美國人的文化價值觀

1、美國人掛在嘴邊的 200句子 -其文化和價值觀1-You cant argue with successThough you may tell someone they are doing something in a wrong way, you have to stop criticizing them if their method works.2-Nothing succeeds like successLike money in a savings account, success seems to compound itself. Aperson who has a small s

2、uccess expects it to be followed by a biggerone.3-The end justifies the meansIt does not matter how you succeed. Any method is all right if it worksfor you. This proverb is not always accepted. Often one hears theopposite, the end doesnt justifies the means.4-If you cant beat them, join themIf you c

3、annot compete successfully with a person or a group, stopcompeting and go join them. Then you can share in their success.5-Always a day late and a dollar shortA criticism of a person who never succeeds. The failures may not bedrastic but the pattern of small failures is annoying to others,especially

4、 in two areas that Americans value as highly as time andmoney.6-One thing at a timeConcentration leads to success. The person who tires to do too many things at once may fail at all of them.7-Well cross that bridge when we come to itWe will not discuss or worry about a future problem. If and when th

5、e problem becomes urgent, we will deal with it. 8-Dont put the cart before the hourseDo things in a sensible order. For example, do something to impressyour boss before you ask for a raise in pay. Dont ask for the raisefirst.9-Alls fair in love and warDo not trust a rival or an enemy at all. His or

6、her desire to succeedwill overrule everything else. Such a people may lie, cheat, attack ordo many other things far more terrible than he or she would normally do.10-When in Rome do as the romans doFlexibility leads to success in unfamiliar circumstances. People maychanges their normal way of doing

7、things in order to fit in better withthose they are visiting.111-Easy does itSome things require gentleness for success. One should not push too hard. Force may cause damage12-The bigger they are, the harder they fallDo not be discouraged by the size of your problem or the fame of yourcompetitor. (t

8、he saying is traced to a boxer preparing to fight anopponent much larger than he was.13-All is well that ends wellIf we can come to a successful conclusion, let us forget about the pain and mistakes along the way.14-Go for itGo ahead and try to achieve your goal. Dont worry about failing.Similar to

9、this proverb-God provides food to every bird, but he wontcast to its nest, you got to earn it.15-Every little bit helpsIf someone apologizes for giving only a small gift, the recipient mayencourage the giver by quoting this proverb. This is especially true ifthere is a huge job to do or a huge amoun

10、t of money to be raised frommany people. 16-Look before you leapDont jump into a situation carelessly. You may land in difficulty.17-All that glitters is not goldDo not be fooled by worthless things that seem valuable or look attractive.Fools gold is the popular name for a kind of stone that glitter

11、s like gold but contains no gold at all.18-Curiosity killed the catDo not ask too many questions or become too curious about things. Youmay get yourself into trouble like a cat that does not see the dangerin a new situation.19-Dont put all your eggs in one basketDo not risk everything in one place o

12、r on one project. Divide yoursources that one failure will not ruin you. Similar to thisproverb-Do not use both feet to test the depth of the river.20-Dont bite off more than you can chewDo not attempt something too large for you to handle.21-Too good to be ture2This is often used to warn about adve

13、rtising. An offer looks good but turns out to be misleading.22-Flattery will get you nowhereIf flattery (insincere praise is recognized, it will not succeed. Onesometimes hears the opposite, Flattery will get you everywhere.23-There is no such thing as a free lunchIf someone you do not know offers y

14、ou a free lunch or other gift, watchout. The gift may be a method of getting something from you.24-Pride goes before a fallDo not be over-confident and careless. Your circumstances may change quickly and the emptiness of your bragging will be exposed.25-Better safe than sorryIt is better not to take

15、 a risk than to take a risk foolishly.26-Winning isnt everythingOne may enjoy the process of playing a game whether one wins or not.This traditional proverb is now often heard in the opposite form,Winning isnt everything. Its the only thing!27-Time will tellWait and see how something will work out.

16、Dont trust a person or thing too much right now.28-The burned child shuns fireSome of lifes lessons are learned the hard way. The person who has hadto pay for a mistake will be careful not to make that mistake again.29-There are other fish in the seaThere are opportunities! For example, this may be

17、used to encouragesomeone who has just broken off a relationship with a sweetheart.30-Dont count your chickens before they are hatchedDo not become too confident of success before you can see that progress is happening.31-Rome wasnt built in a dayDo not be discouraged if your goal still seems far awa

18、y. On a big project, success takes time!32-There is more here than meets the eye3Be careful. People are hiding something in order to protect themselves or take advantage of you.33-The customer is always rightBusinesses instruct their clerks not to do anything that might threatena customers self-este

19、em, no matter how unreasonable the customer is.Any complaint of any customer must be carefully and politely heard byany employee. The customer must not be made to feel ignorant.34-Be true to yourselfDo not compromise yourself or your beliefs in order to please otherpeople or fit in with a system. Kn

