The Paradox of our Time 时代的悖谬

The paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less;
We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time;

We have more degrees, but less sense;
more knowledge, but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space,
but not inner space.

We've done larger things,
but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information
to produce more copies than ever,
but have less communication.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
more leisure, but less fun;
more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom;
a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and
a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

source: Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Source:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp
http://www.xdude.com/paradox.htm

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時代的悖謬
(蕭雪樺譯，071129)

我們這個時代最大的歷史悖謬
是建築物越來越高拔，人的趣味卻越來越低下
高速公路又寬又闊，人的眼界卻又窄又扁

我們花的錢多了，擁有的東西卻少了
買的東西多了，真正的享受卻少了
房子大了，家庭卻小了
什麼都方便了，時間卻少了
學歷高了，人卻蠢了
知識多了，常識卻少了
專家多了，問題也更多了
吃的藥多了，但身體一天不如一天

我們喝酒太兇，抽煙太多，花錢太沒節制
笑得太少，駕車太快，氣量太淺
睡得太晚，起來太累
看書太少，看電視太多
誠心禱告越來越少見

我們的資產倍增，個人的價值卻變賤
我們講得多，愛得少，恨得太隨便

我們懂得怎麼謀生，但不懂得什麼是人生
我們只是苟延了生命，而不是豐富了生命
我們到月球留下了個腳印回來
但總沒法去跟新鄰居見一面
我們征服了太空，卻荒蕪了心田
我們幹的事業好偉大，但不見得有多美善

我們淨化了空氣，但污染了靈魂
我們可以擊碎原子，但消除不了偏見
我們寫的多，但學到的少
我們的計劃多麼宏大，但成果少得可憐
我們只懂得向前猛衝，就不懂得歇一歇
我們儲存資訊的電腦越來越多，印製的副本越壘越高
溝通卻越來越淺

這是個消化能力差，快餐速度高
只重形象不重品格，利潤深化、關係淺化的年代
這是個夫妻都去賺錢，而離婚輕鬆平常
房子美輪美奂，而家庭支離破碎的年代
這是個什麼都快來快去的年代
尿布一用即棄，面孔說變就變
情長只限一夜，體型暴瘦暴肥
藥丸可以讓你乍呆、乍死、乍癲

這個年代
用來炫耀的東西多有，值得儲藏的東西少見
這個年代的技術，讓你可以萬里之外看到這封信
你可以與朋友分享，也可以按鍵刪除來電

記著：
多花些時間與你親愛的人相處
因為他們不會永遠在你身邊

記著：
要善待那些對你仰視的小人物
因為他們有一天會走在你腳步之前

記著：
給你身邊的人一個熱情的擁抱
因為這是你心底裡唯一的財富
──不花你一分錢

記著：
向你的伴侶、親愛的人說「我愛你」
但要真心的說
一個發自心底裡的親吻、擁抱
可以消除一切痛苦熬煎

記著：
緊握她的手，珍惜當下的時光
因為有一天她會無法再與你比肩

花點時間去愛
花點時間去說出心底話
花點時間奏響珍貴的心弦

時刻記著：
生命的長短
算的不是你的心跳了幾下
而是你怦然心動
曾經有幾遍

**
来源：筆下留情:時代的悖謬

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今天联合早报周刊第1059期，13/04/2008，鳄鱼家族生活小品一栏里，分享了一篇题目为“我们”，虽然错误引用美国喜剧演员乔治.卡林（George Carlin)为其作者，但是这篇时代的悖谬1999年在互联网上曾经风靡一时的佳作，语颇隽永，值得分享。