You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time.
[注解]这是林肯的名言。
[译]你可以愚弄一些人于永远,甚至可以愚弄所有的人于一时;但不能永远愚弄所有的人。
You cannot sell the cow and sup the milk.
[译]卖了奶牛,岂能喝奶;好事不能两头占。
You can't eat your cake and have it.
[注解]eat one's cake and have it指同时做两件不相容的事而双收其利。
[译]鱼与熊掌不可兼得;事难两全。
You may go farther and fare worse.
[注解]走得更远可能情形更坏,劝人安于现状。
[译]一动不如一静。
You may lead (or take) a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
[注解]指做事须本人自愿,强迫无济于事;很难让别人干违反他意志的事,也无法使顽固的人按预想的方向前进。
[译]带马到河边容易,逼马低头饮水难;不要逼人做他不愿做的事。
You never know what you can do till you try.
[注解]只有尝试过才知道其艰难程度和怎么做。
[译]事非经过不知难易;自己能干什么事,动手试试便可知。