One possible version:
How to read English article better?
It is very important for us to have the right way to read when we learn English. There are all kinds of good ways to improve our abilities to read. When reading, we can find out the main sentences so that we can know the main idea of the article. If we meet the new words in the article, we should guess what they are meanings. We’ better try our best to get the key information, and then infer what the writer’s purpose is. Besides, we should have a good habit of reading, such as, scanning or skimming. I believe good ways are the secret of reading.
⑷ 请速提供一篇短篇英语美文
The Wallet
As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.
The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.
It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him anymore because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him.
It was signed, Hannah.
It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.
"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"
She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me.
I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you."
I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"
"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.
"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter."
She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.
I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?
Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us."
Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. "Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."
I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introced me to Hannah.
She was a sweet, silver-haired oldtimer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."
She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."
"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."
I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?"
I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet."
I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."
"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.
"He's one of the oldtimers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks." I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.
On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."
We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"
"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"
I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward."
"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."
The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"
"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."
He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.
"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.
The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, Mister? I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her."
"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.
"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?"
She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me?"
She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!" He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be."
About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man.
The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.
A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.
Author Unknown
⑸ 我每天背诵一篇英语美文，坚持半年英语会有怎样的进步
《英语美文背诵复50篇》大概是制这么一个书名。我是在大学里面的书店买的，一般大学附近的书店都会有售啊。美文背诵的书很多。
这本由mp3，不大，但是字体不会小，蛮管用的。有些文章有长句啊，美句啊，用了一些修辞：排比，比喻什么的。比较好背，词汇也比较高级，但是不难记。
如果能坚持每周背2-3篇，也就是半年内能把这本小册子啃下来，你的英语水平，无论是读，说，或是写，都能得到很大的提高。 有时让你即兴用英文演讲什么的，脑子里也有料。
我就是背了5篇的时候，有一天口语课老师突然让上去演讲2分钟，脑子里有货有积累，自然就出口成章了。
我是英语专业的学生。
写作啊什么的时候也会懂得运用的。因为你脑子里有货，还有语感。
加油啊！ 背完一篇别忘了回过头去复习，要不等你背到第五篇的时候第一篇造就忘光光了。“温故而知新”在英语学习中是极其重要的。
推荐的这本书是我自己用的，考专四的时候就买了，到专八还继续拿出来背呢。里面有的文章是励志的，或者哲理的，反正写文章都很用得上就是了。
而且是小册子，纸质很轻，方便携带。
或者你要打基础的就用《新概念3》或者《新概念4》。
希望能帮到你。 加油！
⑹ 英语励志美文
英语励志文章： Be a Fighter A young friend of mine asked me in a letter, "What kind of man should I be?" My answer was, "Be a fighter."Another friend of mine inquired, "How should I live my life?" Again my answer was, "Be a fighter."The author of In Praise of the Fighter says:Riding on the ceaseless rushing torrent of life, I should pursue and overtake it so as to create an even greater and deeper torrent of my own.If I were a lamp, it would be my ty to light up thick darkness. If I were the sea tide, I would marshal rolling waves to cleanse the beach of all accumulated filth.This quotation reflects aptly the state of mind of a lighter.Fighters are badly needed in our time. But such fighters do not necessarily go to the battle- field gun in hand. Their weapons are not necessarily bullets. Their weapons may be knowledge, faith and strong will. They can bring the enemy sure death without drawing his blood.A fighter is always in pursuit of light. Instead of basking in the sunshine under a clear sky, he holds a burning torch in the darkness of night to illuminate people's way so that they can continue their journey till they see the dawn of a new day. It is the task of a fighter to dispel darkness. Instead of shirking darkness, he braves it and fights the hidden demons and monsters therein. He is determined to wipe them out and win light. He knows no compromise. He will keep on fighting until he wins light.A fighter is perennially young. He is never irresolute or inactive. He plunges deep into teeming crowds in search of such vermin as flies