英語美文的閱讀是提高英語寫作能力的最佳方式，以下是小編整理的精選英語美文閱讀，歡迎參考閱讀!
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth.
有一位風燭殘年的老人，他和兒子、兒媳還有四歲的小孫子生活在一起。老人的雙手顫抖，眼睛昏花，步履也已蹣跚。晚上一家人圍在一起吃飯，老人顫抖的手和昏花的眼睛讓吃飯成了件很困難的事兒：豆子從他的勺子裡掉出來，滾到地板上；拿杯子時牛奶灑在桌布上。
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
這一切讓兒子和兒媳感到反感。於是，這對夫妻在角落裡給老人單獨擺了張桌子。爺爺一個人孤單地吃飯，其他人在另外一張餐桌上享受著晚餐。爺爺已經打碎了一兩隻盤子，於是他的飯碗被換成了一個木碗。
Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old son watched it all in silence.
有時候，向爺爺的那個方向看一眼，就會發現爺爺獨自吃飯時，眼裡含著淚花。更有甚者，如果爺爺把叉子掉在地上或者弄灑了食物，夫妻二人拋給老人的話語一定是尖刻的警告。四歲的孫子在一旁靜靜地看著發生的一切。
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old son smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
一天晚上晚餐前，父親發現兒子正在地板上玩木屑。他親切地問孩子：“你在做什麼？”兒子同樣親切地回答：“哦，我在給你和媽媽做小碗，等我長大了給你們用。”四歲的孩子笑了笑，然後繼續做他的小碗。夫妻二人愣住了。兩個人沉默無語，眼淚流滿了臉頰。儘管兩個人都沒有說話，但是他們都知道應該怎麼做。那晚，丈夫拉著爺爺的手，溫和地重新讓他回到了家庭飯桌旁。
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes always observe, their ears always listen, and their minds always process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day is being laid for the child's future.
在老人的餘生裡，每一頓飯都是和家人一起吃。不知出於什麼原因，當叉子掉在地上，牛奶被弄灑，桌布被弄髒的時候，丈夫和妻子都不再像原來那樣在意。孩子有著驚人的洞察力。他們的眼睛在觀察，他們的耳朵在傾聽，他們的頭腦在處理著他們接收的資訊。如果他們看見我們耐心地為家庭成員提供一個快樂的家的氛圍，那麼他就會在今後的生活中模仿這種態度。明智的家長知道每一天都在為孩子的將來打基礎。
Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of those you y, and everyday!
讓我們成為明智的建築師吧，做一個角色模範。照顧好你自己，照顧好你愛的人…… 今天!每一天!
追隨你的`夢想Catch the Star That Will Take You to Your DreamsCatch the star that holds your destiny, the one that forever twinkles within your heart. Take advantage of precious opportunities while they still sparkle before you. Always believe that your ultimate goal is attainable as long as you commit yourself to it.
追隨能夠改變你命運的那顆星，那顆永遠在你心中閃爍的明星。當它在你面前閃耀時，抓住這寶貴的機會。請謹記，只要你堅持不懈，最終的目標總能實現。
Though barriers may sometimes stand in the way of your dreams, remember that your destiny is hiding behind them. Accept the fact that not everyone is going to approve of the choices you've made, have faith in your judgment, catch the star that twinkles in your heart, and it will lead you to your destiny's path. Follow that pathway and uncover the sweet sunrises that await you.
儘管實現夢想的途中有時會遇到障礙，要知道這是命運對你的挑戰。不是每個人都會贊成你的選擇，接受這個現實，並相信自我的判斷，追隨那顆在你心中閃爍的明星，它會引領你踏上命運的征途。堅持不懈，你就能享受那些幸福時刻。
Take pride in your accomplishments, as they are stepping stones to your dreams. Understand that you may make mistakes, but don't let them discourage you. Value your capabilities and talents for they are what make you truly unique. The greatest gifts in life are not purchased, but acquired through hard work and determination.
每前進一步，你都應引以為豪，因為它們是你實現夢想的階梯。要知道在這個過程中你也許會犯錯誤，但不要氣餒。珍視自我的潛能，因為它們使你獨一無二。生命中最珍貴的禮物不是花錢買來的，而是通過努力和決心而獲取的。
Find the star that twinkles in your heart for you alone are capable of making your brightest dreams come true. Give your hopes everything you've got and you will catch the star that holds your destiny.
尋找心中那顆閃耀的明星，因為只有你自己才能夠讓美好的夢想變成現實。滿懷希望並全力以赴，你就能摘下改變命運的那顆星。
假如生活重頭再來Living life overIf I had my life to live over……I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was strained and the sofa faded. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding patter if I were not there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical，would not show soil or was guaranteed to last a life time. There would have been more“I love you”……more“I‘m sorry”……but mostly，given another shots at life，I would seize every minute……look at it and really see it……live it……and never give it back.
