Progress
A
We should so live and labour in our time that what①came to us as seed may go to the next generation as blossom，and that what①came to us as blossom may go to them as fruit．This is what①we mean by progress．
—Henry Ward Beecher
B
The rung of a ladder was never meant②to rest upon，but only to hold a man's foot long enough to put the other somewhat higher．
—Thomas Henry Huxley
C
Never look down to test the ground before taking your step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on③the far horizon will find his right road．
—Dag Hammarskjld
generation n一代(约为25年或30年)
blossom n花rung n梯;梯子的横档
horizon n地平线;眼界(=vista)
中译 进步的涵义
A
我们活着的时候，应当这样去生活和劳动，就是使我们获得的种子能在下一代开花，我们获得的花朵能在下一代结果。这就是我们所说的进步的涵义。
——亨利·沃德·比徹
B
梯子的梯级绝不是用来歇息的，只是为了在一只脚登上更高一级时，另一只脚可以落一下脚。
——托马斯·亨利·赫胥黎
C
举步之前绝不要低头检视脚下的地面;只有抬头注视远方境界的人才会找到正确的道路。
——达格·韩玛绍
原来如此！
这三段至理名言用了三个不同的意象来谈进步:第一段用植物开花结果作比喻;第二段谈上阶梯;第三段谈上路，迈步向前。但无论如何，要成功，就要发奋(第一段中谈到so live and labour)，要有上进心(第二段谈到to put the other foot higher)以及要有远大目标(第三段谈到keep one's eye fixed on the far horizon)。
增值英语
①What came to us as seed…|What came to us as
blossom…|What we mean by…
句式 what用作关系代词(relative pronoun)，引导主语从句(第一和第二个what)或表语从句(第三个what)，其义相当于the thing that。
Whatinterested the children most were the monkeys．最吸引孩子们的是那些猴子。(引导主语从句)
That's what I hope for．那是我所希望的。(引导表语从句)
②The rung of a ladder was never meant…
句式 was never meant…表示“绝不是用以…”之意。
This gift is never meantfor you．这件礼物绝不是送给你的。
③keep his eye fixed on the far horizon
句式 keep one's eye fixedon sth表示“密切注视某事物”，也可说keep an eyeon sth。
We have to keep an eye onthe cost and do not allow it to overrun．我们需要密切注视成本，小心不要超支。
On every trip I've made I've always kept my eye fixed on some novelties．我每次外出旅行，总是对一些新奇的事物特别注意。
句式 keep one's eyes open是近义语，表示“因警惕而留意”。
Keep your eyes openforany suspicious characters．对任何形迹可疑的人你都要提高警惕。