Immortal Books
不朽的书
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
书具有不朽的本质。在人类的劳动成果中，书保留的时间最长久。庙宇塑像会坍塌，但书会留存下来。伟大的思想不随时间的流逝而过时，今天依然鲜活，就像几个世纪前在作者的脑海中闪现时一样。当时的话语和思想，透过印刷的书页，向我们娓娓道来，生动如初。时间的唯一作用就是过滤低劣的书，因为只有优秀的作品才具有长久的生命力。
Books introduce us the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did； we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
书向我们介绍最好的社会，带领我们认识伟大的智者。我们能听见他们说的话，知晓他们做的事，宛若他们的生命仍然鲜活。我们与他们一同怜悯，一同享受，一同悲伤；对他们的经历感同身受，仿佛自己置身于他们所描述的场景中。
The great and good do not die even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens. Hence we ever remain under the influence of the great men of old. The imperial intellects of the world are as much alive now as they were ages ago.
在这个世界上，伟大的东西和美好的东西不会消亡。他们的精神镌刻在书中永存，世代流传。书是活着的声音，人们依然能够聆听其教诲。所以，我们始终受着古代伟人的影响。卓越的智慧，一如从前，今天依旧闪耀着光芒，照亮人类社会的进程。
by Samuel Smiles