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大学英语综合教程2课文翻译Unit1 PassageA1任何年满18岁的人都有资格投票(vote)。
(be eligible to)Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to vote.2.每学期开学前，这些奖学金的申请表格就会由学校发给每一个学生。
(apply for, scholarship)A form to apply for these scholarships is sent by the university to each student before the start of each semester.3. 遵照医生的建议，我决定戒烟。
(on the advice of)On the advice of my doctor, I decided to give up smoking.4.公园位于县城的正中央。
(be located in)The park is located right in the center of town.5.这所大学提供了我们所需的所有材料和设备。
(facilities)The university provides all the materials and facilities we desire.PssageB1. 他内心深处知道，他们永远也不会再见了。
(in one’s heart)He knew in his heart that they would never meet again.2.他们同意出版他的第一本书后，他终于感到自己快要成功了。
(on the road to)He finally felt that he was on the road to success after they agreed to publish his first book.3.他停下来喝了一口(a sip of)水，然后继续讲话。
新标准大学英语综合教程2——课文译文U1AR1大学已经不再特别了有这么一种说法：“要是你能记得20世纪60年代的任何事情，你就没有真正经历过那段岁月。
”对于在大麻烟雾中度过大学时光的那些人，这话可能是真的。
但是，20世纪60年代有一件事人人都记得，那就是：上大学是你一生中最激动人心、最刺激的经历。
20世纪60年代，加州的高校把本州变成了世界第七大经济实体。
然而，加州大学的主校园伯克利分校也以学生示威、罢课以及激进的政治氛围而著名。
1966年，罗纳德•里根竞选加州州长，他问加州是否允许“一所伟大的大学被喧闹的、唱反调的少数人征服。
”自由派人士回答说，大学之所以伟大正是因为它们有能力容忍喧闹的、唱反调的少数人。
在欧洲的大学校园里，大学生以新的姿态和激情投入到争取自由和正义的事业中去，大规模的社会主义或共产主义运动引发了他们与当权者之间日益升级的暴力冲突。
许多抗议是针对越南战争的。
可是在法国，巴黎大学的学生与工会联盟，发动了一场大罢工，最终导致戴高乐总统辞职。
20世纪60年代大学生活的特点并不仅仅是激进的行动。
不论在什么地方，上大学都意味着你初次品尝真正自由的滋味，初次品尝深更半夜在宿舍或学生活动室里讨论人生意义的滋味。
你往往得上了大学才能阅读你的第一本禁书，看你的第一部独立影人电影，或者找到和你一样痴迷吉米•亨德里克斯或兰尼•布鲁斯的志同道合者。
那是一段难以想象的自由时光，你一生中最无拘无束的时光。
可如今那份激情哪儿去了？大学怎么了？现在，政治、社会和创造意识的觉醒似乎不是凭借大学的助力，而是冲破其阻力才发生的。
当然，一点不假，高等教育仍然重要。
例如，在英国，布莱尔首相几乎实现了到2010年让50％的30岁以下的人上大学的目标（即使愤世嫉俗的人会说，这是要把他们排除在失业统计数据之外）。
不过，大学教育已不再是全民重视的话题了。
如今，大学被视为人们急于逃离的一种小城镇。
有些人辍学，但大多数已经有些麻木，还是坚持混到毕业，因为离开学校实在是太费事了。
Unit9 What Is Intelligence, Anyway?Isaac AsimorAsimov explains why there is much more in intelligence than just being able to score high on intelligence tests.What is intelligence, anyway? When I was in the army I received a kind of aptitude test that all soldiers took and, against a normal of 100, scored 160. No one at the base had ever seen a figure like that and for two hours they made a nig fuss over me. (It didn't mean anything. The next day I was still a buck private with KP as my highest duty.) All my life I've been registering scores like that, so that I have the complacent feeling that I'm highly intelligent, and I expect other people to think so, too. Actually, though, don't such scores simply mean that I am very good at answering the type of academic questions that are considered worthy of answers by the people who make up the intelligence tests - people with intellectual bents similar to mine?For instance, I had an auto-repair man once, who, on these intelligence tests, could not possibly have scored more than 80, by my estimate. I always took it for granted that I was far more intelligent than he was. Yet, when anything went wrong with my car I hastened to him with it, watched him anxiously as he explored its vitals, and listened to his pronouncements as though they were divine oracles - and he always fixed my car.Well, then, suppose my auto-repair man devised questions for an intelligence test. Or suppose a carpenter did, or a farmer, or, indeed, almost anyone but an academician. By every one of those tests, I'd prove myself a moron. And I'd be a moron, too. In a world where I could not use my academic training and my verbal talents but had to do something intricate or hard, working with my hands, I would do poorly. My intelligence, then, is not absolute. Its worth is determined by the society I live in. Its numerical evaluation is determined by a small subsection of that society which has managed to foist itself on the rest of us as an arbiter of such matters.Consider my auto-repair man, again. He had a habit of telling me jokes whenever he saw me. One time he raised his head from under the automobile hood to say: "Doc, a deaf-and-dumb guy went into a hardware store to ask for some nails. He put two fingers together on the counter and made hammering motions with the other hand. The clerk brought him a hammer. He shook his head and pointed to the two fingers he was hammering. The clerk brought him nails. He picked out the sizes he wanted, and left. Well, doc, the next guy who came in was a blind man. He wanted scissors. How do you suppose he asked for them?"I lifted my right hand and made scissoring motions with my first two fingers. Whereupon my auto-repair man laughed heartily and said, "Why, you dumb fool, he used his voice and asked for them." Then he said, smugly, "I've been trying that on all my customers today." "Did you catch many?" I asked. "Quite a few," he said, "but I knew for sure I'd catch you." "Why is that?" I asked. "Because you're so goddamned educated, doc, I know you couldn't be very smart."And I have an uneasy feeling he had something there.阿西莫夫说明了为什么智力远非只是在智力测验中取得高分。