and venomous mosquitoes. He will fight them relentlessly and refuse to coexist with them under the same sky. To him, life means nothing but continuous fighting. He either survives by winning light, or perishes with his body covered all over with cuts and bruises. In the course of the struggle, it is the "future" that serves as the beacon light to him; the "future" gives people hope and inspiration. He will never lose his youthful vigour.A fighter will never lose heart or despair. He will pile up broken pieces of brick and stone to rebuild a nine-story pagoda on the ruins of failure. No blows will ever break his will. He will never close his eyes until he has breathed his last.A fighter is always fearless. His steps are firm. Once he has settled on an objective, he will press right ahead. He is never afraid of being tripped by a stumbling block. No obstacles will ever make him change his mind. His eyes will never be hoodwinked by false appearances. His actions are guided by faith. He can enre any hardships or sufferings while striving to attain his chosen objective. He will never abandon work as long as he is alive.This is the kind of fighter we now need. He is not necessarily possessed of superhuman capability. He is just an ordinary person. Anyone can be a fighter so long as he has the determination. Hence a few words of mine about "being a fighter" to encourage those young people who wander about in a depressed state, not knowing which way to go.参考译文：做一名进攻型战士一个年轻的朋友写信问我：“应该做一个什么样的人?“我回答他：“做一个战士。”另一个朋友问我：“怎样对付生活了，我仍旧答道：“做一个战士。”《战士颂》的作者曾经写过这样的话：“我激荡在这绵绵不息、滂沱四方的生命洪流中，我就应该追逐这洪流，而且追过它，自己去造更广、更深的洪流。”“我如果是一盏灯，这灯的用处便是照彻那多量的黑暗。我如果是海潮，便要鼓起波涛去洗涤海边一切陈腐的积物。”这一段话很恰当地写出了战士的心情。在这个时代，战士是最需要的。但是这样的战士并不一定要持枪上战场。他的武器也下一定是枪弹。他的武器还可以是知识、信仰和坚强的意志。他并不一定要流仇敌的血，却能更有把握地致敌人的死命，战士是永远追求光明的。他并不躺在晴空下享受阳光，在晴夜里燃起火炬，给人们照亮道路，使他们走向黎明。驱散黑暗，这是战士的任务。他不躲避黑暗，却要面对黑暗，跟躲藏在阴影里的魑魅、魍魉搏斗。他要消灭它们而取得光明。战士是不知道妥协的。他得不到光明便不会停止战斗。战士永远是年轻的。他不犹豫，不休息。他深入人丛中，找寻苍蝇、毒蚊等等危害人类的东西。他不断地攻击它们，不肯与它们共同生存在一个天空下面，对于战士，生活就是不停的战斗，他不是取得光明而牛存，便是带着满身伤痕而死去。在战斗中力量只有增长，信仰只有加强，在战斗中给战士指路的是“未来”，“未来”给人以希望和鼓舞。战士永远不会失去青春的活力。战士是不知道灰心与绝望的。他甚至在失败的废墟上，还要堆起破碎的砖石重建九级宝塔。任何打击都不能击破战士的意志。只有在死的时候他才闭上眼睛。战士是不知道畏缩的，他的脚步很坚定。一旦他认准目标，便会向前走去。他不怕被绊脚石摔倒，没有一种障碍能使他改变心思，假象绝不能迷住战士的眼睛，支配战士的行动的是信仰。他能够忍受一切艰难、痛苦，而达到他所选定的目标。除非他死，否则他决不放弃工作。这便是我们现在需要的战士。这样的战士并不一定具有超人的能力。他是一个平凡的人。每个人都可以做战士，只要他有决心。所以我用“做一个进攻型的战士”来激励那些还在苦闷中彷徨，不知何去何从的年轻朋友。 尊重版权，原文链接地址： http://www.lz13.cn/liyingyu/200901129583.html
⑺ 速求5篇经典英语美文阅读
YOUTH
By Samuel Ullman 塞缪尔·厄尔曼
Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not amatter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of thewill, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is thefreshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a tempera-mental predominance of courage over timidity,of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often existsin a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by anumber of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles thesoul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the springback to st.
Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure ofwonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy ofthe game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is awireless
station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer,courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows ofcynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20,but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, thereis hope you may die young at 80.
Transforming Obstacles into Benefits
By Richard Stewart,Los Angeles, U.S.A. (Originally in English)
美国洛杉矶 理查德．史都华德（原文为英文）
A group of frogs was traveling through the woods and two of themfell into a deep pit. Immediately, all the other frogs in the groupgathered around the pit and watched as the imprisoned frogs tried tojump out. The frogs on top could see that the pit was very deep and itlooked as if there was no way out, so they started yelling at the twofrogs in the pit to give up. "The pit is too deep. You're as good asdead," the chorus of frogs said. When the trapped frogs kept trying,the crowd yelled louder, "Give up. You're as good as dead." After awhile, one of the exhausted frogs took heed to what the others weresaying, and fell down and died.
But amazingly, the second frog kept jumping as hard as she coulddespite the negative remarks of those that kept yelling at her toaccept the inevitable and just die. Finally, with one valiant leap, shemade it out of the pit!
This amazing result occurred because the second frog was deaf annable to hear what the others had been saying. She thought they hadbeen cheering her on the entire time they were yelling! What she hadmistakenly perceived as encouragement inspired her to try harder andsucceed against all odds. And that made all the difference!
With a positive mindset, and being deaf to others' opinions, thesecond frog made use of such negativity to overcome obstacles and reachher goals by using it as encouragement, instead of being influenced byothers like the first frog, who failed to develop her potential tostrive for survival. Thus, when we surmount others' criticism, ridiculeor cynical comments, we can do anything we set our minds to, just asthe second frog did. But, if we are not deaf like this frog, who couldnot be influenced by others e to a physical condition, we need the Wisdom to guide us to the proper way, so as not to be blindly guided byworldly opinion.
