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第22章 Crabs in the Cage笼中之蟹

晚安心语

As we grow up,we don't lose friends.

We just learn who the real ones are.

随着年龄的增长,我们并不是失去了一些朋友,而是我们懂得了谁才是真正的朋友。

There is a type of crab that cannot be caught-it is agile and clever enough to get out of any crab trap.And yet,these crabs are caught by the thousands every day,thanks to a particular human trait they possess.

The trap is a wire cage with a hole at the top.Bait is placed in the cage,and the cage is lowered into the water.One crab comes along,enters the cage,and begins munching on the bait.A second crab joins him.A third...

Eventually,however,all the bait is gone.The crabs could easily climb up the side of the cage and through the hole,but they do not.They stay in the cage.Other crabs come along and join them-long after the bait is gone.And more.

Should one of the crabs realize there is no further reason to stay in the trap and attempt to leave,the other crabs will gang up on him and stop him.They will repeatedly pull him off the side of the cage.If he is persistent,the others will tear off his claws to keep him from climbing.If he persists still,they will kill him.

The crabs-by force of the majority-stay together in the cage.The cage is hauled up,and it's dinner time on the pier.

The chief difference between these crabs and humans is that these crabs live in water and humans on land.

Anyone who has a dream-one that might get them out of what they perceive to be a trap-had best beware of the fellow inhabitants of the trap.

The human crabs(we call them trolls)do not usually use physical force-although they are certainly not above it.They generally don't need it,however.They have more effective methods at hand,and in mouth-doubt,ridicule,sarcasm,humiliation,and dozens of others not listed in our dictionary.

The point is to manage to keep the trolls away from your goals.

在梦想的道路上,要设法远离小人。

陈梓 译

有一种螃蟹无法被捕获——因为它既敏捷又聪明,能逃出任何捕蟹陷阱。然而,由于它们拥有一种特殊的人类心理特征,每天,成千上万的这种螃蟹被捕获。

陷阱是一个顶部有一个洞的铁丝笼。诱饵放置在笼子里,再把笼子放入水里较低的地方。一只螃蟹过来,入笼,并开始津津有味地咀嚼诱饵。第二只螃蟹加入它的行列, 第三只……

最后,所有的诱饵都吃完了。螃蟹本来可以很容易地爬上笼子的顶端,穿过那个洞出去,但是它们不会这么做。它们就呆在笼子里,而其他螃蟹也一起进来加入它们的行列——即使诱饵早已被吃完。于是,螃蟹越聚越多。

也许有一只螃蟹意识到没有理由再留在陷阱里,所以试图离开,但是其他的螃蟹会联合起来对付它,阻止它。它们一定会一而再、再而三地把它推向笼子的另一端。如果它坚持要出去,别的螃蟹将会撕下它的爪子来阻止它爬行。如果它依然坚持,它们会杀了它。

这些螃蟹——迫于大多数螃蟹的武力——同它们一起呆在笼子里。笼子被拽上来时,正是码头上的晚餐时间。

螃蟹和人类的主要区别是:这些螃蟹生活在水里,而人类生活在陆地上。

任何一个有梦想的人——其中一个梦想可能是想要摆脱已觉察到的困境——应当提防困境中的伙伴。

人类中的螃蟹(我们称之为小人)通常不会使用身体武力——虽然他们的行为不比螃蟹高明多少。他们一般不需要这种方法,但是,他们有更加有效的方法在手,用嘴——质疑、嘲笑、讽刺、屈辱,还有许许多多没有列在词典内的方法。

关键是要设法让小人远离你的目标。

轻英语

与“eye”有关的短语

eye candy养眼花瓶

eyelid眼皮

an eye for an eye以牙还牙

eye boogers眼屎

pink eye红眼病

eye witness目击者

eye shadow眼影

eyeliner眼线笔

eye-catching吸引眼球

eyelashes眼睫毛

catch someone'eye引起注意

make eyes at sb向某人送秋波

apple of one'eyes心肝宝贝,掌上明珠