"What an excellent thing is knowledge," said a sharp-looking, bustling little man, to one who was much older than himself.
“知识是多么非同寻常啊，”一位长相瘦削，精力充沛的小个子男人对一位老年人说。
"Knowledge is an excellent thing," repeated he.
“知识是多么非同寻常啊，”他重复道。
My boys know more at six and seven years old than I did at twelve.
六七岁大的男孩子们比我十二岁的时候懂得更多。
They can read all sorts of books, and talk on all sorts of subjects.
他们读的书多，谈论的话题也多。
The world is a great deal wiser than it used to he.
世界比以前变聪明了。
Everybody knows something of everything now.
现在人人对所有事都有所了解。
Do you not think, sir, that knowledge is all excellent thing?
先生，你不认为知识真的非同寻常吗？
"Why, sir," replied the old man, looking grave, that depends entirely upon the use to which it is applied.
“这个嘛，先生，”老人回答说，他看起来很严肃，那完全取决于知识用在什么地方。
It may be a blessing or a curse.
知识可能是好事，也可能是祸根。
Knowledge is only an increase of power, and power may be a bad, as well as a good thing.
知识意味着力量的增加，而力量既可能是好事，也可能是坏事。
"That is what I can not understand," said the bustling little man. "How can power be a bad thing?"
“我无法理解你说的话，”精力旺盛的小个子说，“力量怎么可能是坏事呢？”
"I will tell you," meekly replied the old man;
“我这就跟你讲，”老人温和地回答，
and thus he went on，When the power of a horse is under restraint,
接下来他说道：“当马匹的力量得到约束，
the animal is useful in bearing burdens, drawing loads, and carrying his master;
这牲口可以用来负重、拉货、驮主人；
but when that power is unrestrained, the horse breaks his bridle, dashes to pieces the carriage that he draws, or throws his rider.
但是当这种力量不受约束，马会脱缰，飞奔的时候把车拖碎，或者把主人掀下来。
"I see!" said the little man.
“我明白了！”小个子说道。
