A strange picture we make on our way to our chimaeras, ceaselessly marching, grudging ourselves the time for rest; indefatigable, adventurous pioneers. It is true that we shall never reach the goal; it is even more than probable that there is no such place; and if we lived for centuries and were endowed with the powers of a god, we should find ourselves not much nearer what we wanted at the end. O, toiling hands of mortals! O, unwearied feet, traveling ye know not whither! Soon, soon, it seems to you, you must come forth on some conspicuous hilltop, and but a little way further, against the setting sun, descry the spires of El Dorado. Little do ye know your own blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.
读书的乐趣
The Pleasure of Reading
佚名 / Anonymous
人类世世代代的聪明才智,以及几百年来愉悦人们的故事,都可以轻松实惠地从书中获得。不过,读者必须懂得利用知识,进而获得最大收益。世上最不幸的人就是那些从未体会过阅读佳作所带来的快乐的人。
读书是一种思维享受,有点儿像体育运动。善于读书的人需要强烈的求知欲、丰富的知识和敏捷的反应。读书之所以是一种乐趣,并不在于作者告诉你什么,而是因为读书使你积极思考。在作者的引导下,你的想象任意驰骋,甚至超越作者的想象。对比作者的经历,你会得出自己的结论,也许相同,也许相悖,而随着你对作者思想的理解,你也会变得越来越深刻。
每一部书都独自存在,犹如独户房子。而图书馆的书籍则像城市中的建筑。尽管它们各成一体,但共同构成一个整体。不仅它们之间相互关联,而且也与其他城市相互联系。相同或相近的看法会在不同的地方出现。文学作品中反映的就是人们生活中经常出现的事情,但在不同时期作者的处理大相径庭。书籍之间也相互影响,它们传承过去,体现现在,预测将来,相互联系,代代相传,形同各个家族。不管你从何时读起,都会有一种观点与你相符。长远来看,你不仅从书中了解世界,体验别人的生活,也会认识你自己。