塞缪尔·约翰逊《王子出游记》:
Praise is to an old man an empty sound.
别人的赞扬对于一个老人不过是一句空话。
原文:
“Praise,” said the sage with a sigh, “is to an old man an empty sound. I have neither mother to be delighted with the reputation of her son, nor wife to partake the honours of her husband. I have outlived my friends and my rivals. Nothing is now of much importance; for I cannot extend my interest beyond myself.
老人叹道:“别人的赞扬对于一个老人不过是一句空话。我现在已没有了为她的儿子的好名气感到骄傲的母亲,也没有一个分享丈夫的荣誉的妻子。我活过了我的朋友们和敌人们。现在没有什么很要紧的事了,因为我的兴趣已经不能延伸到我自己以外了。