the value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them; a man may live long, yet get little from life. 下面是有英语精美散文，欢迎参阅。
英语精美散文：祈祷之手
The true story behind a well-known piece of art:
德国艺术大师Albrecht Durer有一幅名画“祈祷之手”，这幅画的背后有一则爱与牺牲的故事。
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy
十五世纪时，在德国的一个小村庄里，住了一个有十八个孩子的家庭。父亲是一名冶金匠，为了维持一家生计，他每天工作十八个小时。生活尽管窘迫逼人，然而这个家庭其中两个孩子却有一个同样的梦想。他们两人都希望可以发展自己在艺术方面的天份。不过他们也了解，父亲无法在经济上供他们俩到纽伦堡艺术学院读书。
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring the mines.
晚上，两兄弟在床上经过多次讨论后，得出结论：以掷铜板决定──胜者到艺术学院读书，败者则到附近的矿场工作赚钱;四年后，在矿场工作的那一个再到艺术学院读书，由学成毕业那一个赚钱支持。如果需要，可能也要到矿场工作。
They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.
星期日早上做完礼拜，他们掷了铜板，结果，弟弟Albrecht Durer胜出，去了纽伦堡艺术学院。哥哥Albert则去了危险的矿场工作，四年来一直为弟弟提供经济支持。Albrecht在艺术学院表现很突出，他的油画简直比教授的还要好。到毕业时，他的作品已经能赚不少钱了。
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."
在这位年轻的艺术家返回家乡的那一天，家人为他准备了盛宴，庆祝他学成归来。当漫长而难忘的宴席快要结束时，伴随着音乐和笑声，亚尔伯起 身答谢敬爱的哥哥几年来对他的支持，他说：“现在轮到你了，亲爱的哥哥，我会全力支持你到纽伦堡艺术学院攻读，实现你的梦想!”
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no."
所有的目光都急切地转移到桌子的另一端，坐在那里的Albert双泪直流，只见他垂下头，边摇头边重复说着：“不……不……”
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look... look what four years in the mines has done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late." 终于，Albert站了起来他，擦干脸颊上的泪水，看了看长桌两边他所爱的亲友们的脸，把双手移近右脸颊，说：“不，弟弟，我上不了纽伦堡艺术学院了。太迟了。看看我的双手──四年来在矿场工作，毁了我的手，关节动弹不得，现在我的手连举杯为你庆贺也不可能，何况是挥动画笔或雕刻刀呢?不，弟弟……已经太迟了……”
More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.
四百五十多年过去了，Albrecht Durer有成千上百部的杰作流传下来，他的速写、素描、水彩画、木刻、铜刻等可以在世界各地博物馆找到;然而，大多数人最为熟悉的，却是其中的一件作品。也许，你的家里或者办公室里就悬挂着一件它的复制品。
One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."
为了补偿哥哥所做的牺牲，表达对哥哥的敬意，一天，Albrecht Durer下了很大的工夫把哥哥合起的粗糙的双手刻了下来。他把这幅伟大的作品简单地称为“双手”，然而，全世界的人都立刻敞开心扉，瞻仰这幅杰作，把这幅爱的作品重新命名为“祈祷之手”。
The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one -no one ever makes it alone!
下次当你看到这幅感人的作品，仔细看一下。如果你也需要这么一幅画，就让它成为你的提醒，没有人──没有人能单枪匹马地获得成功!。
英语精美散文：抓住生命中的那颗星
Catch the star that holds your destiny, the one that forever twinkles within your heart. Take advantage of precious opportunities while they still sparkle before you. Always believe that your ultimate goal is attainable as long as you commit yourself to it.
Though barriers may sometimes stand in the way of your dreams, remember that your destiny is hiding behind them. Accept the fact that not everyone is going to approve of the choices you've made. Have faith in your judgment. Catch the star that twinkles in your heart and it will lead you to your destiny's path. Follow that pathway and uncover the sweet sunrises that await you.
Take pride in your accomplishments, as they are stepping stones to your dreams. Understand that you may make mistakes, but don't let them discourage you. Value your capabilities and talents for they are what make you truly unique. The greatest gifts in life are not purchased, but acquired through hard work and determination. Find the star that twinkles in your heart? For you alone are capable of making your brightest dreams come true. Give your hopes everything you've got and you will catch the star that holds your destiny.
当生命中的那颗星在你内心闪耀的时候，要学会把握它，永远相信只要自己持之以恒，就一定能够实现自己心中的梦想。
尽管通往梦想的道路上总有坎坷，你需要记住的是，你的命运就隐藏在那困难背后。学会接受这样的事实：不是每一个人都赞同你的选择。你要坚定自己的判断走下去。捕捉住那颗在你内心闪耀的星吧，它将引领你抵达自己的命运之路。沿那条路走下去，你就会发现那属于自己的美丽日出。
为自己的成绩自豪，因为它们是你通往梦想的阶梯。要知道你自己也会犯错误，但是可别因此而气馁。正确评价自己的能力，是它们令你与众不同。生活里最丰厚的礼物不是买来的，而是通过艰苦的努力和决心获得的。找到在你内心闪耀的那颗星吧，虽然你独自一人，但也有能力实现你最辉煌的梦想。对即得的怀抱希望并抓住那颗掌控你命运的星吧。
英语精美散文：如何做一名好听众
When I first went to London as a student I sat alone during parties with my glass of wine. I hoped people would think that someone might come up to me and say, “Excuse me! I hope you won’t mind my coming up to you like this, I don’t want to interrupt your thoughts… but really, you are the only interesting looking person in the room! May I talk to you?”
