這是一個最好的時代

時之聖者也，時之兇者也。 
此亦矇昧世，此亦智慧世。 
此亦光明時節，此亦黯淡時節。 
此亦篤信之年，此亦大惑之年。 
此亦多麗之陽春，此亦絕念之窮冬。 
人或萬物具備，人或一事無成。 
我輩其青雲直上，我輩其黃泉永墜。

——狄更斯 《雙城記》

 

 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short

 

這是一個最好的時代，這是一個最壞的時代； 這是一個智慧的年代，這是一個愚蠢的年代； 這是一個光明的季節，這是一個黑暗的季節； 這是希望之春，這是失望之冬； 人們面前應有盡有，人們面前一無所有； 人們正踏上天堂之路，人們正走向地獄之門。