Summary of English Course（基英二）U1 We Have Been Hit!Adam Mayblum is an employee of May Davis, a financial services firm whose office was on the 87th floor of the World Trade Center. He used to be very proud of working in the tallest building in the world. And then on that September morning, he left it when the plane hit the building. He remained calm among the confusion, ripping his T-shirt into pieces, soaking the pieces in water and giving them to colleagues to cover their faces. He raced down the stairs with his colleagues including the head trader Harry Ramos and his trading partner Hong Zhu. When they came to the 53th floor, they met a heavyset man whose legs would not move and they tired to help him. Hong decided to be the guinea pig to test the safety of the elevator. When everything was all right, he went back up to collect the others. The elevator took them to the 44th floor and then it stopped working, so they had to take the stairs. When they reached the 36th floor, the heavyset man refused to move on the spite of their encouragement. So Hong left along sorrowfully ,while Ramos refused to leave the man along there. The next day ,Adam Mayblum’s e-mail about his experience was read by someone who knew the wife of the heavyset man. On September 15th,friends and family had a gathering. All the employees of May Davis survived except Harry Ramos .His wife Mickytried to develop to a pictures of his escape, but it began to fade on the 36th floor.U2 The Virtues of Growing OlderOur society worships youth.Advertisements convince us to look younth, and people are working out in gyms to delay the effects of the age.point of view:Being young is often pleasant, but being older has many advantages. reason:When young, you are apt to be obsessed with your appearance.Being older is preferable to being younger in another way.The greatest benefit of being forty is knowing who I am. Conclusion:There is a great deal of happiness to be found as we grow older.U3 My Stroke of luckMy wife and I have been married for 47 years. She keep saving my life and giving me reasons to live. She has a good judgment and intuition . After the plane crashed , she reached me immediately and insisted on moving me to the neighborhood hospital . And her decision was right .She took good care of me, consoled me during my survivor’s anguish, but would not tolerate me feeling sorry for myself. She endured my depression, but did not allow me to complain. As a believer in tough love , she was not about to let me just lie around either. My wife, Anna’s secret is that she learns from life, and move on. Thirty years ago, she got breast cancer. She dealt with it with great courage and optimism and she helped others after she recovered. Her method is to find ways to help others and I have been the biggest beneficiary.U4 Cultural EncountersBackground:We live in an age of easy access to the rest of the world.Cheap flights mean that millions of people are able to visit places their parents could only dream about, while the Internet enables us to communicate with the remotest placesTransitional Sentence：English has simply become the language that facilitates communication, and for many people learning English is an essential stepping stone on the road to successTransitional Sentence：Significantly also, this great global communications revolution is also linked to the expansion of English, which has now become the leading international languagetopic sentence:Most fundamental is the profound relationship between language and culture that lies at the heart of society and one that we overlook at our peril.Now:Millions of people are discovering how to bridge cultures, while the English-speaking world becomes ever more complacent and cuts down on foreign language learning programmes in the mistaken belief that it is enough to know EnglishFuture attitudce:World