A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple he grew. One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to take it home and plant it.
一个穷困的农夫有一个朋友，这个朋友因为种了神奇的苹果树而远近闻名。有一天，农夫的这个朋友送给他一棵小苹果树。
The farmer was pleased with the gift, but when he got home he did not know where to plant it. He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his field, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.
农夫对这个礼物非常满意，但他回到家时，却不知道将它栽在什么地方。他担心如果把苹果树栽在路边，陌生人会偷树上的苹果；如果把树种在自己的一块地里，邻居们夜里会过来偷苹果；如果把树栽在自己的房子旁，孩子们又会摘苹果。
Finally he planted the tree in his wood where no one could see it. But without sunlight and good soil, the tree soon died.
最后，他把那棵树栽在了林子里，那里没人能看见。但是没有阳光和泥土，苹果树不久就死了。
Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. 'What's the difference?' the farmer said angrily. 'If I had planted the tree near the road, strangers would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my field, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples. If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the fruit.'
后来，朋友问农夫为什么把树栽在那样贫瘠的地方。“那有什么不一样？”农夫生气地说，“我把苹果树栽在路边，陌生人会偷树上的苹果；我把树栽在自己的地里，邻居们夜里会来偷苹果；我把树栽在自己的房子旁，我自己的孩子们会摘苹果。”
'Yes,' said the friend, 'But at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed a good apple tree!'
“是的，”他的朋友说，“但至少可能有人来分享这些果实。现在你不仅剥夺了每个人的果实，也毁了一棵好的苹果树！”
联系客服