20、ow who you are. Let other people knowwhat you stand for. Do not give in to pressure to conform or to dothings you do not agree with.35-Once bitten, twice shyThis may be used to explain the behavior of a person who is overlycautious about something. The wise person makes mistakes but does notusually

21、make the same mistake twice.36-It isnt over till the fat lady singsI refuse to admit defeat yet. Though right now it looks like I mayfall, there is still time for things to change. (The fat lady is aninsulting reference to an opera soloist, opera often end with a femalesolo.37-To each his ownEach in

22、dividual should be allowed to have his or her own preferences.people will naturally choose different activities, goals, life-s, etc.38-Looking out for number oneLooking out for ones own personal welfare more than anything else.This is sometimes used to criticize a person who has abused or takenadvan

23、tage of someone else, All he was doing was looking out for numberone. Or it may be used to defend himself or herself, There is nothingwrong with what I did. I was just looking out for number one.39-When the going gets tough, the tough get goingWhen situation is difficult, only the determined people

24、can handle it. They dont give up!40-Times flies when you are having funA day seems shot when it is full of enjoyable things but it seems like an eternity if one is idle or stuck with a boring job.41-If it feels good, do itLive according to your desires at the moment. Forget about rules, regulations

25、or consequences. Just have fun.442-Live and let liveDo not be judgmental. Do not try to control or punish other people.You live as you like and let others live as they like.43-Variety is the spice of lifeVariety is what makes life pleasureable. Boredom is seen as a threat and monotony is the surest

26、route toboredom.44-Money talksWealth has influence. People who make big contributions to politicalcandidates are talking to the candidates and expecting them tolisten.45-All work and no play makes Jack a dull boyThis is used to criticize someone who takes work too seriously. It affirms that play is

27、as an essential part of human life.46-The more the merrierThis is a way of welcoming someone to participate. It means, the bigger the group, the bigger the party.47-A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushA thing you already have is worth twice as much as a thing you might get in the future.48-Yo

28、u cant have your cake and eat it tooMake up your mind. Sometimes one must choose between two very desirable things, giving up one thing in order to enjoy the other.49-There is more than one way to skin a catAny of several methods may bring about the desired result. Each personmay choose the method t

29、hat best suits her. If one method does not work,choose a different one and try again.50-One mans meat is another mans poisonSince the same thing may affect different people in different ways,each person must choose the things that will work in his or herparticular case.51-Love finds a wayLove is con

30、sidered one of the most powerful and determined forces inthe world. Two people in love will find a way to get together.552-Absence makes the heart grow fonderWhen lovers are separated, they may think about each other constantly. their love may deepen.53-Out of sight, out of mindThis is said of someo

31、ne not considered important or worthy of loyalty.One forgets about that person as soon as he or she is out of sight.54-Love makes the world go aroundLove is the driving force in all of life. Love makes life worth living.If you understand love,you understand everything about life.55-Marry in haste an

32、d repent at leisureDo not rush into any long-term commitment. In the past this meant,take your time before you commit yourself to a marriage partner. Nowit means, Do not commit yourself to anyone you will be sorry. or itmay mean, Live with a person for a while before marrying him or her.It may also

33、apply to any long-term partnership, such as a jointbusiness venture.56-Talk is cheapTalking is not doing, It is easy to talk about a plan, but this getslittle respect untill one takes a risk and puts the plan into action.57-Love is blindWhen people are in love, they do not see each others faults.58-

34、Time is moneyTime can be converted to money, that is, wages are often paid per hourof work. Managers want employees to do things quickly because time ismoney. If employees waste time, the company loses money.59-If youre so smart, why aint you richThis question implies that intelligence, like time, c

35、an be convertedinto money. It is used to cut down an ordinary person (not a rich onewho has expressed an opinion as if it is the final word on the subject.60-Beggars cant be choosersBeggars have to accept whatever they get. A poor person has very fewchoices in life. This harsh reply may be used if p

36、eople complain aboutthe size or quality of a gift.61-The love of money is the root of all evilGreed will lead a person into many other evils such as cheating,oppression and violence. (one also hears, money6is the root of allevil, which places the blame more on money than on greed.62-A fool and his m

37、oney are soon partedFolly will always show up in the way a fool handles money. Wise peopleare the ones smart enough to guard money once they have it.63-It isnt whether you win or lose, its how you play the gamePlaying well and fairly is more important than succeeding. This sayingis sometimes used to

38、 console someone who has lost a game. The ideas isthat in spite of losing, one may still feel like a success if one hasplayed as well as possible.64-Money cant buy happinessThere are some things money just cant buy. This reminds people thatmoney is not an ultimate value although it often is treated

