50 New Year resolutions

The New Year is a time for resolutions.

新年是下决心的时候。

Mentally, at least, most of us could compile formidable lists of ‘dos’and ‘don'ts’.

至少在大多数人的心里会编排出一份“应做什么”和“不应做什么”的令人生畏的单子。

The same old favourites recur year in year out with monotonous regularity.

相同的决心以单调的规律年复一年地出现。

We resolve to get up earlier each morning, eat less, find more time to play with the children, do a thousand and one jobs about the house, be nice to people we don't like, drive carefully, and take the dog for a walk every day.

我们决心每天早晨起得早些;吃得少些;多花点时间与孩子们-一起做游戏:做大量的家务;对不喜欢的人发善一些;小心驾车;每天都要带着狗散步;等等。

Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.

以往的经验告诉我们有些事是办不到的。

If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.

如果我们烟瘾大,戒不掉,那是因为屡戒屡败,失去了信心。