peace in the future depends on intercultural understanding. Those best placed to help that process may not be the ones with the latest technology and state of the art mobile phones, but those with the skills to understand what lies in, under and beyond the words spoken in many different languagesU5 Fourteen StepsPeople says that a cat has nine lives. I tend to believe this true, for I, as a man ,am living my third life now. My first life began when I was born into a large family, I began my second life when I was afflicted with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves. In spite of my disease , I managed to keep my health and optimism to a degree by climbing 14 steps every day. Those 14 steps were a gauge of my life. As I become older ,I become more disillusioned .Then on a dark stormy night ,my third life began .I was driving home in the rain ,then my car got a flat tire and I was stuck them on a less-traveled road. I ask for help from a house near the little side road. A little girlcame out with her grandpa after I explained my trouble. When I sitting comfortable and dry in the car ,they were repairing my car in the rain. Finally after their work done ,I offered 5-dollar bill, but was rejected. The litter girl told me that his grandpa was blind, which greatly shocked me . I felt ashamed of my behavior. Now, I am trying not only to climb 14steps each day, but to help others in my small way .U6 Diary of the unknown soldierThe text includes three diaries written by an American soldier during Second World War .The first entry was dated No.24,1943,six months after being recruited to the battlefield. The man was already horrified by the war he was involved in. All the time he was his brothers-in-arms killed and houses destroyed, and the original confidence to win yielded to hopelessness and self-questioning: What fools they were. He was constantly in danger. Only thoughts of his family brought him a momentary stay out of frustration and despair. After the reflections on their own enthusiasm andconfidence about the war, in the second entry, the author continued to ponder over the cause of war and the people who started the war. He was so infuriated that he said, “It is no excuse for ending innocent lives and destroying whole countries .”The last letter entry was the most fearful part of the story. The location of the soldiers was being invaded when the author wrote the diary, hidden in a small trench. Through he tried to keep himself “from panicking”, the Nazi soldier was coming in the direction.We can only surmise that this unknown must have been killed then, but the last question he asked may linger in our mind for long :Why?U7 Letter to a B StudentA teacher’s letter to a student explains what hisB grade for the course does and does not represent in the terms of the student’s achievement or success as a human being or in the future accomplishment .In the today’s society , the grade determines eligibility for graduate school and special programs and at last success in the future. But put in perspective ,grade B simply means that one can successfully competed a specific course of study. But as a measurement tool the grade is a rather fuzzy symbol .So we should differentiate the student as performer at school and human being in the society.Grade B student does not guarantee that from now on we forever B performers .We should shift to ourselves ,locating goals and opportunities in frustrations in the frustrations and obstacle we may encounter in our journey of life/U8 Focus on Global WarmingThe text is centered on the problem of global warming. And now global warming is receives worldwide attention because of its possible influence upon the Earth we have living on.Global warming is perhaps the single largest threat to our planet. The very root of the temperature increase is that human being create much greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. The scientific searches prove that the amount of the first two reaches the highest point in the past 420000 years and they help excessive heat from leaving the Earth.With the hotter summer and few cool days ,some low-lying nations would be awash in seawater.What is more ,we would likely have more days of perilous air quality and have more risk of developing respiratory problems.As a result, to slow global warming ,we should cut down the emission of heart-trapping gases.It require everyone to work together to change the current situation we find ourselves in.U9 What Is Happiness？