英语谚语中的辩证统一与对立

李明月

谚语是语言的精华，是人类智慧的结晶。英语谚语不仅短小精悍、简洁明快、对称美观、寓意深刻，而且常常使用双声、叠韵、重复、对仗、排比等声音和谐与韵律优美的丰富多彩的修辞手段，以达到顺口入耳、通俗易懂、生动有力、滑稽有趣的目的，令人忍俊不禁、拍案惊绝，给人以美的享受。

辩证法告诉我们，任何事物都是对立统一的，浩如烟海的英语谚语当然也不例外。正如All roads lead to Rome.（条条大道通罗马或殊途同归）一样，许多谚语从不同角度共同阐释同一个道理，这是英语谚语统一的一面。请看下列各例：

1. All things are difficult before they are easy.

Every beginning is hard.

The first step is the only difficulty.

万事开头难。

2. No pains，no gains.

Sow nothing，reap nothing.

Nothing to be got without pains.

不劳无获。

3. Misfortunes never come singly.

An evil chance seldom comes alone.

One misfortune comes on the neck of another.

祸不单行。

4. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Poverty tries friends.

A friend is never known till a man has need.

患难识挚友。

5. Easy come，easy go.

Quickly come，quickly go.

Come with the mind，go with the water.

来得容易，去得快。

6. A good marksman may miss.

Even Homer sometimes nods.

A wise man may sometimes take counsel of a fool.

智者千虑，必有一失。

7. Where there is a will，there is a way.

Will is power.

He who wills success is half way to it.

有志者，事竟成。

8. Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.

Nothing is difficult to the man who will try.

Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.

世上无难事，只怕有心人。

同时，由于谚语所产生的具体条件、使用场合，以及人们的思想倾向等方面存在差异或不同，因此有些谚语又自相矛盾，显示英语谚语对立的一面。所以又有了这样一条谚语：Proverbs contradict each other，that is the wisdom of mankind.（谚语相互矛盾，这就是人类的智慧）。请看下述各例：

1.A good horse should be seldom spurred.响鼓不用重锤。

A good horse often needs a good spur.响鼓也要重锤敲。

2. Fine feathers make fine birds.人靠衣裳马靠鞍。（或：鸟美美在羽毛。）

Fine feathers do not make fine birds.人美不在衣裳。（或：鸟美不在羽毛。）

3. Dirty linen should be washed at home.家丑不可外扬。

Wash ones linen in public.当众扬家丑。

4. （One is） Never too old to learn.活到老，学到老。

An old dog will learn no new tricks.

或：You cant teach an old dog new tricks.人老不学艺。（或：人过四十不学艺。）

5. Two heads are better than one.三个臭皮匠，赛过诸葛亮。

Too many cooks spoil the broth.厨子多了烧坏汤。（或：人多反而坏事。）

或：Everybodys business is nobodys business.三个和尚没水吃。

6. Look before you leap.三思而后行。

He who hesitates is lost.当断不断，必受其患。

或：There is no time like the present.机不可失，时不再来。

7. The face is the index of the heart.面孔是心灵的标志。（或：心中有事，显形于色。）

The face is no index to the heart.面孔不是心灵的标志。（或：知人知面不知心。）

8. The worst is behind.最坏的在后头。

（隐含You may go farther and face worse.见好就收吧。）

The best is behind.最好的在后边。

（隐含There is a good time coming.好的日子就要到了啦。）

事实上，我们的老祖宗在汉语中同样给我们后人留下了不少遗训。这样的遗训或为人处世的原则或法则太多，而它们往往也是相互矛盾或常常要打架的。比如说，老祖宗谆谆教导我们，一个人应该“见义勇为”或“路见不平，拔刀相助”，但同时又告诫我们“少管闲事”、“各人自扫门前雪，休管他家瓦上霜”。那么我们该怎么办，是管还是不管？