围城Fortress Besieged
天下只有两种人。比如一串葡萄到手，一种人挑最好的先吃，另一种人把最好的留到最后吃。照例第一种人应该乐观，因为他每吃一颗都是吃剩的葡萄里最好的；第二种人应该悲观，因为他每吃一颗都是吃剩的葡萄里最坏的。不过事实却适得其反，缘故是第二种人还有希望，第一种人只有回忆。—–钱钟书
There are only two kinds of people in the world. Say a bunch of grapes comes into your hands: one kind picks the best ones and eats those first, the other saves the best for last. By rights the first kind ought to be optimists, since every grape they eat is the best of what remains; the second kind ought to be pessimists, since every grape they eat is the worst of what remains. Yet in fact it is just the opposite, and the reason is that the second kind still has hope, while the first has only memories. (Qian Zhongshu)
Comments