The text tell us what is the idea about“happiness,”and we can find that the idea of happiness to be sure, will not sit still for easy definition.In the first sentence , the author tell us that happiness is never more than partial and there are no pure states of mankind.We can find the writer want to let us know whatever else happiness may be, it is neither in having nor in being, but in becoming.At the last paragraph , Founding Fathers declared, we should do well to remember, was not happiness but the pursuit of happiness market, is the cardinal fact that happiness is in the pursuit itself, in the meaningful pursuit of what is life-engaging and life-revealing,.In a word , in the idea of becoming. A nation is not measured by what it possesses or wants to possess, but by what it wants to become.U10 The Jeaning of AmericaBlue jeans, more suitable than the dollar and Cola, have become an American symbol.In the second, the text introduces us that the Levis Strauss’ life in New York. Levis Strauss, the inventor of blue jeans, was of German origin and immigrated to New York in 1848 to peddle sundries to eke out a marginal living.In the third part, it describe why the Blue jeans was invented and how the early business of Blue jeans.In the fourth part , two reason . It tell us that in the 1930s Levis’ s jeans were introduced to the East during the dude ranch craze and in the Second World War blue jeans were declared an essential commodity .In last part , in San Francisco, a museum exhibits the history of blue jeans.U11Open the Door to ForgivenessThe text can be divided into three parts.As Starting with the second person, the author tell us that for most of us , forgive is unnatural and uneasy , so we dwell on our pains and keep being hurt. The only power that can stop the stream of painful memories is the faculty of forgiving.How to practice forgiveness.(Two sides)1 Confront your malice / separate the wrongdoer from the wrong2 Let go of the past / keep working on itWhat we can learn from text :The most important thing is that we are seldom merely sinned against, that is to say, we ourselves contribute to the sins. So try to forgive and by doing so, we can heal the hurt and create a new beginning.。
新标准大学英语综合教程2——课文译文U1AR1大学已经不再特别了有这么一种说法：“要是你能记得20世纪60年代的任何事情，你就没有真正经历过那段岁月。
”对于在大麻烟雾中度过大学时光的那些人，这话可能是真的。
但是，20世纪60年代有一件事人人都记得，那就是：上大学是你一生中最激动人心、最刺激的经历。
20世纪60年代，加州的高校把本州变成了世界第七大经济实体。
然而，加州大学的主校园伯克利分校也以学生示威、罢课以及激进的政治氛围而著名。
1966年，罗纳德•里根竞选加州州长，他问加州是否允许“一所伟大的大学被喧闹的、唱反调的少数人征服。
”自由派人士回答说，大学之所以伟大正是因为它们有能力容忍喧闹的、唱反调的少数人。
在欧洲的大学校园里，大学生以新的姿态和激情投入到争取自由和正义的事业中去，大规模的社会主义或共产主义运动引发了他们与当权者之间日益升级的暴力冲突。
许多抗议是针对越南战争的。
可是在法国，巴黎大学的学生与工会联盟，发动了一场大罢工，最终导致戴高乐总统辞职。
20世纪60年代大学生活的特点并不仅仅是激进的行动。
不论在什么地方，上大学都意味着你初次品尝真正自由的滋味，初次品尝深更半夜在宿舍或学生活动室里讨论人生意义的滋味。
你往往得上了大学才能阅读你的第一本禁书，看你的第一部独立影人电影，或者找到和你一样痴迷吉米•亨德里克斯或兰尼•布鲁斯的志同道合者。
那是一段难以想象的自由时光，你一生中最无拘无束的时光。
可如今那份激情哪儿去了？大学怎么了？现在，政治、社会和创造意识的觉醒似乎不是凭借大学的助力，而是冲破其阻力才发生的。
当然，一点不假，高等教育仍然重要。
例如，在英国，布莱尔首相几乎实现了到2010年让50％的30岁以下的人上大学的目标（即使愤世嫉俗的人会说，这是要把他们排除在失业统计数据之外）。
不过，大学教育已不再是全民重视的话题了。
如今，大学被视为人们急于逃离的一种小城镇。
有些人辍学，但大多数已经有些麻木，还是坚持混到毕业，因为离开学校实在是太费事了。
新世纪大学英语综合教程2课文翻译UNIT 4选择乐观里奇·德沃斯1、假如你预料某事结局不妙，结果可能真会如此。
悲观的想法很少落空。
不过这个法则反过来也成立。
假如你觉得会有好事发生，通常就会交上好运！乐观与成功之间似乎有一种天然的因果关系。
2、乐观和悲观都具有强大的力量，我们每个人必须选择其一，来塑造自己的前途和理想。
每个人的生命中都有足够的幸运与不幸——丰富的哀伤和喜悦、充足的欢欣与痛苦——令我们找到或乐观或悲观的理由。
我们可以选择哭或是笑、祝福或是诅咒。
这完全取决于我们自己：用什么样的眼光去看待生活？是积极向上，还是垂头丧气？3、我信守积极向上的态度。
对积极的东西我浓墨重彩，对消极的东西则一笔带过。
我是乐天派，既是天生如此，也因后天选择所致。
诚然，我知道生命中会有伤痛。
我已经七十多岁了，经历过不止一次的危机。
但是，当一切尘埃落定，我发现生命中的美好远比丑恶多。
4、乐观的态度不是奢侈品，它是我们生活的必需品。
你看待生活的方式将决定你的感受、你的表现，以及你与他人相处得怎样。
反过来，悲观的想法、态度和期待也会自成因果：它们是能自我实现的预言。
悲观会制造出无人愿往的黑暗之地。
5、多年前，我驱车去一个加油站加油。
那天天气很好，我的心情也不错。
当我走进加油站付油钱时，服务员问我：“你感觉怎样？”这问题有点古怪，不过，我感觉很好，于是便照实回答了他。
“你脸色不好，”他回答。
这话让我大吃一惊。
我告诉他我的感觉从未像现在这么好，但已不像开始那么底气十足了，而他则毫无顾忌地继续大讲我的气色如何差，还说我肤色发黄。
6、在离开加油站的时候，我觉得有点心神不宁。
驶出一个街区之后，我把车停在路旁，对着镜子看着自己的脸。
我感觉如何？我的脸色那么差吗？一切都正常吗？等我回到家里，我已经开始觉得有点想吐。
我的肝脏出了毛病吗？是不是染上了什么怪病？7、再次光顾那个加油站时，我还是感觉很好，我弄明白了个中蹊跷。
这个地方不久前把墙漆上了一种抢眼但又难看的黄色，墙面反射的光线使里面的每一个人看起来都像得了肝炎。
