正文
On the first day of school, Socrates（苏格拉底） told his students, “Today, we'll only learn one thing, that is to stretch forward your arms, then try swing them backward.”
开学第一天，苏格拉底告诉学生：“今天，我们只学一件事：把双臂伸向前方，然后向后甩动。”
He showed them and as a result all the students laughed. “Sir, is it also learned?” one of the students teased（取笑）. “Of course,” Socrates replied gravely（严肃地）, “you think this is a simple thing, but it s very difficult.”
他示范了一下，结果学生哄堂大笑。 “老师，这还用教？”一个学生起哄道。 “那当然，”苏格拉底严肃地说，“你觉得这事儿太简单，但其实并不容易。”
Hearing this, the students laughed even harder. Without a bit of anger, Socrates announced, “In this class I'll teach you how to learn this action well. After that, starting today, you will do it 100 times a day.”
听到这儿，学生们笑得更厉害了。 苏格拉底一点儿也没生气，他宣布：“这节课的内容就是学好这个动作。从今天开始，你们每天要做满100次。”
10 days later, Socrates asked, “Who still insists on swinging his arms?” about 80% of the students raised their hands. 20 days later, Socrates asked again, “Who still insists on swinging his arms?” About 50% of them raised their hands.
十天以后，苏格拉底问：“有谁还在坚持甩臂啊？”大约80%的学生举了手。 二十天以后，苏格拉底又问：“你们有谁还在坚持甩臂啊？”大约50%的人举手示意。
3 months later, Socrates asked again, “Who still insists on that most simple action of swing?” This time, only one student raised his hand. He was Plato.
三个月以后，苏格拉底再次发问：“谁还在坚持做那个最简单的甩臂动作啊？”这次，只有一个学生举起了手。此人就是柏拉图。
生词
gravely [ɡreɪvlɪ] adv.严肃地
坚持最易也最难。天才就是把简单的事情重复次数最多的人。柏拉图(Plato)(约公元前427年—公元前347年)和老师苏格拉底、学生亚里士多德并称为“希腊三贤”。
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