要比一位品格差的紳土好。(A blue collar worker with dignity is better than a gentleman with poor character.)

The remedy for wrongs is to forget them.(美國常言)

治療錯誤，就是要把錯誤忘記。

也就是﹕設法寬恕，把它忘掉。(Try to forgive and forget.)

Personality is to a man what perfume is to a flower.(美國常言)

照字義﹕一個人的品格就如一朵花的芳香。

(perfume系指fragrance)

也就是﹕親切的性格，才能吸引他人。(A pleasing personality is what draws people to a man.)

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.(法國思想家Jean Rousseau)

容忍雖苦，但其果必甜。

也就是﹕忍耐的報償是美好的。(The rewards for patience are good.)

A liar is not believed even though he tells the truth.(古羅馬政治家Marcus Cicero)

騙子即使說真話，也不被人相信。

也就是﹕騙子常常被認為是騙子。(A liar is always considered a liar.)

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.(English proverb)

對待別人，要像你要別人對待你一樣。(unto古字介詞=to)

老美說法﹕Treat others the way you want to be treated.

這與「己所不欲，勿施於人」說法相似﹕Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.

An acorn does not fall far from tree. (American Proverb)

照字義﹕樹的種子不會離開樹太遠。(父母怎樣，兒女也會怎樣)

也就是﹕有其父，必有其子；有其母，必有其女。(Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.)

(acorn指seed或child)