1.It is a great pleasure to tell how I served my apprenticeship as a businessman. 我很高兴谈谈我是怎样见习办实业的。
这里apprenticeship是比喻义。卡耐基在本文中所讲的并不是他怎样学习经商，而是记叙了他不满13岁时开始在棉纺厂当小工的情况。但他把他少年时期这段经历看成是他一生成功创业（包括创建慈善事业）的“学徒期”（他在第六段中把这段时间称为“我以后办实业见决期的前奏”，即my preparation of the subsequent apprentice as a businessman），因为这段艰苦生活的磨难使他终身受益。
serve： spend a period of time learning a trade/ in a post/in prison
当学徒；任职；服刑，
eg： He has served in the army for three years.
他已经服了三年兵役。
eg：Franklin Roosevelt served 4 terms as U.S. President.
富兰克林？罗斯福当了四任美国总统。
eg：The man is serving a three-year sentence for bribery.
他因受贿被判入狱3年，正在服刑。
eg：After serving a three-year apprenticeship in a garment factory， the young man was employed as a tailor.
在一家服装厂当了3年学徒之后，那年轻人被聘任为裁缝。
2. But there seems to be a questionpreceding his： Why did I become a businessman？
precede： （formal） to come or go before sb. /sth. in time，order， position， etc； to happen before sth.
先于，位于……之前，优先
eg：A loud roar preceded the earthquake.
巨大的轰鸣声之后发生了地震。
eg：In the preceding lecture we dealt with the development of nuclear technology.
上一节课我阐述了核技术的历程。
3. I am sure thatI should never have selected a business career if I had been permitted to choose. 我相信要是我有选择的余地，我不会选择经商的生涯。
if I had （此句包含一虚拟条件句）
eg：If I had been admitted by Peking University， I should have found a better major.
我要是被北大录取了，我就会找到一个更好的专业。
4. Theeldestson of parents who were themselves poor， I had， fortunately， to begin to perform some useful work in the world while still very young in order to earn an livingand therefore came to understand even early boyhood that my duty was toasistmy parents and become， as soon as possible， abreadwinner in the family.作为穷人家里的长子，我有幸为了谋生不得不很小就出外干活，因而在孩童时期就懂得了我的责任是协助父母养家，尽快成为家里挣钱的人。 这是个包含60个词、三个从句、结构复杂的句子。句子的主干是主语 + 由and连接的两个并列谓语：1）had to begin to perform some useful work……，2）came to understand……。 the eldest son of parents是主语的补足语；who were themselves poor是定语从句，修饰parents；fortunately（副词），in the world（介词短语），while still very young（ = while I was still very young省略形式的时间从句），in order to earn a living（不定式短语）都是状语是，修饰第一个谓语动词had to begin to perform.在第二个谓语动词之后，in early boyhood是它的时间状语，以下是一个系表结构的宾语从句，其中my duty是主语，表语是两个并列的不定式短语to assist my parents和（to）become a breadwinner， as soon as possible和in the family都是become a breadwinner的状语。 注意fortunately一词前后各有一个逗号插入had to begin 之间，使其醒目，作者强调小小出外干活其实是件“幸运”的事。
Eldest年长的
earn a living： make a living谋生
eg：He began to earn a living by himself when he was over ten years old.
他十多岁就开始自己谋生了。
注意assist与help的区别：前者表示“协助”，被协助的人起主要作用，协助人起辅助作用（养家糊口主要是他父母的责任）；
help表示为他人做一部分工作，或一起做。
eg： This academic year， Xiao Li is assisting Professor Chen in Modern British History.
这个学年，小李为陈教授的“英国现代史课”当助教。
eg：Xiao Li helped Professor Chen to carry those books to his office.
小李帮陈教授把那些书搬到他的办公室。（可能小李搬的更多。）
breadwinner挣钱的人， 养家糊口的人
eg：He is the only breadwinner of the five-people family.
他是这五口之家唯一挣钱的人。
5.What I could get to do， not what I desired， was the question. I was not in a position to choose a job； I had to accept any job I could find. 问题是，我能找到什么活干，而不是我想干什么活。（意思是因为人小，不易找到工作，不是人选工作，而是有什么就干什么。）
更常用的形式是：The question is = The problem is，问题是……，
eg：The problem is how to find a way through out the forest.
问题是如何找到走出森林的路。
eg：The question is whether he is competent for the job not whether he will accept the job.
问题是他是否胜任这个工作，而不是他是否愿意接受这个工作。
eg：The question is whether he would like me to assist him， not whether I''m ready to so.
问题是他是否让我协助他，而不是我是否愿意。
6. He ownedno fewer thanfour handlooms and employed apprentices. 他有四台之多的手工织布机，还雇了几个学徒。
no fewer than：不少于（表示在当时的情况下，这个数目是大的）
eg：That cool summer， they sold no fewer than 70 airconditioners.
