You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time.
[注解]這是林肯的名言。
[譯]你可以愚弄一些人于永遠(yuǎn),甚至可以愚弄所有的人于一時;但不能永遠(yuǎn)愚弄所有的人。
You cannot sell the cow and sup the milk.
[譯]賣了奶牛,豈能喝奶;好事不能兩頭占。
You can't eat your cake and have it.
[注解]eat one's cake and have it指同時做兩件不相容的事而雙收其利。
[譯]魚與熊掌不可兼得;事難兩全。
You may go farther and fare worse.
[注解]走得更遠(yuǎn)可能情形更壞,勸人安于現(xiàn)狀。
[譯]一動不如一靜。
You may lead (or take) a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
[注解]指做事須本人自愿,強迫無濟于事;很難讓別人干違反他意志的事,也無法使頑固的人按預(yù)想的方向前進。
[譯]帶馬到河邊容易,逼馬低頭飲水難;不要逼人做他不愿做的事。
You never know what you can do till you try.
[注解]只有嘗試過才知道其艱難程度和怎么做。
[譯]事非經(jīng)過不知難易;自己能干什么事,動手試試便可知。