inscription n. 题字,碑铭
If I Rest,I Rust The significant inscription found on an old key---"If I rest,I rust"---would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest bit of idleness. Even the most industrious person might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that,if one allows his faculties to rest,like the iron in the unused key,they will soon show signs of rust and,ultimately,cannot do the work required of them. Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use,so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge,the gate that guard the entrances to the professions,to science,art,literature,agriculture---every department of human endeavor. Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement. If Hugh Miller,after toiling all day in a quarry,had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation,he would never have become a famous geologist.
如果我休息，我就会生锈 在一把旧钥匙上发现了一则意义深远的铭文——如果我休息，我就会生锈。对于那些懒散而烦恼的人来说，这将是至理名言。甚至最为勤勉的人也以此作为警示：如果一个人有才能而不用，就像废弃钥匙上的铁一样，这些才能就会很快生锈，并最终无法完成安排给自己的工作。 有些人想取得伟人所获得并保持的成就，他们就必须不断运用自身才能，以便开启知识的大门，即那些通往人类努力探求的各个领域的大门，这些领域包括各种职业：科学，艺术，文学，农业等。 勤奋使开启成功宝库的钥匙保持光亮。如果休·米勒在采石场劳作一天后，晚上的时光用来休息消遣的话，他就不会成为名垂青史的地质学家。