英语作文的写作不知道怎么写好，每次都是想到什么写什么，没有思路，怎么办？别急，看一下英语作文的参考文章，想一下他们的写作思路。这次为您整理了英语短篇美文左右（4篇），希望大家可以喜欢并分享出去。
今天跟大家推荐一篇经典美文：如何在失败中找到快乐，希望你会喜欢。
The introduction to a self-help book is almost always a spoiler: In the chapters that follow, you, the reader, will learn how to get a promotion, make a better first impression, save your marriage, or lower your cholesterol. This will lead to happiness.
一本自助类图书的序言几乎总会吐露出书中的讯息：在接下来的章节中，作为读者的你将学习如何获得晋升，给人留下更好的第一印象，挽救婚姻或降低胆固醇的技巧，本书将为你铺就一条通往幸福的康庄大道云云。
The Antidote diverges from this theme. In the first chapter, author Oliver Burkeman explains that after years of reporting on the field of psychology, he has concluded that “the effort to try to feel happy is often precisely the thing that makes us miserable.” Armed with this thesis, Burkeman sets out to explore various alternatives to this effort, which he calls the negative paths to happiness.
但《解毒剂：无法忍受积极思维的人如何获得幸福》( The Antidote: Happiness For People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking)一书与这类主题背道而驰。在第一章中，作者奥利弗伯克曼解释称，在从事了多年心理学领域的报道之后，他得出了一项结论：“很多情况下，为获得幸福感而付出的努力恰恰使我们陷入痛苦之中。”秉持这个观点，伯克曼着手探索各种不同于这种努力的替代方案，他将其称为通往幸福的消极路径。
He asks questions. Are these negative paths too extreme for the average person to implement? Can a successful reorientation to a negative path be achieved gradually (I will try to accept humiliation as inevitable), or does it have to be sudden and drastic (I will actively humiliate myself, over and over, in order to diminish my ego)?
他问了一些问题。于普通人而言，这些消极路径是否太过极端，以至于难以付诸行动？成功地重新定位至一条消极路径能否逐步实施(被人羞辱估计是不可避免的，我已准备好了)?它是否肯定会是突然而剧烈的(我将积极且反复地羞辱我自己，以减少我的自我意识)?
The Antidote has been reviewed several times over the course of the past few months. In an effort to separate my review from the others, I'm tempted to talk about myself. Like many recent college graduates working as underpaid interns, I sometimes feel out-of-sorts. Reading this book on my morning commute convinced me that failure is both inevitable and beneficial. But to dwell on my personal circumstances would be to fall into a trap that this book manages, effortlessly, to avoid.
过去几个月以来，媒体上已经出现了多篇与《解毒剂》一书有关的书评。为了使我的这篇书评展现出不一样的特色，我想先谈谈我自己。一如许多刚刚走出校门，从事待遇微薄的实习生工作的大学生，我有时心情很差，总想发脾气。在早上上班途中读完这本书后，我确信，失败不仅是难以避免的，也是有益的。但过分沉溺于自身处境，将落入本书试图以毫不费力的方式设法避免的陷阱之中。
In a chapter titled “The Hidden Benefits of Insecurity, ” Burkeman describes the human tendency to avoid insecurity and uncertainty at all costs. “But in chasing all that, ” he adds, “we close down the very faculties that permit the happiness we crave.” Here you might expect Burkeman to discuss the time he took an unfulfilling job that promised economic security, or the time he turned down a trip to Spain because he didn't speak Spanish. Instead he quotes the 20th century Catholic monk and mystic Thomas Merton, author of The Seven Story Mountain: “The truth that many people never understand, is that the more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you.” Burkeman speaks to his audience in a way that establishes trust. He is a dutiful researcher and a listener. He quotes experts.
在“不安全的潜在好处”(The Hidden Benefits of Insecurity)这个章节中，伯克曼描述了人类不惜一切代价，竭力避免不安全感和不确定性的倾向。“但在追逐所有这些目标的过程中，”他补充说。“我们恰恰关闭了那种使我们渴望的幸福成为可能的官能。”读到此处，你或许预期伯克曼将讨论他的过往经历：他从事过一份不称心、但应该会带来经济安全感的工作，也曾由于不会说西班牙语而放弃一个去西班牙旅行的机会。但他没有。他引用了20世纪天主教僧侣、《七层山》(The Seven Story Mountain)一书作者、神秘的托马斯默顿的一段话：“一个许多人怎么也搞不明白的事实是，越竭力避免受苦，就会遭受越多的苦难，因为一些更加琐碎且微不足道的事情会开始折磨你。”伯克曼以一种能够建立信任感的方式与他的听众沟通。他是一位尽职的研究者，一位倾听者。他所引述的，是专家的意见。
This is how we get to know Burkeman -- as a curious journalist rooting around for an argument, not as a born-again guru who uses his own story of suffering and healing to prove the validity of his personal brand of self-improvement. In each chapter he sits down with someone who has dedicated his or her professional life to exploring a particular negative path to happiness. He punctuates each interview with clear prose about human traits that make a negative path to happiness difficult to adopt. For example, in a chapter on methods for embracing failure, he writes bluntly that “perfectionism, at bottom, is fear-driven striving … [at] its extremes, it is an exhausting and permanently stressful way to live.”
