homework-10

Why the Americans Are So Restless

In certain remote corners of the Old World you may sometimes stumble upon little places which seem to have been forgotten among the general tumult and which have stayed still while all around them moves. The inhabitants are mostly very ignorant and very poor they take no part in affairs of government, and often governments oppress them. But yet they seem serene and often have a jovial disposition.

为什么美国人如此忙碌不安

在某些遥远的旧世界的角落里，有时你会偶然发现一些小的地方，它们在一片喧嚣中被人遗忘。周围的一切在发生变化，而它却依然如固。那里的居民大多数很愚昧和贫穷，他们不问政事，经常受到政府的压迫。尽管如此，他们依然平静而快乐的生活。

在美国，我遇到过最自由的，并受到最好教育的人，按理说他们是世界上最快乐的人。但是在我看来，乌云时常漂浮于他们的眉宇之间，他们看起来很严肃，即使在他们快乐时也让人觉得他们很悲伤，

这其中的主要原因在于，小的地方的居民们从不考虑他们承受的痛苦，而美国人则从没有停止幻想他们期盼而又没有得不到的东西。

美国人始终追求着这世界上的一切，好像他们能够永远活下去。他们如此匆忙的追求可触及的一切东西，就好像是 如果不能品味这其间的美好他们宁愿去死。

美国人抓住了一切，但却不能 紧紧地持续下去： 失去之后，他们又立即追求新的东西。

In America I have seen the freest and best educated of men, in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world; yet it seems to me that a cloud habitually hung on their brow. They seemed serious and almost sad even in their pleasure.

The chief reason for this is that the former do not give a moment’s thought to the ills they endure, whereas the latter never stop thinking of the good things they have no got.

Americans cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never died and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them. They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight.