英国哲学家和科学家培根过去说过:"读史使人明智。"历史通过文献和史书告诉大家前人的经验和教训,就像一个智慧的老人一样给大家宝贵的建议,让大家可以吸取教训,少走弯路,最后创造一个愈加美好的世界。
People often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books, documents and records. Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and history books? Why do we record and save the actions of men, the negotiations1 of government officials and the events during wars? We do it because, sometimes, the voice of experience can cause us to sTOP, look and listen. Sometimes, past records, when understood in the right way, can help us decide what to do and what not to do. If we are ever to create lasting peace, we must seek its origins in human experience and in the records of human history. From the stories of courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations of youth. History records the suffering, the self-denial2, the devotion, and the heroic3 deeds of people in the past. These records can help us when we are confused and when we really need peace. The main purpose of history is to create a better world. History gives a warning to those who promote war, and inspiration to those who seek peace. In short, history helps us learn. Yesterday’s records can keep us from repeating yesterday’s mistakes. And from the pieces of mosaic4 as百度竞价推广bled5 by historians come the great murals6 which represent the progress of mankind.
大家常常心存疑虑,为何历史学家要费尽周折地保存数以万计的书本、文献和记录。大家为何要有图书馆呢？这类文献和史书有什么用处呢? 大家为何要记载并保存人类的行为、政府官员的谈判和战争中的事件呢？大家这么做是什么原因在于有时经验之音能促进大家停步、察看和倾听。也由于有时过去的记载经过正确地解释,能帮助大家决定何事可为、何事不可为。假如大家想要创造永久的和平,大家就需要从人类的经验与人类历史的记载中去探索其渊源。从体现男士和女人勇敢和奉献精神的故事之中,大家获得了青春的启示。历史记载着人类的所有苦难、克己、忠诚和英勇的事迹。这类记载在大家困惑和渴望和平常能对大家有所帮助。历史的主要为了创造一个愈加美好的世界。历史对那些力主战争的人给以警告,给予那些寻求和平的人以启示。简而言之,历史帮助大家学习。昨日的记载可以使大家防止重蹈覆辙。这类历史学家们创作的像马赛克一样色彩缤纷的历史片断汇聚成了代表人类进步的伟大壁画。
这篇材料你能听出多少？点击这里做听写，提升外语水平>>
