海边木屋

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times;
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness;
it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness;
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair;
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us;
we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

这是一个最好的时代，这是一个最坏的时代；
这是一个智慧的年代，这是一个愚蠢的年代；
这是一个光明的季节，这是一个黑暗的季节；
这是希望之春，这是失望之冬；
人们面前应有尽有，人们面前一无所有；
人们正踏上天堂之路，人们正走向地狱之门。

—— 引自 狄更斯 《双城记》