大学英语综合教程2课文原文翻译第一课：《职场心理学》原文Workplace PsychologyHave you ever wondered what makes a workplace successful? It’s not just about the skills and qualifications of the employees, but also about their psychology. According to workplace psychology, the emotional and mental well-being of employees greatly impacts the overall productivity of a workplace.Workplace psychology is the study of how various factors in a workplace environment affect employees’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It aims to create a positive work environment that promotes job satisfaction, engagement, and performance. Researchers in this field study topics like employee motivation, team dynamics, leadership styles, and work-life balance.One important aspect of workplace psychology is understanding employee motivation. Different individuals are motivated by different things, and understanding what drives employees can lead to higher productivity. Some people are motivated by financial rewards, while others are motivated by job satis faction or professional development opportunities. It’s crucial for managers to understand the unique motivations oftheir employees in order to effectively motivate and engage them.Another key area of workplace psychology is team dynamics. It’s important to understand how different personalities and work styles interact within a team. Some individuals work better independently, while others thrive in collaborative environments. Effective team dynamics require clear communication, respect for different perspectives, and a balance between individual and collective goals.Leadership styles also play a significant role in workplace psychology. Different leadership styles can have varying effects on employee morale and performance. Some leaders are more authoritarian, while others are more democratic. A leader who promotes open communication and values employee input is likely to create a more positive work environment compared to a leader who micromanages and stifles creativity.Work-life balance is another important aspect of workplace psychology. A healthy work-life balance is essential for employee well-being and satisfaction. It involves finding a balance between work commitments and personal/family life. Employers who promote work-life balance through flexible working hours, telecommuting options, and employee support programs are more likely to attract and retain talented individuals.In conclusion, workplace psychology is a crucial field of study that focuses on understanding the psychological aspects of a workplace. By understanding employee motivations, fostering effective team dynamics, and promoting work-life balance, employers can create a positive and productive workenvironment. As employees are the backbone of any organization, investing in workplace psychology can lead to long-term success and growth.翻译职场心理学你是否曾经想过什么可以使一个职场成功？这并不仅仅与员工的技能和资格有关，也与他们的心理有关。
⼤学英语综合教程2Unit9翻译习题（含答案）Unit91. 1935年10⽉，中国红军历尽苦难和牺牲，最后终于到达了陕北。
（endure, make/ fight one’s way to）In October, 1935, the Chinese Red Army, having endured all hardships and sacrifices, finally made / fought their way to the north of Shaanxi province.2. 在经济危机中，政府发表了⼀个声明，号召⼈们尽可能购买当地的产品。
（release, call upon）In the economic crisis, the government released a statement, calling upon the people to buy the local products as far / many as possible.3. 世界各国政治家们正在尽⼀切努⼒利⽤原⼦能，恢复⼈类安全的⾃然环境。
（harness, restore）The politicians / statesmen in various countries are trying to harness nuclear energy and restore the safe environment for the human race.4．他没有听见门铃声，因为他正在聚精会神地⼯作。
(rapt)He didn’t hear the doorbell because he was rapt in his work.5. 这个国家经常发⽣暴乱，⼀⽅⾯是因为⼴泛的⾚贫现象，另⼀⽅⾯则因为⼈民对腐败政府固有的不信任。
(inherent)This country suffers from frequent riots because of widespread extreme poverty, as well as people’s inherent distrust of the corrupt government.6. 这位经济学家在作关于当前经济形势的报告时，在PPT上⽤许多具体的数字来强调这场危机的严重性。
Unit 9 What Is Happiness John Ciardi (abridged)
The right to pursue happiness is issued to Americans with their birth certificates, but no one seems quite sure which way it runs. It may be we are issued a hunting license but offered no game. Jonathan Swift seemed to think so when he attacked the idea of happiness as “the possession of being well-deceived,” the felicity of being “a fool among knaves.” For Swift saw society as Vanity Fair, the land of false goals. It is, of course, un-American to think in terms of fools and knaves. We do, however, seem to be dedicated to the idea of buying our way to happiness. We shall all have made it to Heaven when we possess enough. And at the same time the forces of American commercialism are hugely dedicated to making us deliberately unhappy. Advertising