Lesson 27：Nothing to sell and nothing to buy
不東西可賣也不東西可買
It has been said thateveryonelives byselling something.In the light ofthisstatement, teachers live by selling knowledge,philosophersby selling wisdom andpriestsby sellingspiritualcomfort. Though it may be possible tomeasurethe value of material goodin terms ofmoney, it isextremelydifficult toestimatethe true value of theserviceswhich peopleperformfor us.There are times whenwe wouldwillinglygive everything wepossessto save our lives, yet we mightgrudgepaying a surgeon a high fee for offering uspreciselythis service.The conditions of society are such that skills have to be paid forin the same way thatgoods are paid for at a shop. Everyone has something to sell.
Trampsseem to be the onlyexception to this general rule. Beggars almost sell themselves ashuman beingsto arouse the pity of passers-by. But real tramps are not beggars.They have nothing to sell and require nothing from others. In seekingindependence, they do not sacrifice their humandignity. A tramp may ask you for money, but he will never ask you tofeel sorry forhim. He hasdeliberatelychosen to lead the life he leads and is fully aware of theconsequences. He may never be sure where the next meal iscoming from, but he isfree fromthe thousands ofanxietieswhichafflictother people. His few material possessions make it possible for him to move from place to placewith ease. By having to sleepin the open, hegets far closer tothe world of nature than most of us ever do. He may hunt, beg, or stealoccasionallyto keep himself alive; he may even,in times ofreal need, do a little work; but he will neversacrificehis freedom.We oftenspeak oftramps withcontemptand put them in the same class as beggars, but how many of us can honestly say that we have not felt a littleenviousof their simple way of life and their freedom from care?
第50篇---New Year Resoutions 新年信念。這篇初讀就感到有魯迅雜文般的質感，既諷刺又風趣。 從開篇的The New Year is a time for resoluions, 新年是一個下信念的好時間，就開端開啟嘲諷技能。Mentally(只是心思上)， at least, most of us could compile formidable lists of 'dos' and 'don't',至少我們團體精力上都會制訂一個令人望而卻步的「要做什麼」「不克不及做什麼」的清單。前兩句讀起來就非常辛辣了。從高等辭彙的利用角度來講，recur 完全可能作為happen的同義調換詞； year in and year out 年復一年，是不是比我們用爛掉落的time after time, again and again, year after year 要好上很多。類似的另有很多完全可能在雅思寫作或許書面語裡面應用到的短語，如 monotonous regularity; beyond attainment; slip back into our bad old ways; pitfalls;assiduously; taunts and jibes，都很實用並且地道。
第41篇---illusions of pastoral peace.安靜故鄉生活的幻想。略微改頭換面一下，就是一篇絕美的雅思作文題或許書面語答復的範本啊！ 比方經典的書面語老題：Do you enjoy living in countryside? 答復： Yes, I do. I think countrylife is somehow superior to town life. I love everything about it such as friendlypeople there, the clean atmosphere, the closeness to nature and the gentle peace of life.Nothing in city can be compared with the first cockcrow, the twittering of birds at dawn and the sights of the rising sun glinting on the trees and pastures. 有不有不一種背到就是賺到的感到？