39、as one. Thesaying may be used as a comment when a wealthy but lonely and wretchedperson commits suicide.65-Nice guys finish lastSuccess is valued more highly than kindness and politeness. Ifunkindness and impoliteness contribute to ones success, they aresometimes excused as toughness or what it take

40、s. This is more oftenapplied to men than woman.66-The one who dies with the most toys winsThis recent, cynical saying makes fun of three common American desires- competing, accumulating property, and having fun.67-Just do itThis proverb is actually a recently invented advertising slogan for theNike

41、Shoe company. It may also be the best three-word summary ofAmerican cultural values. It means, quit being indecisive, Dontbother consulting a lot of people. Dont waste much times on planning.Just do it and do it now.68-You only go around once in lifeEnjoy life, do what you want to do, experience eve

42、rything you can.69-Put your money where your mouth isGet serious about what you are saying. When you have spoken in favor ofsomething, prove that you mean it by risking some money on it in a betor an investment.70-The best defense is a good offenseBe pro-active and goal-oriented, not timid or conser

43、vative. Aim to conquer, not merely to protect yourself.771-The road to hell is paved with good intentionsLike talking, intending is not doing. Actions matter far more than intentions. Actions determine where a person ends up.72-Never put off till tomorrow what you can do todayDoing is better than wa

44、iting. If you wait, you might lose your opportunity73-Action speak louder than wordsTo know peoples hearts, pay more attention to what they do than what they say.74-Idle hands are the devils workshopWhen people have nothing constructive to do, they get into mischief.The child who is bored may pick u

45、p a crayon and color on the wall,something that would not happen if the child were happily occupied insome other activity. 75-Youve got to take the bull by the hornsGrab directly and fearlessly for the toughnest part of a problem. Dont look for an easy way out.76-Money doesnt grow on treesYou have t

46、o work for things. Success does not come on its own.77-Easy come, easy goIf you have received something without working for it, it may soon begone. You will not be as careful with it as you will be with somethingyou earned.78-Too many cooks spoil the brothIndividual action or action by the smallest

47、group possible is betterthan consulting a lot of people. Too much consultation will waste timeand create problems.79-Stand on your own two feetGrow up; act like an adult. Dont ask me to do something for you. Thismay be said to a young or immature person who depends too much onothers. It is like a co

48、w kicking a grown calf that wants to suckle.80-If you want something done right, do it yourselfThis discourages people from trusting anyone except themselves. Itmaybe said to someone who ask another person to do a job for him/herand then complains about it was done.81-Necessity is the mother of inve

49、ntionWhen a person really needs something, he or she figures out some newway to get it. This creative initiative to8change ones situation isconsidered much better than giving up and accepting things as they are.82-First come, first served.This saying is used when there is a limited supply of somethi

50、ng such astickets to an event or food at a picnic. The idea is that no matterwhat your status, if you want some of what is being given away or sold,you must present yourself in person and in good time.83-No pain no gainone must put forth an effort in order to succeed. This saying comesfrom physical

51、fitness instructors. They say that if you do not exercisehard enough to make your muscles hurt, the exercise is not doing youmuch good.84-Give him an inch and hell take a mileBe careful of presumptuous people who take more initiative than theyshould. If you do someone a small favor or delegate a lit

52、tle permissionor a little power, he or she may take advantage of you.85-If it isnt broke, dont fix itDo not bother trying to improve something if it is already workingsatisfactorily. That is a waste of time and you run the risk ofbreaking the thing while you are trying to improve it.86-There is no h

53、arm in tryingA person expects to be respected for making an effort even if it does not succeed.87-The cure is worse than the diseaseWhile trying to solve one problem, we create an even bigger problem. We would have been better off if we had done nothing.88-Count to ten before you lose your temperDo

54、not instantly let your feelings control your actions. Slow down. Think before you react.89-All things come to him who waitsSometimes patience is better than initiative.90-There is many a slip between the cup and the lipThis refers to a plan that has gone wrong. When one is drinking from acup, one in

55、tends to get all the drink into the mouth, but this does notalways happen. The plan is good but it can still fail.91-Boys will be boysPeople will act according to their nature, including some mischief.This is sometimes used to describe irresponsible but not too seriouslywrong behavior by men. In oth

56、er words, grown men will sometimes actlike little boys.992-One bad apple can spoil the whole barrelDo not associate with bad people. They may spoil you as a rotting apple spoils the apples next to it in the barrel. 93-Better the devil you know than the devil you dontPeople are generally not trustwor

57、thy. It is therefore better to dealwith a familiar person or situation than an unknown one. That way youknow what to watch out for and you can protect yourself better.94-Nobody is perfectEveryone has shortcomings. This is used as an excuse for a minor Mistake that has been made.95-The grass is always greener