美文欣赏

The Germans generally adore England and have suffered in the past from unrequited love.England used to be the ultimate role model with its amazingly advanced political,social, industrial and technological achievements.

The Germans regard the English as being very nice and mostly harmless,almost German.

They admire Americans for the (un-German) easygoing pragmatism and dislike them for their superficiality.For the Germans,the United States is the headmaster in the school of nations, and accord due respect if not always affection.Germans are strong believers in authority.If you know how to obey, then you can also be a master runs the refrain.

With the Italian Germans have a close understanding because they have so much history in common.Through wars, invasion and other forms of tourism, a deep and lasting friendship has been established.Italian art treasures, food and beaches are thoroughly appreciated.There is also a connection arising from the fact that Italy and Germany both achieved nationhood in the last century, and are still not entirely sure that this was a good thing.

The French are admired for their sophisticated civilization, and pitied for their inferior culture. The French may have higher spirits, but the Germans have deeper souls. Despite this, Francophilia is widespread among Germans, especially those living close to the French border.

Like a wistful child looking over the garden fence, Germans envy Mediterranean people for more relaxed attitudes, cultural heritage and warm climate. But only when they are on holiday.

The only people to whom the Germans readily concede unquestioned superiority of Teutonic virtues are the Swiss. No German would argue their supremacy in the fields of order, punctuality,diligence, cleanliness and thoroughness. They have never been to war with the Swiss.

If experience has taught them one thing, it is that there is not future outside the community of nations. No other nation has a stronger sense of the importance of getting along with others. Tolerance is not only a virtue, It’s a duty.

参考译文

德国人如何看待别国

德国人普遍对英格兰人怀有好感，而且过去曾受过这份“单相思”的煎熬。英格兰曾是世界顶级角色的典范，有着令人惊叹的先进的政治，社会，工业和技术的成就。

德国人认为英国人很友好，基本上没有恶意，几乎和德国人一样。

他们欣赏美国人那种（非德国式的）悠闲随和的实用主义，同时又讨厌美国人那种（非德国式的）肤浅。对德国人来说，美国是国际学校的校长，那么对校长即使不热爱的话，也要给予相应的尊重。德国人是忠实的信徒。他们时常重复的一句话就是：如果你懂得如何服从的话，你也就可以成为成功之路的主人。

德国人对意大利人的了解颇深，因为两国有如此相似的历史。通过战争，侵略，以及各种形式的旅游，两国间建立了深厚而持久的友谊。意大利的艺术家，食物及海滨深得德国人的赞赏。两国间还有一种联系，即意大利和德国都是在上个世纪（19世纪）取得了主权地位，而且至今都不很肯定这究竟是不是一件好事。

德国人欣赏法国人精妙深奥的文明，同时又惋惜其文化的低劣。相比之下，法国人可能精神层次较高，而德国人则有更深邃的灵魂。除此之外，有亲法情绪的德国人还是很普遍的，特别是那些住在法国边界的人。

德国人就像一群不知足的孩子，喜欢眺望花园篱笆外的世界。他们嫉妒地中海地区的人们所有轻松的生活态度，文化遗产和温暖的气候，但那只是在他们度假时才有的心态。

德国人只肯承认瑞士毫无疑问地比他们自己更具有日耳曼民族的美德。瑞士人讲究条理，守时，勤奋，清洁又严谨，没有一个德国人会对他们在这些领域的至高地位持有异议。而且，他们从来没有和瑞士人发生过战争。

如果以往的经验曾经教会他们一件事，那就是：脱离国际社会就没有前途。没有一个国家比德国更深刻地认识到与人友好相处的重要性。宽容不仅是一种美德，它也是一种责任。

词汇释义

1.unrequited adj. 无报答的, 不受报酬影响； (尤指爱情)得不到回应或报答的

The unrequited love festered in her mind.
单恋使她苦恼。

2.pragmatism n. 实用主义

They all worry about his weakness for pragmatism.
他们都担心他的务实倾向。

3.nationhood n. 作为一个国家的地位

The sentimental distance between Singapore and China stems from a desire for a distinct nationhood. Yet it is not without positive significance.
新中两地的感情距离，是出自明晰两国关系，不过它也不乏积极意义。

4.Francophile n. 亲法者 adj. 崇拜法国的, 亲法的

5.Teutonic adj. 条顿人, 条顿语的, 日耳曼的 n. 条顿语, 日耳曼语

6.punctuality n. 准时

Our boss urged on us the significance of punctuality.
老板向我们强调守时的重要性。

7.thoroughness n. 彻底性

The main credit for the success of the test attaches to the thoroughness in their work.
这次试验之所以成功, 主要归功于他们工作中一丝不苟的精神。