Nobel Prize Address for Literature
温斯顿·伦纳德·斯宾塞·丘吉尔 / Winston L. S. Churchill
温斯顿·伦纳德·斯宾塞·丘吉尔（1874—1965），英国传记作家、历史学家和政治家，生于牛津附近的布莱尼姆宫。1893年考入桑德斯特陆军军官学校，1895年，以少尉军衔编入皇家第四骑兵团。1945年，在反法西斯胜利前夕，因保守党在大选中失败，丘吉尔失去首相职位。其后，他用6年时间完成了六卷本《第二次世界大战回忆录》。1951年，保守党在选举中获胜，丘吉尔77岁高龄再次出任首相。1955年因年事高辞职退休，专心撰写四卷本《英语民族史》。1965年1月因脑溢血辞世。
Pre-reading Activities
Before you read this article, think over the questions below.
What do you know about Winston Churchill as a British prime minister or a winner of Nobel Prize？ Do you know anything about his personality？
The roll on which my name has been inscribed represents much that is outstanding in the world’s literature of the twentieth century. The judgment of the Swedish Academy is accepted as impartial, authoritative and sincere throughout the civilized world. I am proud but also awestruck at your decision to include me. I do hope you are right. I feel we are both running a considerable risk, and that I do not deserve it. But I shall have no misgivings if you have none.
Since Alfred Nobel died in 1896 we have entered an age of storm and tragedy. The power of man has grown in every sphere except over himself. Never in the field of action have events seemed so harshly to dwarf personalities. Rarely in history have brutal facts so dominated thought or has such a widespread individual virtue found so dim a collective focus. The fearful question confronts us: Have our problems got beyond our control? Undoubtedly we are passing through a phase where this may be so. Well may we humble ourselves and seek for guidance and mercy.
We in Europe and the western world who have planned for health and social security, who have marveled at the triumphs of medicine and science, and who have aimed at justice and freedom for all, have nevertheless been witnesses of famine, misery, cruelty and destruction before which pale the deeds of Attila and Janghiz Khan. And we who, first in the League of Nations and now in the United Nations, have attempted to give an abiding foundation to the peace of which men have dreamed so long, have lived to see a world marred by cleavages and threatened by discords even graver and more violent than those which convulsed Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
It is upon this dark background that we can appreciate the majesty and hope which inspired the conception of Alfred Nobel. He has left behind him a bright and enduring beam of culture, of purpose, and of inspiration to a generation which stands in sore need. This world-famous institution points a true path for us to follow. Let us, therefore, confront the clatter and rigidity we see around us with tolerance, variety and calm.
The world looks with admiration and indeed with comfort to Scandinavia, where three countries, without sacrificing their sovereignty, live united in their thought, in their economic practice, and in their healthy way of life. From such fountains new and brighter opportunities may come to all mankind. These are, I believe, the sentiments which may animate those whom the Nobel Foundation elects to honor, in the sure knowledge that they will thus be respecting the ideals and wishes of its illustrious founder.
参考译文
这张写有我名字的名单，更多的是20世纪世界文坛所取得的卓越成就的象征。瑞典学院的评判，因其公正、权威和诚挚得到了整个文明社会的认可。能得到你们的认可，我感到万分骄傲，同时也无比敬畏。我真心地希望你们的决定是正确的。我觉得我们都冒着一个相当大的风险，即我不该受此殊荣。然而，如果你们毫无疑虑，那么我也不该有任何担忧。
从阿尔弗莱德·诺贝尔先生1896年去世后，我们就进入了一个狂暴而悲惨的时代。人类的势力在每个领域都有所发展，只有其自身除外。在战场上从未有过如此残酷之事，使人格如此卑微，历史上思想受控于残酷的事实也是罕有，广为传诵的美德也从未如此黯淡无光。我们面临这样一个可怕的问题：我们已无法控制自身的问题了吗？毋庸置疑，我们所处的状态或许正是如此。也许我们应该贬抑自己，寻找指引和宽恕。
我们所在的欧洲和西方社会，曾注重医疗事业和社会安全事业，曾在医学和科学上取得惊人成功，曾致力于全人类的正义与自由，可我们现在却见证了饥荒、痛苦、残忍和毁灭。与这些比来，匈奴和成吉思汗的行径也略逊一筹。从起初的国际联盟到今天的联合国，我们一直尝试给人们梦想已久的和平，建立一个持久的基础。他们目睹了分崩离析、战火纷飞的破损社会，其动荡比罗马帝国崩塌后对欧洲的震动更惨重和剧烈。
在如此黑暗的社会背景下，我们仍能感激权威和希望，正是它们启发了阿尔弗莱德·诺贝尔先生设立诺贝尔奖的构想，他将辉煌而不朽的文化、意志和灵感的灯火留给了急需滋养的一代。这个举世闻名的机构指出了一条真正的道路，引领我们前行。所以，让我们用忍耐、机敏、冷静来对抗我们身边的嘈杂与僵化环境。
对于纳维亚半岛，人们总是用仰慕和真正抚慰的目光看着它。半岛上的三个国家都有自己的国家主权，但是他们的思想、经济活动和健康生活方式却都联合统一。在这样的基础之上，也许会有新的、更光明的机会在人间降生。我坚信，这些情感也许能鼓舞那些有幸荣获诺贝尔奖的人，也相信，他们也将因此对这些理想与愿望的杰出创建者无限崇敬。
历史链接
丘吉尔的一生虽主要从事政治活动，但他的历史著述和传记文学写作也成就卓著。1946年开始，他便被提名为诺贝尔文学奖的候选人，并终于在1953年，获得诺贝尔文学奖。瑞典学院把他比作“具有西塞罗文才的凯撒大帝”。
Chunks in Use
Match each of the following words with its meaning.
(1) authoritative ?a. not supporting one person or group more than another
(2) impartial b. existing or happening over a large area or among
many people
(3) widespread c. showing that you expect people to obey and respect you
(4) violent ?d. the willingness to accept or tolerate somebody or
something, esp. opinions or behavior that you
may not agree with
(5) tolerance e. involving or caused by physical force that is intended
to hurt or kill somebody
Now a Try
Fill in the following blanks with proper words or phrases according to
the given sentences.
1. Her parents made ________ so that she could live a better life and have a
good education.
为了让她过上更好的生活和接受良好的教育，她的父母做了很多牺牲。
2. The manager announced at the meeting that our company ________________
doubling our production in the next season.
经理在会上宣布，我们公司的目标是在下季度增产一倍。
Chunks in Practice
Do you know who else won the Nobel Prize？
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