在美国中文网Backchina上看到一篇文章，是关于生命的，摘录、整理下来，与大家分享。

 How to treasure our life（珍惜生命之箴言）

 原作：GEORGE CARLIN  翻译：丹奇

 （2009年1月17日）

    前日，读高中的侄女MARIE给我们寄来了贺年卡，硕大的信封里除了一个小小的贺年卡，就是一篇打印得很精美的文章，没有题目，也没有作者名。看完以后，体会颇深，于是顺手翻译成中文与大家分享。并祝大家牛年万事如愿，心想事成！

 The Paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicines, but less wellness. 我们人类历史上自相矛盾的是我们的房子越高，脾气越短，高速公路越宽，观点越窄。我们消费越多，但拥有的越少。我们买的更多，但开心更少。我们拥有更大的房子和更小的家庭，更多的方便，但更少的时间。我们拥有更多的学历，但更少理智。更多的知识，但更少的判断力。更多学者，然而更多的问题，更多的药物，但更少健康。

 We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired. Read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 我们喝的太多，抽烟太多，太无节制地花费，笑的太少，开车太快，太气愤，睡得太晚，起床太累。读书太少，看电视太多，太少祷告。

 We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. 我们拥有的翻倍了，但我们的价值却减少了。我们说话太多，太少去爱，太经常痛恨。

    We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years of life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things. 我们学会了如何谋生，但没学会如何生活。我们延年但未益寿。我们已经从月球来回，但困惑于如何到对面街上去与新邻居打招呼。我们征服了外太空，但没有征服内心世界。我们做了大事，但未做更好的事。

    We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. 我们清洁了空气，却污染了灵魂。我们征服了原子，但没有征服我们的偏见。我们写的更多，但学的更少。我们计划更多，但是成就更少。我们学会了赶路，但未学会等待。我们造了更多电脑来储存更多的资讯，制造了比以往更多的拷贝，但我们交流越来越少。

 There are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. There are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. There are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one night stands, over weight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when choose either to share this insight, or just hit delete. 已有时日人们享用快餐食品，但消化缓慢，人大心小，利润丰厚，但关系日浅。已有时日人们有双份工资，但离婚更多，房子更奢华，但家庭破裂。已有时日，旅行快速，一次性尿布，但把道德扔掉，一夜情，过于肥胖的身体，以及可以使人兴奋，安静或杀人的药物。这是一个展示窗里有很多东西但仓库里却一无所有的时代。一个要么选择分享这个观点，或只需按消除键的时代。

 Remember: spend some time with your loved ones, because they’re not going to be around forever. 记住吧：与你所爱的多呆一会，因为他们不会永远在你身旁。

 Remember: say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. 记住吧： 对那个敬畏地仰视你的人说句好话，因为这个小人很快就会长大并离开你的身旁。

 Remember: to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent. 记住吧： 给你身边的人一个温暖的拥抱，因为这是你可以把心一起献出的唯一财富，而且它不花你一分钱。

 Remember to say “I love you” to our partner and your loved ones, but most of all, mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. 记住对你的伴侣和你爱的人说“我爱你”，但最重要的是，要由衷地。来自你内心深处的一个吻和拥抱可以弥补人们的创伤。

 Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. 记住牵手庆贺这个时光，因为哪一天，这个人不会再来。给点时间去爱，给点时间诉说！给点时间分享你的心里想什么。

   And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.永远记住：生命不是由我们呼吸的次数来衡量的，而是由把我们的呼吸拿走的那个瞬间决定的！！