is one of our major industries, and advertising exists not to satisfy desires but to create them — and to create them faster than any man’s budget can satisfy them. For that matter, our whole economy is based on a dedicated insatiability. We are taught that to possess is to be happy, and then we are made to want. We are even told it is our duty to want. It was only a few years ago, to cite a single example, that car dealers across the country were flying banners that read "You Auto Buy Now." They were calling upon Americans, as an act approaching patriotism, to buy at once, with money they did not have, automobiles they did not really need, and which they would be required to grow tired of by the time the next year’s models were released. Or look at any of the women’s magazines. There, as Bernard DeVoto once pointed out, advertising begins as poetry in the front pages and ends as pharmacopoeia and therapy in the back pages. The poetry of the front matter is the dream of perfect beauty. This is the baby skin that must be hers. These, the flawless teeth. This, the perfumed breath she must exhale. This, the sixteen-year-old figure she must display at forty, at fifty, at sixty, and forever. Once past the vaguely uplifting fiction and feature articles, the reader finds the other face of the dream in the back matter. This is the harness into which Mother must strap herself in order to display that perfect figure. These, the chin straps she must sleep in. This is the salve that restores all, this is her laxative, these are the tablets that melt away fat, these are the hormones of perpetual youth, these are the stockings that hide varicose veins. Obviously no half-sane person can be completely persuaded either by such poetry or by such pharmacopoeia and orthopedics. Yet someone is obviously trying to buy the dream as offered and spending billions every year in the attempt. Clearly the happiness-market is not running out of customers, but what are they trying to buy The idea "happiness," to be sure, will not sit still for easy definitions: the best one can do is to try to set some extremes to the idea and then work in toward the middle. To think of happiness as acquisitive and competitive will do to set the materialistic extreme. To think of it as the idea one senses in, say, a holy man of India will do to set the spiritual extreme. That holy man’s ideal of happiness is in needing nothing from outside himself. In wanting nothing, he lacks nothing. He sits immobile, rapt in contemplation, free even of his own Or nearly free of it. If devout admirers bring him food, he eats it; if not, he starves indifferently. Why be concerned What is physical is an illusion to him. Contemplation is his joy and he achieves it through a fantastically demanding discipline, the accomplishment of which is itself a joy within him. But, perhaps because I am Western, I doubt such catatonic happiness, as I doubt the dreams of the happiness-market. What is certain is that his way of happiness would be torture to almost any Western man. Yet these extremes will still serve to frame the area within which all of us must find some sort of balance. Thoreau — a creature of both Eastern and Western thought — had his own firm sense of that balance. His aim was to save on the low levels in order to spend on the high. Possession for its own sake or in competition with the rest of the neighborhood would have been Thoreau’s idea of the low levels. The active discipline of heightening one’s perception of what is enduring in nature would have been his idea of the What he saved from the low was time and effort he could spend on the high. Thoreau certainly disapproved of starvation, but he would put into feeding himself only as much effort as would keep him functioning for more important efforts. Happiness is never more than partial. There are no pure states of mankind. Whatever else happiness may be, it is neither in having nor in being, but in becoming. What the Founding Fathers declared for us as an inherent right, we should do well to remember, was not happiness but the pursuit of happiness. What they might have underlined, could they have foreseen the happiness-market, is the cardinal fact that happiness is in the pursuit itself, in the meaningful pursuit of what is life-engaging and life-revealing, which is to say, in the idea of becoming. A nation
