01 ThecRoad to Success A成功之路A
——安德鲁·卡内基
Andrew Carnegie, the King of Steel, philanthropist
It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career.
年轻的一代应该从头学起，从担任基层职务开始，这是一件好事。在匹兹堡的许多大企业家们都曾在创业之初肩负过如此的重任。
They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of a business education.
他们曾与扫帚结伴而行，以清扫办公室度过了企业生涯的最初时光。我注意到，现在的办公室都配备专业的保洁人员，这使我们这代年轻人丧失了一个重要的企业教育的环节。
But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom.
不过，如果哪一天早晨清洁工刚好请假没来，某位具有未来合伙人气质的青年就会毫不犹豫试着拿起扫帚。
It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is“aim high”.
如果有需要，新人在办公室打扫对他也没有什么坏处。我本人就曾经打扫过。不妨设想，你刚入职，开始工作，我对你们的忠告就是“要胸怀大志”。
I would not give a fig for the young man who has not already seen himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive.Say to yourself，“My place is at the top.”Be king in your dreams.
对于那些尚未把自己当成某重大公司的合伙人或领导人的年轻人，我会不屑一顾。不要满足于担任任何企业的首席员工、领班和总经理的想法，不管这家企业的规模有多大，你们需要对自己说“我的位置要在最高处”。
And here is the prime condition of success, the secret：concentrate your energy, thought and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery and know the most about it.
你们梦想着要达到登峰造极的地步，但想要获得成功的首要条件和最大秘诀就是：把精力和财力完全集中于所干的事业上。一旦开始从事那一行，就要决心干出个名堂，一定要出类拔萃，要点点滴滴地改进，要采用最好的机器，要尽力熟知这一行。
occupy[ˈɒkjʊpaɪ]v.占据，占领；居住；使忙碌
例 The family have occupied the farm for many years.
这一家在这农场已居住多年。
threshold[ˈθrɛʃhold]n.入口；门槛；极限；临界值
例 He was on the threshold of his career.
他的事业刚刚起步。
absent[ˈæbsənt]adj.缺席的，缺乏的，不在的
例 Love was totally absent from his childhood.
他童年时代没得到丝毫的疼爱。
hesitate[ˈhezɪteɪt]v.踌躇，犹豫；不愿
例 He hesitates at nothing.
他从不优柔寡断。
assume[əˈsjuːm]v.承担；假定；采取；呈现
例 I am assuming that the present situation is going to continue.
我认为目前的情况将会继续下去。
exclusively[ɪkˈskluːsɪvlɪ]adv.专门地；独占地
例 This offer is available exclusively to our customers.
这是我们客户的专享。
resolve[rɪˈzɒlv]v.决定；溶解；使……分解；决心要做……
例 She resolved that she would never see him again.
她决心不再见他。
①Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career.
这个句子中有一个结构“at the threshold of”，表示“在……的开始，在……的临界”。另外，a serious responsibility thrust upon them意思是“强加于他们的一个重大责任”，而thrust upon是指“强加于”。
例……at the threshold of a new era in medicine
医学领域新时代的开端
例 Why has such sadness been thrust upon us?
为什么这些伤心事要强加于我们？
②They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office.
这个句子中有一个结构“spend……doing sth.”，表示“花费……做某事”。Spend的搭配一般是spend……on sth.和spend……（in）doing sth.。
例 She has spent her whole life writing.
她花了一生时间写作。
③But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning……
这个句子中有一个结构“by chance”，表示“碰巧，偶然”，相当于by coincidence。另外，be absent的意思是“缺席，不在”。
例 I knew him by chance.
我偶然认识他的。
④I would not give a fig for the young man who has not already seen himself the partner or the head of an important firm.
这个句子中有一个结构“give a fig for……”，表示“不关注，不屑一顾”。这句话里有一个定语从句：I would not give a fig for the young man who……，who后面的句子修饰先行词man。
例 Alice didn’t give a fig for the paper.
爱丽丝对测验不屑一顾。
⑤Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement……
这个句子中有一个结构“resolve to do sth.”，表示“下定决心做某事”。
例 He resolved to start early.
他决定尽早出发。
1.The only limit is your imagination.
唯一的局限是你的想象力。
2.Never lose the child-like wonder.
永远不要失去孩童般的好奇心。（兰迪·波许）
3.Happy girls are the prettiest girls.
快乐的女孩是最美的！（奥黛丽·赫本）
4.Life is tough, but I'm tougher.
生活很艰苦，但我更坚强。
5.How can men succumb to force?
男人怎么能屈服于“武力”之下？（《海贼王》）