atch TV for no more than 30 minutes at a sitting. Nor do I go visiting and
gossiping from door to door. Some people asked me, “Then what do you do with most of
your time?” Introspecting with remorse, I found that apart from the time earmarked for my
job and unavoidable social activities, most of my time had been wasted. I should have
concentrated my energies on reading whatever books I have not yet read. I should have
utilized all my time in writing anything I want to write. But I’ve failed to do so. Very much
of my times has been frittered away aimlessly. As the saying goes, “One who does not
work hard in youth will grieve in vain in old age.”
Take the translation of Shakespeare for example. I had initially planned to spend 20
years of my spare time in doing the translation, finishing two plays a year. But I spent 30
years instead, due primarily to my slothfulness. The whole project would probably have
fallen through had it not been for my fairly long life. After that I had other plans for work,
but, because of my approaching senility, somehow I failed to do what I had wished to. Had
I spurred myself on in my youth, I would have done more and better work. Alas, it is too
late to repent.
Another example. The reading of Chinese classics is a must for all Chinese. But it was
not until I was over 30 that I came to realize the importance of self-study in the matter of
classics. I did read carefully though, marking words and phrases for special attention with
small circles and dots. But my efforts at self-study were off and on. Confucius says, “I
shall be free of great faults if I can live long enough to begin the study of Yi at the age of
50.” I feel ashamed to admit that I haven’t even touched Yi though I’m now over 80.
Chinese history book are equally important. When I was leaving China to study abroad,
father bought a set of the Tong Wen lithographic edition of the First Four Books of History,
and crammed them into my travelling box, taking up half of its space. Several years later,
however, after drifting along abroad, I returned home carrying with me the same books all
unread. It was not until 40 years later that I plucked up enough courage to read through
Dong Jian. So many books still remain to be read, and I much regret not having enough
time to do it.
Whatever you do, you need a sound body first of all. In my school days, in response
to the so-called “compulsory physical exercises”, I went in for many sports at the expense
of many pairs of sneakers and rackets, thus luckily building up a minimum of good
physique. When I was approaching old age, I did Tai ji quan (shadow boxing) for several
years. Now I only do some walking exercises. Dear young friends, my advice to you is: Do
physical exercises perseveringly. That has nothing to do with merry-making or time-
wasting. Good health is the wherewithal for a successful life and career. ◤◤網◤文◤檔◤下◤載◤與◤在◤線◤閱◤讀◤
注释：
梁实秋（1902-1987）是我国著名现代作家、翻译家、教育家，一生致力于英国文学研究。本文选自他的散文集《雅舍小品》。
(1)“这道理人人都懂”译为All that is foolproof，其中foolproof作very simple to understand
解，意同“不言而喻”或“简单明了”。此句也可译为All that is self-evident。
(2)“我自己就是浪费了很多时间的一个人”译为personally, I am also a fritterer，其中fritterer
一词在用法上既可泛指“时间、金钱等等的浪费者”，又可专指“不爱惜时间的人”（a person who wastes time）。
(3)“翻译之所以完成，主要的是因为活得相当长久，十分惊险”的意思是“幸亏自己命长，
否则可能完成不了莎士比亚的翻译”。其中“十分惊险”的意思是“险些完成不了”。现全句译为The whole project would probably have fallen through had it not been for my fairly long life。
(4)“但体力渐衰，有力不从心之感”译为because of my approaching senility, somehow I failed
to do what I had wished to，其中senility指因年迈而导致身心两个方面的衰退．
(5)“才知道读书自修的重要”中的“读书”，根据上下文应指“读经书”，故此句译为came
to realize the importance of self-study in the matter of classics，其中in the matter of作in relation to或in regard to（就……而论）解。
(6)“五十心学易，可以无大过矣”出自《论语?述而》中的“子曰，加我数年，五十以学易，可以无大过矣。”其意为“让我再多活几年，到五十岁时去学习《易经》，就可以没有多大的过错了。”现按此意用加字法译为Confucius says, “I shall be free of great faults if I can live long enough to begin the study of Yi at the age of 50.”
(7