这正是我们了解伯克曼的方式：他是一位好奇心重、四处翻找论据的记者，而不是一位重生的大师――他讲述了自己陷入和摆脱痛苦的经历，以此证明他所宣扬的自我改善方式的确有效。他在每个章节中都讲述了一个人的故事，这些人毕其职业生涯，探求一条通往幸福的消极路径。每次访谈中，他总是以清晰的文笔凸显那些使得通往幸福的消极路径难以付诸行动的人性特点。比如，在一个论述如何坦然接受失败的章节中，他直言不讳地写道：“完美主义，究其根本而言，是一种受恐惧感驱动的抗争。往极端里说，它是一种使人筋疲力尽，时刻让人承受重压的生活方式。”
In the chapter on the danger of setting too many goals, Burkeman recounts meeting a man named Steve Shapiro in a bar in the West Village. Shapiro is a consultant who travels around the country hosting self-help seminars for business audiences. Unlike most consultants, Shapiro preaches against goal setting. He found this calling at a time when his obsession with career advancement had ruined his marriage. He argues that once you abandon the five-year-plan approach to life and business, you immediately have more focus and energy for the present moment. Pretty soon you are spending more time with your family and performing better at work.
在论述设定太多目标所导致的危险性的章节中，伯克曼讲述了一位咨询师的故事。这位名叫史蒂夫夏皮罗的咨询师是他在西村(West Village，西村是具有反叛精神的各类先锋艺术家的汇聚之地――译注)一家酒吧中遇到的。夏皮罗经常在美国各地主持各类以商界人士为受众、探讨如何自助的研讨会。不同于大多数咨询师，夏皮罗建议职场人士不要为自己设定太多的目标。夏皮罗因为过于迷恋职务晋升、最终导致破裂之后悟出了这个道理。他声称，一旦放弃你为自己的人生和事业设定的5年规划，你就会马上把更多的注意力和精力放在当下的事务上。很快，你就可以花更多的时间与家人在一起，你的工作表现也将大有改观。
Run through the rain
雨中的记忆
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth, it has no time to flow down the spout.
她和妈妈刚在沃尔玛结束购物。这个天真的小女孩应该6岁大了，头发是美丽的棕色，脸上有雀斑。外面下着倾盆大雨。雨水溢满了檐槽，来不及排走，就迫不及待地涌涨上地面。
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We all waited, some patiently, others irritated, because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
我们都站在沃尔玛门口的遮篷下。大家都在等待，有人很耐心，有人很烦躁，因为老天在给他们本已忙碌的一天添乱。雨天总引起我的遐思。我出神地听着、看着老天冲刷洗涤这世界的污垢和尘埃，孩时无忧无虑地在雨中奔跑玩水的记忆汹涌而至，暂时缓解了我一天的焦虑。
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, “Mom, let's run through the rain.“ she said.
小女孩甜美的声音打破了这令人昏昏欲睡的气氛，“妈妈，我们在雨里跑吧。”她说。
”What?“ Mom asked.
“什么？”母亲问。
”Let's run through the rain!“ She repeated.
“我们在雨里跑吧，”她重复。
”No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit.“ Mom replied.
“不，亲爱的，我们等雨小一点再走。”母亲回答说。
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: ”Mom, let's run through the rain.“
过了一会小女孩又说：“妈妈，我们跑出去吧。”
”We'll get soaked if we do.“ Mom said.
“这样的话我们会湿透的。”母亲说。
”No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,“ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.”
“不会的，妈妈。你今天早上不是这样说的。”小女孩一边说一边拉着母亲的手。
“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“今天早上？我什么时候说过我们淋雨不会湿啊？”
“Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”
“你不记得了吗？你和爸爸谈他的癌症时，你不是说‘如果上帝让我们闯过这一关，那我们就没有什么过不去。’”
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
人群一片寂静。我发誓，除了雨声，你什么都听不到。我们都静静地站着。接下来的几分钟没有一个人走动。母亲停了一下，想着应该说些什么。
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. Time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. “Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just needed washing.” Mom said. Then off they ran.
