翻译专业资格一级笔译模拟试题（六）

The men of history were not perpetually looking into the mirror to make sure of their own size. Absorbed in their work they did it. They did it so well that the wondering world saw them to be great, and labeled them accordingly. To live with a high ideal is a successful life. It is not what one does, but what one tries to do, that makes a man strong.

Eternal vigilance, it has been said, is the price of liberty. With equal truth it may be said, Unceasing effort is the price of success. If we do not work with our might, others will; and they will outstrip us in the race, and pluck the prize from our grasp.

Success grows less and less dependent on luck and chance. Self-distrust is the cause of most of our failures.

The great and indispensable help to success is character. Character is crystallized habit, the result of training and conviction. Every character is influenced by heredity environment and education. But these apart, if every man were not to a great extent the architect of his own character, he would be a fatalist, an irresponsible creature of circumstances.

(摘自 On Achieving Success by Hemingway)

参考译文

历史伟人确定自己的价值靠的不是不断地照镜自盼，而是靠对工作的无限投人。他们的成就如此卓著以致惊讶的世人将他们视为伟人。高品质的生活需要的是崇高的理想。一个人的强大并不取决于他做了些什么，而是他尽力去做了什么。

曾有此一说永恒的警觉是自由的代价。同理可说不断的努力是成功的代价。我们若不尽力工作，别人则会努力，而且他们会在这场竞赛中超越我们，从我们手中夺走奖品。

成功愈来愈不依赖运气和机会。缺乏自信是我们大部分人失败的原因。

成功至关重要的辅助因素是性格。性格是具体化的习惯，是不断训练和强化信念的结果。每种性格都受遗传、环境和教育的影响。但是除了这些以外，如果每一个人在某种程度上不是他自己性格的创造者，他就是个宿命论者，是个对现状不负责的人。