正文

A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple he grew. One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to take it home and plant it.

一個農(nóng)夫沒什么錢，可他有個朋友種蘋果種得特別好，很出名。 有一天，朋友給了他一棵小蘋果樹，讓他帶回家種起來。

The farmer was pleased with the gift, but when he got home he did not know where to plant it. He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbor would come at night and steal some of the apples.

農(nóng)夫收到這個禮物很高興，可是到家了卻不知道把樹種在哪兒才好。 他擔心要是種在路邊，路人會偷果子。種在地里又怕鄰居晚上來偷。

If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit. Finally he planted the tree in his wood where no one could see it.

種在房子跟前吧，又怕孩子們摘果子。 最后他把樹種在了林子里，這樣一來就沒人看得見了。

But without sunlight and good soil, the tree soon died. Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. “What's the difference?” the farmer said angrily.

可是小樹見不著陽光，土壤也沒營養(yǎng)，所以很快就死了。 后來，朋友問農(nóng)夫為什么要把樹種在那么糟糕的地方?！胺N在那兒怎么啦？”農(nóng)夫生氣地說，

“If I had planted the tree near the road, strangers would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples. If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the fruit.”

“我當初要是種在路邊，路人肯定就把果子偷了。要是種在自家地里，晚上鄰居肯定會來偷我的蘋果。要是種在房子跟前，我家的孩子們肯定就把果子摘了?！?/p>

“Yes,” said the friend, “but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed a good apple tree!”

“你說得沒錯，”朋友說，“可是那樣至少有人能夠享受果實的美味啊?，F(xiàn)在可好，你不但剝奪了大家吃果子的權利，你還毀了一棵好端端的果樹?。　?/p>

分享不是吃虧，而是得到快樂的前提。