Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations.
对于普遍的美国人来说，时间是头等重要的事情。对于一个外国来访者，美国人把按时完成预先计划的工作看得比发展深层次的人际关系更重要。
Schedules, for the American, are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail.
美国人认为计划应该事先安排好，然后细致的执行。
It may seem to you that most Americans are completely controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment on time.
在你看来多数美国人完全被腕上的手表彻底操控了，他们中途突然终止讨论为了按时赶上下一个预约的时间。
Americans' language is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be “on,” to be “kept,” “filled,” “saved,” “wasted,” “gained,” “planned,” “given,” “made the most of,” even “killed.”
美国人的语言之中充满了对于时间的阐述，以表明究竟它具有怎样的价值。时间可以是“准时的”、“正确的”、能“被占用”、“被节省”、“被浪费”、“被争取”、“被计划”、“被给予”、“使之快近”，甚至能“被消磨”。
The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in America.
外宾很快了解到跟美国人会面即使迟到10分钟也是很失礼的。
Time is so valued in America, because by considering time to be important one can clearly achieve more than if one “wastes” time and doesn't keep busy. This philosophy has proven its worth.
时间在美国很有价值，因为一个考虑到时间重要性的人可以比一个浪费时间的人拥有更大的成就。这种理念已经证明了它的价值。
It has enabled Americans to be extremely productive, and productivity itself is highly valued in America.
这使美国人极其多产，生产力本身在美国也受到高度重视。
Many American proverbs stress the value of guarding time, using it wisely, and setting and working toward specific goals. Americans believe in spending their time and energy today so that the fruits of their labor may be enjoyed at a later time.
许多美国谚语强调了守时的价值，明智的使用、设定时间，朝着指定的目标努力。美国人相信今日花费时间和精力是为了明日享用更好的劳动成果。