Books are to mankind what memory is to the individual. They contain the history of our race, the discoveries we have made, the accumulated knowledge and experience of ages.They picture for us the marvels and beauties of nature, help us out of difficulty, comfort us in sorrow, change hours of tiredness into moments of delight, fill our minds with good ideas and happy thoughts, and lift us out of and above ourselves. And also, books can help transport us to mountains or the seashore, and visit the most beautiful parts of the earth, without fatigue, inconvenience, or expense. In a sense they give us an even more vivid idea than the actual reality. So, precious and priceless are the blessings which the books scatter around our daily paths.We walk, in imagination, with noblest spirits, through the most fascinating regions.

　　「参考译文」

　　书籍对于人类的作用就如同记忆对个人所起的作用。书籍包容了我们人类的历史、我们已有的发现、我们世世代代知识和经验的积累。书籍为我们描绘出奇妙的事物和大自然的美景,帮助我们克服困难,安抚我们的忧伤,将空虚乏味的日子改换为欢乐时光,书籍用好主意和幸福思想填充我们的头脑,提升我们自己并且超越自我。书籍还可以帮助我们畅游高山和海岸,探访世上最美的地方,而不会感到疲惫、不便或花费钱财。在某种意义上来说,书籍带给我们的是比实际的现实更加生动活泼的东西。所以,书籍播撒在我们周围的日常生活道路上的恩赐是宝贵的和无价的。我们在幻想中伴随着最崇高的精神境界行走,穿越过这最迷人的区域。

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