时之圣者也,时之凶者也。 
此亦蒙昧世,此亦智慧世。 
此亦光明时节,此亦黯淡时节。 
此亦笃信之年,此亦大惑之年。 
此亦多丽之阳春,此亦绝念之穷冬。 
人或万物具备,人或一事无成。 
我辈其×××直上,我辈其黄泉永坠。

——狄更斯 双城记

 

 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short

 

这是一个最好的时代,这是一个最坏的时代; 这是一个智慧的年代,这是一个愚蠢的年代; 这是一个光明的季节,这是一个黑暗的季节; 这是希望之春,这是失望之冬; 人们面前应有尽有,人们面前一无所有; 人们正踏上天堂之路,人们正走向地狱之门。