双语散文:精神的枷锁

精神的枷锁

Most people are like the circus elephant. Have you ever seen an elephant in an indoor arena tied to a little wooden stake? That huge creature can pick up two thousand pounds with its trunk, yet it calmly stays tied. Why?

When that elephant was just a baby, and not very strong, it was tied by a huge chain to an iron stake that could not be moved. Regardless of how hard it tried, it could not break the chain and run free. After a while it just gave up. Now, even though it is strong, it never attempts to break free. The “imprint” is permanent. “I can't! I can't!” it says.

There are millions of people who behave like this circus creature. They have been tied and told “You'll never make it,” so many times they finally call it quits. They may have dreams, but the “imprinting” keeps pulling them back.

大多数人都像马戏团里的大象。你曾看过一头大象被拴在室内舞台的一根小木桩上吗？那头庞然大物能用它的长鼻子挑起2000磅的重物，却平静地甘于被绑缚。为什么呢？

大象幼年时，身子骨还不甚强壮，就被一根巨大的铁链拴在牢牢固定的铁桩上。不管它花多大的气力，都无法挣断铁链，获得自由。经过一段时间的尝试，它便放弃了。如今，它强壮了，却也不再试着去争取自由了。这个“铬印”是永久的。“我不能！我不能！”它诉说着。

大象幼年时，身子骨还不甚强壮，就被一根巨大的铁链拴在牢牢固定的铁桩上。不管它花多大的气力，都无法挣断铁链，获得自由。经过一段时间的尝试，它便放弃了。如今，它强壮了，却也不再试着去争取自由了。这个“铬印”是永久的。“我不能！我不能！”它诉说着。

1. circus 马戏团，如：

The fascinations of the circus are endless.
马戏表演非常吸引人.

The circus manager snapped his whip.
马戏团主管把鞭子抽得很响.

2. stake 赌注,奖金，如：

He drove a stake into the ground.
他向地里打了一根桩子。

His reputation was at stake.
他面临身败名裂的危险。

3. imprint 刻上记号

A remnant or trace of an organism of a past geologic age, such as a skeleton or leaf imprint, embedded and preserved in the earth's crust.
化石埋置并保存于地层中的古生物遗体、遗物和其生活遗址，如骨骸、叶子的印痕等

Her face bore the deep imprint of suffering.
她的脸上带著受过苦难的深深的痕迹.

4. permanent 永久的,持久的

He's been temping for over a year now and wants a permanent job.
他做临时工作已一年多了, 想找个固定的工作.

I'm not a permanent employee; I'm working here on a fixed-term contract.
我并不是永久雇员，而是根据定期合同在此工作的。