Honesty is the Greatest Gift 诚实是最棒的礼物
Honesty is the Greatest Gift 诚实是最棒的礼物
◎ John Hughes
I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts there is. I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days, like integrity and forthrightness. But it doesn’t make any difference what they call it; it’s still what makes a man a good citizen. This is my code, and I try to live by.
我相信诚实是件最棒的礼物。我知道如今他们给它取了许多好听的名字，像正直和直率。但是怎么称呼并不会有什么不同，关键还在于怎样才算一个好公民。这就是我的准则，我努力试着按这一准则生活。
I’ve been in the taxicab business for thirty-five years, and I know there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxicab drivers have to be rough and tumble fellows to be able to take it in New York. You’ve got to be tough to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day, these days. Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the wrong impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will shake down as honest fellows. You read in the papers almost every week where a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or bonds, stuff like that, people leave in their cabs. If they weren’t honest, you wouldn’t be reading those stories in the papers.
我入出租车这一行已经35个年头了，知道这一行有很多不好的地方。的士司机得凶狠粗暴才能在纽约干这一行。在这些日子里，你必须得有副好身板儿，才顶得住纽约一天八小时艰苦的交通战。由于态度都很粗暴，人们误认为出租司机都是坏人，其实，他们和其他人没什么区别。他们大多都是诚实的家伙，与人和睦相处。你几乎每一周都可以从报纸上读到，某的士司机归还了乘客掉在车里的钱或珠宝或票据之类的东西。如果他们不诚实，你就不会在报纸上读到那些故事了。
One time in Brooklyn, I found an emerald ring in my cab. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of bundles that day, so I went back to where I had dropped her off. It took me almost two days to trace her down in order to return her ring to her. I didn’t get as much as “thank you.” Still, I felt good because I had done what was right. I think I felt better than she did.
一次在纽约的布鲁克林，我发现车里有一枚祖母绿钻戒，我记得那天帮一位女士拉了很多捆行李，所以我开回到她下车的地方。我几乎花了两天时间才找到她，把戒指还给了她。我连个“谢谢”也没得到，但还是感到很高兴，因为我做了件好事。我想我比她更高兴。
I was born and raised in Ireland and lived there until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I held several jobs to earn a few dollars before enlisting in World War I. After being discharged, I bought my own cab and have owned one ever since. It hasn’t been too easy at times, but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit put away for a rainy day.
我生长在爱尔兰，在那儿一直待到19岁。1913年来到这个国家，为了挣几个钱干了不少工作，第一次世界大战时当了兵。退伍之后自己买了辆出租，从此有了自己的车。有时日子不太容易，可我妻子精打细算，我们还存了些钱，以备不时之需。
When I first started driving a cab, Park Avenue was mostly a bunch of coal yards. Hoofer’s Brewery was right next to where the Waldorf-Astoria is now. I did pretty well, even in those days.
刚开始开出租的时候，公园大道几乎全是一片煤场。胡弗酿酒厂旁边就是现在的沃尔多夫·阿斯托里亚。就是在那些年头，我干得也挺不错。
In all my years of driving a taxicab, I have never had any trouble with the public, not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong once in a while, I just agree with them and then they behave themselves.
开出租的这些年，我从没和乘客有过纠纷，连给醉鬼开车也没出过麻烦。即使他们偶尔有点倔犟，我也就同意他们所说的，不和他们争执，他们接下来就规规矩矩了。
People ask me about tips. As far as I know, practically everyone will give you something. Come to think of it, most Americans are pretty generous. I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they tip or not. I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish. I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act. I have been trying this for a long time, and the longer I try, the easier it gets.
有人问我小费的事。据我所知，实际上几乎每个人都会给一点。想想吧，大多数美国人是很慷慨的。不管他们付不付小费，我都尽力好好为每位乘客服务。我信仰上帝，努力成为教区的好教民。我想上帝希望我怎么对待别人，我就努力怎么对待别人。我坚持这样做很长时间了，时间越久，这样做就越容易。