有人也许会对此一笑了之，或者责备这孩子的不懂事，有人甚至不把她的话放在心上。但这却是一个小孩子一生中需要被肯定的时候。若受到鼓舞，此时孩子单纯的信任就会发展成为坚定的信念。“亲爱的，你说得对，我们跑过去吧。如果淋湿了，那也许是因为我们的确需要冲洗一下了。”母亲说。然后她们就冲出去了。
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day!
我们站在那里，笑着看她们飞快地跑过停着的汽车。她们把购物袋高举过头想挡挡雨，但还是湿透了。好几个人像孩子般尖叫着，大笑着，也跟着冲了出去，奔向自己的车子。
当然，我也这样做了，跑了出去，淋湿了。我也需要接受洗礼。环境或其他人可以夺去你的物质财富，抢走你的金钱，带走你的健康，但没有人可以带走你珍贵的回忆。因此，记得要抓紧时间，抓住机会每天都给自己留下一些回忆吧
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
世间万物皆有自己的季节，做任何事情也有一个恰当的时机。希望你有机会在雨中狂奔一回。
2 一封特殊的信
Dear World:
亲爱的`世界：
My son starts school today.
我的儿子今天就要开始上学读书了。
It's going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.
一时之间，他会感觉陌生而又新鲜。我希望你能待他温柔一些。
You see, up to now, he's been king of the roost.
你明白，到现在为止，他一直是家中的小皇帝。
He's been boss of the backyard.
一直是后院的王者。
I have always been around to repair his wounds, and to soothe his feelings.
我一直在他身旁，忙着为他治疗伤口，哄他开心。
But now--things are going to be different.
但是现在--一切都将不同了。
This morning, he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.
今天清晨，他就要走下前门的楼梯，冲我挥手，然后开始他的伟大的历险征程，其间或许有争斗、不幸以及伤痛。
To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage.
既然活在这个世上，他就需要信念、爱心和勇气。
So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.
所以，世界啊，我希望你能够时不时握住他稚嫩的小手，传授他所应当知晓的事情。
Teach him - but gently, if you can.
教育他吧--而如果可能的话，温柔一些。
Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader; that for every enemy there is a friend.
教他知道，每有恶人之地，必有豪杰所在；每有奸诈小人，必有献身义士；每见一敌人，必有一友在侧。
Teach him the wonders of books.
教他感受书本的神奇魅力。
Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill.
给他时间静思大自然中亘古绵传之奥秘：空中的飞鸟，日光里的蜜蜂，青山上的簇簇繁花。
Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.
教他知道，失败远比欺骗更为光荣。
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.
教他坚定自我的信念，哪怕人人予以否认。
Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder, but never to put a price on his heart and soul.
教他可以最高价付出自己的精力和智慧，但绝不可出卖良心和灵魂。
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob...and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right.
教他置暴徒的喧嚣于度外……并在自觉正确之时挺身而战。
Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
温柔地教导他吧，世界，但是不要放纵他，因为只有烈火的考验才能炼出真钢。
This is a big order, World, but see what you can do.
这一要求甚高，世界，但是请尽你所能。
He's such a nice little fellow.
他是一个如此可爱的小家伙。
装满吻的盒子
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.”
有这样一个故事，爸爸因为三岁的女儿浪费了一卷金色的包装纸而惩罚了她。家里很缺钱，当孩子想要用包装纸装饰一个挂在圣诞树上的盒子时，爸爸生气了。然而，第二天早上小女孩把盒子作为礼物送给了爸爸，“这是给你的，爸爸。”
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, ”Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, “Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy.”
女儿的这个行为让爸爸感到尴尬。但是当他发现盒子是空的时候，他的怒火再一次燃烧了。他对女儿喊道，“难道你不知道给别人礼物的时候，里面应该放有东西吗？”多女孩抬头看着父亲，眼里含着泪水，“爸爸，盒子不是空的。我把吻放在了盒子里，都是给你的，爸爸。”
Today is Sunday! On Sundays, I usually play the flute.My father usually reads the newspaper. My motherusuallycleansthe house. Buttoday my mother is in bed. She is ill. My father has to do the housework. Now, he is cleaning the house. “Sam, can you help me?” “Yes, Dad!” Now, we’re washing the car. Where’s my sister, Amy? She is playing my flute. What a lucky girl!
There are many apple trees in a garden. They’re good friends. One day an old tree is ill. There are many pests in the tree. Leaves of the tree turn yellow. The old tree feels very sad and unwell. Another tree sends for a doctor for him. At first, they send for a pigeon, but she has no idea about it. Then they send for an oriole, and she can’t treat the old tree well. Then they send for a woodpecker. She is a good doctor. She pecks a hole in the tree and eats lots of pests. At last the old tree becomes better and better. Leaves turn green and green.