1. 翻译
1.1 原文
THE ROOTS OF DISCONTENT
The foremost reason that happiness is so hard to achieve is that the universe was not designed with the comfort of human beings in mind. It is almost immeasurably huge, and most of it is hostilely empty and cold. It is the setting for great violence, as when occasionally a star explodes, turning to ashes everything within billions of miles. The rare planet whose gravity field would not crush our bones is probably swimming in lethal gases. Even planet Earth, which can be so idyllic and picturesque, is not to be taken for granted. To survive on it men and women have had to struggle for millions of years against ice, fire, floods, wild animals, and invisible microorganisms that appear out of nowhere to snuff us out.
It seems that every time a pressing danger is avoided, a new and more sophisticated threat appears on the horizon. No sooner do we invent a new substance than its by-products start poisoning that environment. Throughout history, weapons that were designed to provide security have turned around and threatened to destroy their makers. As some diseases are curbed, new ones become virulent; and if, for a while, mortality is reduced, then overpopulation starts to haunt us. The four grim horsemen of the Apocalypse are never very far away. The earth may be our only home, but it is a home full of booby traps waiting to go off at any moment.
1.2 翻译
THE ROOTS OF DISCONTENT
不满的根源
The foremost reason that happiness is so hard to achieve is that the universe was not designed with the comfort of human beings in mind. It is almost immeasurably huge, and most of it is hostilely empty and cold. It is the setting for great violence, as when occasionally a star explodes, turning to ashes everything within billions of miles. The rare planet whose gravity field would not crush our bones is probably swimming in lethal gases. Even planet Earth, which can be so idyllic and picturesque, is not to be taken for granted. To survive on it men and women have had to struggle for millions of years against ice, fire, floods, wild animals, and invisible microorganisms that appear out of nowhere to snuff us out.
幸福是如此难触及，最主要的原因是，宇宙并非为人类的舒适而设计。相反，它广袤无垠，充斥着可怕的空旷和寒冷。它是为大爆炸而设计着，正如偶然的一颗恒星爆炸，便化数亿万物为灰烬。而那鲜少引力不会压碎我们骨骼的星球，却很可能布满有毒气体。即使是地球，这个有着如诗般风景的地方，也不能完全保证人类的舒适。为了在此生存，百万年来这里的男人女人与冰霜、烈火、洪水、野兽、还有无处不在却无踪可循的微生物搏斗着。
It seems that every time a pressing danger is avoided, a new and more sophisticated threat appears on the horizon. No sooner do we invent a new substance than its by-products start poisoning that environment. Throughout history, weapons that were designed to provide security have turned around and threatened to destroy their makers. As some diseases are curbed, new ones become virulent; and if, for a while, mortality is reduced, then overpopulation starts to haunt us. The four grim horsemen of the Apocalypse are never very far away. The earth may be our only home, but it is a home full of booby traps waiting to go off at any moment.
当刚刚处理掉一个迫在眉睫的危险时，另一个新的更复杂的威胁已浮现。当我们刚创造一项新物质时，它的副产品已经开始污染环境。回看历史，武器是这样的，它是为了保卫安全而设计的，却反过来伤害它的发明者。当一项疾病被控制，往往变异出更致命的；当死亡率暂时的降低，人口过剩的问题开始困扰我们。启示录中的四骑士（疾病、战争、饥荒，死亡）从未走远。蓝色地球可能是我们唯一的家园，一个随时随处充满陷阱的家园。
2 翻译比较
参考译文
人类不满的根源
幸福如此难能可贵，主要是因为宇宙创始之时，就没有以人类的安逸舒适为念。它广袤无垠，充斥着威胁人类生存的空洞与寒漠；它更是个充满危险的地方——一颗星球意外爆炸，就可能使方圆数十亿英里，悉数化为灰烬。偶尔碰到一颗重力场适中，不至于把我们骨骼压碎的行星，表面可能充满致命的毒气。甚至在风光旖旎的地球上，生活也不尽如人意。为了生存，人类与冰河、烈火、洪水、猛兽，以及肉眼看不见，却随时会置我们于死地的微生物搏斗，也有数百年之久。
似乎每当我们逃脱一场迫在眉睫的危机，更为严重的新威胁就会接踵而来；我们发明某种新成分，它的副产品就开始污染环境。纵观整个历史，用以防御的武器常会摇身一变，对它的制造者构成毁灭性的威胁；防治某种疾病的药物才研制成功，新疾病已经开始猖獗；死亡率刚刚下降，人口过剩又令我们忧心忡忡。《圣经.启示录》中代表毁灭的四骑士，一直在我们身后不远处追赶。地球或者是我们唯一的家园，却处处充满陷阱，随时有掉进去的危险。