假如生活從頭再來假如我能重新生活,我會說得更少，聽得更多。我會邀請朋友來吃飯，即使地毯變髒,沙發褪色。我會花時間聽我的祖父漫談他的年輕時光。我再也不會堅持在某個夏天的某一天車窗一定要開啟，而我的頭髮剛剛被噴膠並被做好。我會點燃雕得像朵玫瑰一樣的粉紅的蠟燭，在它被在儲存中融化之前。我會與我的孩子一起坐在草坪上，不用擔心草地上的汙漬。我會在看電視時哭得更少,笑得更少，而更多的是觀察生活。當我生病時,我會上床睡覺，而不是假裝如果我不在一天,地球就會停止不動。我再也不會購買任何據說是實用的,牢固的,保證可用一生的東西。我會說更多的“我愛你.”……更多的“對不起.”……可是，我被生活再次擊倒，我會抓住每一分鐘……看看它,實實在在地看它……好好生活……決不讓它重頭再來。
一切剛開始 We're Just Beginning"We are reading the first verse of the first chapter of a book whose pages are infinite…”
“我們正在讀一本書的第一章第一行，這本書的頁數是無限的……”
I do not know who wrote those words, but I have always liked them as a reminder that the future can be anything we want to make it. We can take the mysterious, hazy future and carve out of it anything that we can imagine, just as a sculptor carves a statue from a shapeless stone.
我不知道是誰寫的，可我很喜歡這句話，它提醒我們未來是由自己創造的。我們可以把神祕、不可知的未來塑造成我們想象中的任何模樣，猶如雕刻家將未成形的石頭刻成雕像。
We are all in the position of the farmer. If we plant a good seed, we reap a good harvest. If our seed is poor and full of weeds, we reap a useless crop. If we plant nothing at all, we harvest nothing at all.
我們每個人都像是農夫。灑下良種將有豐收，播下劣種或生滿野草便將毀去收成。沒有耕耘則會一無所獲。
I want the future to be better than the past. I don't want it contaminated by the mistakes and errors with which history is filled. We should all be concerned about the future because that is where we will spend the remainder of our lives.
我希望未來比過去更加美好，希望未來不會沾染歷史的錯誤與過失。我們都應舉目向前，因我們的餘生要用未來書寫。
The past is gone and static. Nothing we can do will change it. The future is before us and dynamic. Everything we do will affect it. Each day brings with it new frontiers, in our homes and in our business, if we only recognize them. We are just at the beginning of the progress in every field of human endeavor.
往昔已逝，靜如止水；我們無法再作改變。而前方的未來正生機勃勃；我們所做的每一件事都將會影響著它。只要我們認識到這些，無論是在家中還是在工作上，每天我們的面前都會展現出新的天地。在人類致力開拓的每一片領域上，我們正站在進步的起跑點。
控制你的情緒 Control Your EmotionYou must control and direct your emotions not abolish them. Besides, abolition would be antimissile task. Emotions are like a river. Their power can be dammed up and released under control and direction, but is cannot be held forever in check. Sooner or later the dam will burst, unleashing catastrophic destruction.
你必須控制並導引你的情緒而非摧毀它，況且摧毀情緒是一件不可能的事情。情緒就像河流一樣，你可以築一道堤 防把它擋起來，並在控制和導引之下排放它，但卻不能永遠抑制它，否則那道堤防遲早會崩潰，並造成大災難。
Your negative emotions can also be controlled and directed. PMA and self-discipline can remove their harmful effects and make them serve constructive purposes. Sometimes fear and anger will inspire intense action. But you must always submit your negative emotions--and you positive ones--to the examination of your reason before releasing them. Emotion without reason is a dreadful enemy.
你的消極心態同樣也可被控制和導引，積極心態和自律 可去除其中有害的部分，而使這些消極心態能為目標貢獻力 量。有的時候恐懼和生氣會激發出更徹底的行動，但是在你釋放消極情緒(以及積極情緒)之前務必要讓你的理性為它們做一番檢驗，缺乏理性的情緒必然是一位可怕的敵人。
What faculty provides the crucial balance between emotions and reason? It is your willpower, or ego, a subject which will be explored in more detail below. Self-discipline will teach you to throw your willpower behind either reason or emotion and amplify the intensity of their expression.
是什麼力量使得情緒和理性之間能夠達到平衡呢?是意志力或自尊心(我將在以下做更詳細的說明)。自律會教導你的意志力作為理性和情緒的後盾，並強化二者的表現強度。
Both your heart and your mind need a master, and they can find the master in your ego. However, your ego will fill their role only if you use self-discipline. In the absence of self-discipline, your mind and heart will fight their battles as they please. In this situation the person within whose mind the fight is carried out often gets badly hurt.
你的感情和理智都需要一位主宰，而在你的自尊心裡就可發現這個主宰，然而只有你在發揮你的自律精神時，自尊心才會扮演好這個角色，如果沒有了自律，你的理智和感情便會隨心所欲地進行戰爭，戰爭結果當然是你會受到嚴重的傷害。