Transforming Obstacles into Benefits
By Richard Stewart,Los Angeles, U.S.A. (Originally in English)
美国洛杉矶 理查德．史都华德（原文为英文）
A group of frogs was traveling through the woods and two of themfell into a deep pit. Immediately, all the other frogs in the groupgathered around the pit and watched as the imprisoned frogs tried tojump out. The frogs on top could see that the pit was very deep and itlooked as if there was no way out, so they started yelling at the twofrogs in the pit to give up. "The pit is too deep. You're as good asdead," the chorus of frogs said. When the trapped frogs kept trying,the crowd yelled louder, "Give up. You're as good as dead." After awhile, one of the exhausted frogs took heed to what the others weresaying, and fell down and died.
But amazingly, the second frog kept jumping as hard as she coulddespite the negative remarks of those that kept yelling at her toaccept the inevitable and just die. Finally, with one valiant leap, shemade it out of the pit!
This amazing result occurred because the second frog was deaf annable to hear what the others had been saying. She thought they hadbeen cheering her on the entire time they were yelling! What she hadmistakenly perceived as encouragement inspired her to try harder andsucceed against all odds. And that made all the difference!
With a positive mindset, and being deaf to others' opinions, thesecond frog made use of such negativity to overcome obstacles and reachher goals by using it as encouragement, instead of being influenced byothers like the first frog, who failed to develop her potential tostrive for survival. Thus, when we surmount others' criticism, ridiculeor cynical comments, we can do anything we set our minds to, just asthe second frog did. But, if we are not deaf like this frog, who couldnot be influenced by others e to a physical condition, we need the Wisdom to guide us to the proper way, so as not to be blindly guided byworldly opinion.
⑻ 英语美文阅读
Right Beside You 身边总有你
The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the young woman with the white cane made her way1 carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, settled in to one. She placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.
It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. As the result of a medical accident she was sightless, suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. All she had to cling to2 was her husband Mark.
Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and he became determined to use every means possible to help his wife.
Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but she was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening until she got the hang of3 it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to4 her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.
Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a taxi back to his office. Although that meant he had to travel through the city and the routine was costly and exhausting, Mark knew it was only a matter of① time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her.
Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she embraced her husband tightly. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love. She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and a wild gaiety5 took hold of Susan. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was exiting the bus, the driver said, “Miss, I sure envy you.” Curious, Susan asked the driver why.
“You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a salute6 and walks away. You are one lucky lady,” the bus driver said.
Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe—the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.
当这个手持白杖的年轻女子小心翼翼地上车时，车上的乘客都向她投去怜悯的目光。她向司机付了车费之后，双手摸索着座位，然后坐好，把公文包放在膝盖上，手杖靠着腿。
34岁的苏珊失明已有一年了。一起医疗事故夺去了她的视力，她顿时陷入黑暗之中，内心充满愤怒、沮丧，还有顾影自怜，而她可以依靠的只有她的丈夫马克了。
马克是名空军军官，他深爱着苏珊。苏珊失明的头些日子，他眼睁睁地看着妻子陷入绝望，心里打定主意，要尽一切办法帮助她。
苏珊终于愿意重返工作岗位了。可她怎么去上班呢？以前都是乘公交车去的，但是她现在很害怕，自己一个人不敢在城里转。于是马克自告奋勇早晚坐公车接送，直到她可以一个人应付。这就是事情的经过。
整整两周，马克每天都一身戎装，陪着苏珊一起上下班，教她怎么凭借其他感官，尤其是听觉，判断她所处的位置，以及如何适应新的环境。他还帮她与司机交好，这样司机能照顾她，并给她留个座位。
每天早上，他们都一起同行，然后马克再乘出租车回去上班。尽管马克得穿过整座城市，而且疲惫不堪，又花费不菲，但是他坚信苏珊一定能独立乘车的，只是时间问题。
最后，苏珊决定自己独自坐车上班。星期一上午，临行前，她紧紧地拥抱着自己的丈夫，眼里蓄满了感激的泪水，感谢他的忠诚，他的耐心，还有他的爱。她向他道了别，他们第一次朝着不同的方向走去。周一、周二、周三、周四……每天她的独行之旅都很顺利，苏珊感到一阵狂喜。她成功了！她真的能一个人去上班了！
周五早上，苏珊照常乘公共汽车去上班。就要下车了，司机说：“小姐，我真羡慕你啊。”苏珊感到很奇怪，便问司机为什么。
“是这样的，上星期，每天早上都有一个仪表堂堂穿着军装的男士一直站在拐弯处看着你下车，看着你安全地穿过街道，又看着你走进办公楼，他向你飞一个吻，冲你行个礼，然后才动身离去。你真是个幸运的姑娘啊！” 司机说。
苏珊的脸上流下幸福的泪水。她是幸运的，因为马克给了她比视力更珍贵的礼物，一份她不需要看就能体会到的礼物——这就是爱的礼物，它能给黑暗带来光明。
⑼ 求一篇英文美文的原文
The sound of MUSIC.
