Care killed a cat.忧愁伤身
英国人有一迷信说法,认为猫有九命,意思是可以起死回生九次。极言其生命力之强。但“忧愁(care)”竟能杀死生命力极强的猫,这就是要突出“忧愁”所造成的危害。
这谚语原是从另一句较长的谚语简化而来的,原句是:It is said that a cat hath nine lives, yet care would wear them all out。wear them all out就是把九条命全部都消磨光的意思。
莎士比亚在《无事生非》(Much Ado about Nothing)一剧中有云:“What!Courage,man!What care killed a cat,thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.”。这话是鼓励人们拿出勇气,把忧愁赶走。
还有三句相似意思的谚语:
It is not work that kills, but worry.
工作不会伤身,伤身乃是忧愁。
Care is no cure.
忧愁是无药可救的。
A pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt.
一磅的“忧愁”无法抵偿一盎司的债。
忧愁既能伤身,那么相反来说,快乐就能使人身体健康。这可参见另一条谚语:Laugh and grow fat.