It never happened!
Here is some advice if you would like to be a good conversationalist: be an attentive listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. To be interesting, be interested! Ask questions that other people will enjoy answering. Encourage hem to talk about themselves and what they have done.
Remember that the people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their problems than they are in you and your problems. A person’s toothache means more to that person than a famine in China which kills 1 million people. A pain in one’s arm interests one more than 40 earthquake in Africa. Think of that the next time you start a conversation.
Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who is supposed to have lived in a barrel, said, “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so that we may listen more and talk less!”
Do you know how to get on with people? Do you ever feel shy? What situation makes you shy? Do you sometimes feel as if you don’t know how to interest and amuse people and have conversations with them? Do you search desperately in your head for something to say? Do people find an excuse to leave you as soon as they can?
Try listening! Here are some more recommendations about listening: (A neighbor of mine talking about her child) ‘One evening last week I was sitting with Hannah, and she said to me, “You are a marvelous mum!” And I said, “Well do you say that suddenly?” And she said, “Well, although you are always busy you always stop what you are doing to listen to me.”’(From How to Talk your Way to Success in Selling) ‘You have to force your buyer to talk … to enter the conversation… if you expect to talk your way to successful sale. The only way you can do this is to stop talking yourself and listen.’
“Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice.” (From Hamlet)
Airline employees are taught how to listen to complaints. If they are able to show sympathy and to listen long enough the passenger’s problem will begin to seem less important.
Psychologists, counselors and doctors also know that listening is part of their job. If they listen with care and concern the patient may even solve the problem! They are professional listeners. Here is some advice they give.
I: Show the other person that you are listening.
II: Look at them.
III: Smile and nod quite often.
IV: and shake you head or raise your eyebrows if you don’t follow what they are saying.
V: Don’t tap your foot because this will show impatience.
VI: Don’t look at your watch unless you really have to know the time, (and then you should tell the other person why you need to know the time). If you show impatience then the other person will lose the moment of friendship which they are offering.
A good listener has magic! A good listener has the ability to make people feel good, and is as valuable at a party as a good talker. But just listening isn’t enough. One should listen intelligently by trying to find out what the other person would really like to communicate.
第一次去伦敦的时候，我还是个学生。参加派对的时候，我自己独自一个人坐在中间，品着自己的葡萄酒。我希望有人会走到我面前说：“打扰了，我希望您不会介意我这样冒昧地走到您面前，我不想打扰您……可您确实是这个房间里唯一一位看起来很有趣的人!我能和您聊会吗?”
可这从未发生过!
如果你想成为一名优秀的会话者，这里有一些建议：作一名忠实的听众;鼓励他人谈论自己;要让别人对自己感兴趣，首先要对别让感兴趣。要问别人乐意回答的问题;鼓励他们谈论自己和介绍他们都做过什么事。
记住，和你谈话的人，他们对自己和他们问题的兴趣要比对你和你的问题高一百倍。对一个人来说，他的牙痛要远比在中国有一百万人被饿死的饥荒还要重大。一个人胳膊上的疼痛要比在非洲发生四十几次地震还要让人关注。
希腊哲学家Diogenes(有人说他曾经住过桶里)说：“我们人类有两只耳朵和一张嘴的原因就是我们人类要多听少说!”
你知道怎样和人打交道吗? 你感到害羞过吗?什么场合让你害羞了?你时常感到自己不知道该怎样引起别人对你的兴趣，不知道该这样和别人开玩笑，不知道该怎样和他们交谈吗?你总是绞尽脑汁地想找点话说吗?有人找借口想尽快离开你吗?
尽量去听别人说话!这里有一些关于听别人说话的建议。(我的一位邻居在谈论他的孩子)上周的一天晚上，我和汉娜坐在一起，她对我说：“你真是位了不起的母亲!” 我说：“你是突然说这话的吧?” 她说：“哎呀，尽管你总是很忙，可你总是能够停下干你手头的活听我说话。”
“要多听少说。”(哈姆雷特)
航空工作人员要经过培训如何去听抱怨，如果他们能表示出同情，并且能够耐心听听旅客的问题，那么他们的问题就不会那么严重。
心理学家、咨询人员和医生也都知道听是他们工作的一部分。
I: 让别人感到你在听他们说话。
II: 注视对方。
III: 常常面带微笑，频频点头表示你听懂了对方。
IV: 如果不懂就摇摇头或者皱皱眉，让对方知道调整讲话内容。
V: 别用脚敲地板，免得别人误会你听得不耐烦了。
VI: 别看手表，除非你确实需要知道时间(看的话你需要告诉其他人你看时间的原因)。如果你表现出不耐心的话，对方也回将友谊收回来。
好的听众很有魔力!一个好的听众要有让人感觉舒服的本领，好的听众在参加派对时与一个优秀的说话者同等重要。但是只是一味的听是不够的，你要聪明地听，并且明白对方是在传达什么信息。
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