⑽ 求英语美文一篇
Outside the Bible, these six words are the most famous in all the literature of the world. They were spoken by Hamlet when he was thinking aloud, and they are the most famous words in Shakespeare because Hamlet was speaking not only for himself but also for every thinking man and woman. To be or not to be, to live or not to live, to live richly and abundantly and eagerly, or to live lly and meanly and scarcely. A philosopher once wanted to know whether he was alive or not, which is a good question for everyone to put to himself occasionally. He answered it by saying: "I think, therefore am."
But the best definition of existence ever saw did another philosopher who said: "To be is to be in relations." If this true, then the more relations a living thing has, the more it is alive. To live abundantly means simply to increase the range and intensity of our relations. Unfortunately we are so constituted that we get to love our routine. But apart from our regular occupation how much are we alive? If you are interest-ed only in your regular occupation, you are alive only to that extent. So far as other things are concerned--poetry and prose, music, pictures, sports, unselfish friendships, politics, international affairs--you are dead.
Contrariwise, it is true that every time you acquire a new interest--even more, a new accomplishment--you increase your power of life. No one who is deeply interested in a large variety of subjects can remain unhappy; the real pessimist is the person who has lost interest.
Bacon said that a man dies as often as he loses a friend. But we gain new life by contacts, new friends. What is supremely true of living objects is only less true of ideas, which are also alive. Where your thoughts are, there will your live be also. If your thoughts are confined only to your business, only to your physical welfare, only to the narrow circle of the town in which you live, then you live in a narrow cir-conscribed life. But if you are interested in what is going on in China, then you are living in China~ if you’re interested in the characters of a good novel, then you are living with those highly interesting people, if you listen intently to fine music, you are away from your immediate surroundings and living in a world of passion and imagination.
To be or not to be--to live intensely and richly, merely to exist, that depends on ourselves. Let widen and intensify our relations. While we live, let live!
生存还是毁灭
“生存还是毁灭。”如果把《圣经》除外，这六个字便是整个世界文学中最有名的六个字了。这六个字是哈姆雷特一次喃喃自语时说的，而这六个字也就成了莎士比亚作品中最有名的几个字了，因为这里哈姆雷特不仅道出了他自己的心声，同时也代表了一切有思想的男男女女。是活还是不活——是要生活还是不要生活，是要生活得丰满充实，兴致勃勃，还是只是活得枯燥委琐，贫乏无味。一位哲人一次曾想弄清他自己是否是在活着，这个问题我们每个人也大可不时地问问我们自己。这位哲学家对此的答案是： “我思故我在。”
但是关于生存我所见过的一条最好的定义却是另一位哲学家下的：“生活即是联系。”如果这话不假的话，那么一个有生命者的联系越多，它也就越有生气。所谓要活得丰富充实也即是要扩大和加强我们的各种联系。不幸的是，我们往往会因为天性不够丰厚而容易陷入自己的陈规旧套。试问除去我们的日常工作，我们的真正生活又有多少?如果你只是对你的日常工作才有兴趣，那你的生趣也就很有限了。至于在其它事物方面，比如诗歌、散文、音乐、美术、体育、无私的友谊、政治与国际事务，等等——你只是死人一个。
但反过来说，每当你获得一种新的兴趣——甚至一项新的造诣——你就增长了你的生活本领。一个能对许许多多事物都深感兴趣的人是不可能总不愉快的，真正的悲观者只能是那些丧失兴趣的人。
培根曾讲过，一个人失去朋友即是死亡。但是凭着交往，凭着新朋，我们就能获得再生。这条对于活人可谓千真万确的道理在一定程度上也完全适用于人的思想，它们也都是活的。你的思想所在，你的生命便也在那里。如果你的思想不出你的业务范围，不出你的物质利益，不出你所在城镇的狭隘圈子，那么你的一生便也只是多方受着局限的狭隘的一生。但是如果你对当前中国那里所发生的种种感到兴趣，那么你便可说也活在中国；如果你对一本佳妙小说中的人物感到兴趣，你便是活在一批极有趣的人们中间；如果你能全神贯注地听点好的音乐，你就会超脱出你的周围环境而活在一个充满激情与想象的神奇世界之中。
生存还是毁灭——活得热烈活得丰富，还是只是简单存在，这就全在我们自己。但愿我们都能不断扩展和增强我们的各种联系。只要一天我们活着，就要一天是在活着。
