Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian! of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.
是否非常奇妙?George Carlin,一位70年代和80年代的喜劇演員,能夠寫出如此扣人心弦的文字!
A Message by George Carlin: George Carlin 的至理名言
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
現今是充滿矛盾的時代,我們有高樓大厦,但脾氣越來越暴躁;有更寬闊的高速公路,但思維卻日益狹窄。我們花費越來越多,但真正擁有的卻很少;我們增加消費,但能享受的很少。我們有更大的房子和更多的小家庭,更多的便利,卻沒有多少時間。我們擁有很多個學位,卻越來越沒有常理和辨別力;有更多的知識,卻缺乏判斷力;有更多的專家,問題卻更多;有更多的藥物,但完全根治的機率卻越來越低。
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
我們喝酒太多、抽煙太多,不顧後果的花費,少有笑容,開車太快,過度生氣,晚睡晚起,累得懶起,閱讀太少,看電視太多,和少有祈禱。
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
我們所擁有的資產以倍數增加,我們的價值卻日益減少。我們口若懸河,卻很少去愛,並常常心存憎恨。
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
我們學習如何賺錢生活,但沒有學習如何經營生活。我們為生命加長了年歲,但不是為生命的精彩而如此做。我們不辭路遠往返月球,卻對於走到對街和新鄰居打招呼感到侷促不安。我們征服了外太空,卻無法征服我們的內在。我們完成的事情越來越宏偉,但並不是完成更好的事。
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
我們令空氣更清新,卻污染了心靈。我們征服了細微的原子,卻無法征服我們的偏見。我們書寫很多,但學到的很少。我們有很多計劃,但完成的少之又少。我們學習去往前衝,卻沒耐性去等待。我們製造更多的電腦去儲存資料,去傳送比以前更多的影本,但我們卻越來越少與人溝通。
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... 這是個快餐和慢慢消化的年代,人的高度日益增加,個性卻越來越小氣,有豐厚利潤,但關係薄弱。這是個雙薪家庭的年代,但離婚率高企,有漂亮的房子,但破碎的家。這是個講求速度快捷的年代,即棄紙尿片,即棄道德,一夜情,超重,並吃藥以求快樂、安靜、去殺人。這是個在窗厨內堆滿貨物的年代,在貨倉內卻空無一物。這是個科技送信的年代,你可以選擇與友人分享此文章,或是輕輕的按删除鍵…
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
請記得:多花些時間陪伴你所愛的人,因為他們不會永遠在你身旁。
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
請記得:對那些敬畏你的小孩要說些鼓勵的話,因為他們很快會長大成人,不再接受你的勸勉。
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
請記得,給予你身邊的家人朋友一個温暖的擁抱,因為這是唯一你發自內心所給予的寶物,雖然不費一毛,但何等珍貴!
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
請記得,當你對你的另一半和所愛的人們說「我愛你」時,請認真的說,不要輕浮。一個吻和一個擁抱可以治療任何傷痛,因為那是從你心底裡真心的給予。
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
請珍惜可以拖著對方的手並相處每一刻,因為有一天他/她未必能再與你在一起。
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
用時間去愛,用時間去行動!並用時間與他人分享你心中的寶藏(思維)。
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: 並請常謹記:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
生命並不是以我們呼吸的次數來衡量,而是以讓人難以忘懷的時刻來衡量。
George Carlin