温斯顿·丘吉尔(Winston Churchill)
The fortunate people in the world — the only really fortunate people in the world, in my mind, — are those whose work is also their pleasure. The class is not a large one, not nearly so large as it is often represented to be; and authors are perhaps one of the most important elements in its composition. They enjoy in this respect at least a real harmony of life. To my mind, to be able to make your work your pleasure is the one class distinction in the world worth striving for; and I do not wonder that others are inclined to envy those happy human beings who find their livelihood in the gay effusions of their fancy , to whom every hour of labour is an hour of enjoyment, to whom repose however necessary — is a tiresome interlude , and even a holiday is almost deprivation . Whether a man writes well or ill, has much to say or little, if he cares about writing at all, he will appreciate the pleasures of composition. To sit at one's table on a sunny morning, with four clear hours of uninterruptible security, plenty of nice white paper, and a Squeezer pen — that is true happiness. The complete absorption of the mind upon an agreeable occupation — what more is there than that to desire? What does it matter what happens outside? The House of Commons may do what it likes, and so may the House of Lords. The heathen may rage furiously in every part of the globe. The bottom may be knocked clean out of the American market. Consols may fall and suffragettes may rise. Never mind, for four hours, at any rate, we will withdraw ourselves from a common, ill-governed, and disorderly world, and with the key of fancy unlock that cupboard where all the good things of the infinite are put away.
in the gay effusions of their fancy 在思如泉涌的想象中
- interlude [ˈɪntəluːd] n. 插曲
- deprivation [ˌdeprɪˈveɪʃn] n. 剥夺，丧失
- heathen [hiːðən] n. 异教徒
- consols [kənˈsɒlz] n. (英国政府1751年开始发行的)统一公债(这里指证券)
世界上最幸运的人——世界上唯一真正幸运的人，在我看来——是那些把工作当成乐趣的人。这类人不是很多，不是多得像人们时常描述的那样。作家也许是那群人中最重要的组成部分。在这个方面，他们至少享受真正的人生和谐。在我看来，能够把工作变成乐趣是世界上人的等级层次最显著的一个特点，值得努力追求。我不怀疑别人往往会妒忌那些的人，他们发现自己的生活处在满心喜悦之中，对他们来说每个小时的劳作就是一个小时的享受。必要的休息对他们来说都成了讨厌的干预，连假日也几乎成了一种剥夺。不管一个人写好写坏，话多话少，如果他喜欢写作，也就能欣赏写作的乐趣。晴朗的早晨坐在桌子旁，四个小时保证不受干扰，有足够的白纸和自来水笔——那才是真正的乐趣。沉浸在喜欢的事情中，还有什么别的值得希冀呢？外边发生什么管他干啥？众议院可以做它自己爱做的事情，参议院也同样去做。异教徒可以在世界各地愤怒发狂。美国市场的底价可以被冲击得七零八落。英国统一公债可以贬值，妇女参政权论者可以兴起。没关系，至少四个小时以内，我们可以把这个普通的、管理不善的、杂乱无章的世界放到一边，且莫管它，用想象力的钥匙打开柜橱，那里收藏着宇宙间所有的好东西。