那个凉爽的夏天，他们卖出的空调机也有70台之多。
eg：At the first class of this term， there were no fewer than 20 students in his class.
7. When the steam engine came， handloom weaving naturally declined蒸汽机的出现，自然使得手工机织业衰退。 卡耐基生于工业革命（18世纪中叶-19世纪中叶）后期，此前英国人瓦特（1736——1819）发明了高效蒸汽机（1769）， 使得纺织工业的生产率大大提高 ，从而挤垮了手工纺织业。
decling： to becomesmaller， weaker or fewer下降， 削弱， 衰退，谢绝
eg：Her influence declinde greatly after she lost the election.
落选后她的影响力大大削弱了。
eg：He declined my invitation politely.
他谢绝了我的邀请。
eg：a declinging birth-rate
日趋下降的出生率
eg：declining sales
逐渐减少的销售额
his declinging years （i.e. those towards the end of his life）暮年
decline也可作名词用：
eg：a decline in population/prices/popularity人口、价格/受欢迎的程度下降
eg：Manufacturing output is in decline.产量在下降。
eg：The stock market is on the decline.
股市下跌
eg：The industry fell/went into a decline soon after the war.
战后这个行业逐步衰退。
eg：The number of robberies in the area is on the decline.
这个地区抢劫案的数目在下降。
8. I resolved then thatthe wolf of poverty should be driven from our door some day.I made up my mind then that some day we would have enough money to buy food and other necessities. 我当时下定决心总有一天我们要解决温饱问题。（也可直译为：……总有一天我们要把穷困这只恶狼从家门口轰走。）
resolve （on/upon/against sth.）： to decide firmly决心
eg：I resolve never to give up.
我决心永不放弃。
eg：He resolved on/against （making）an early start.
他坚决主张/反对早出发。
eg：She resolved that she would never see him again.
她决定再不见他了。
此句由习语keep the wolf from the door： to have enough money to avoid hunger and need（免于穷困或挨饿）演变而来，
eg： In those days， no matter how hard the family worked， they could hardly keep the wolf from the door.
在那个年代，无论全家人怎么拼命干，还是难以糊口。
9.The question of starting for the United States was discussed from day to day in the family council.—— Every day my family discussed whether we should move to the United States.
from day to day/day by day： happening every day
eg：Things change from day to day.
事物每天都在变化。
10.I well remember that both father and mother thought the decision was a great sacrifice for them， nut that “it would be better for the two boys”。 我记得很清楚父亲和母亲都觉得这个决定对他们来说是很大的牺牲，但是“对两个孩子来说更为有利”。
Well：completely
eg：He well forgot about the afternoon meeting.
他完全忘记了下午的会议。
11 ……and that was how I began my preparation for subsequent apprenticeship as a businessman.—— ……working in the cotton factory as a “bobbin-boy”started me off learninghow to do business. 就这样我开始了为后来实业家见习期的前期准备工作。 that is / was how / why / what， etc.：这就是……怎样/为什么/什么等……的。 That''s why I''d left my mum and dad in the North， and came to London. 这就是我告别留在北方的爸爸妈妈而只身来到伦敦的原因。
subsequent： later；following后来的
12. I cannot tell you how proud I was when I received my first week''s earnings——one dollar and twenty cents. 我简直不知道怎么形容我拿到第一个星期挣的1美元20美分时的自豪劲儿。
I cannot/ can''t tell you how / what， etc.： 用来表示无法表达的感情
eg：I just can''t tell you how I felt when I heard the news.
我简直无法形容我听到这消息时的感受。
eg：I can''t tell you what a despicable man he was.
我无法形容那人是多么卑鄙。
13.It was given to me because I had been of some use to the world. And I became a contributing member of my family！ 这钱给了我是因为我对社会有了点用处；还有，我已经能为家里作出点贡献了。（说明作者自豪的原因。）
be of use： be useful
be of + n = adj
eg：The meeting is of great importance.
这个会议非常重要。
eg：The painting is of great value.
这幅画很贵重。
14. I think thismakes a man out of a boy sooner than almost anything else. 我觉得没有别的事情能使一个少年更快地成长为一个男子汉了。 The day I got my first week''s earnings， I suddenly found myself grown up. I felt I was no longer a mere boy， but quite a man. I came to belicre tghat hardships can help a boy mature quickly./This perhaps is the best way to enable a boy to recognize his responsibility for his family.
makes ……out of用……制造出，造就出
eg：Ten years of hard work made an old woman out of a young girl.
十年的艰辛劳动把一个年轻的小姑娘变成了一个老太婆。
15 It iseverything to feel that you are useful.—— You feel great when you are useful to your family and to society./To find yourself useful to the family and society gives yor the greatest satisfaction you can ever feel. 感到自己是个有用的人那才叫棒。
everything： the most important thing最重要的事。
eg：What he said is not everything.
他说的并不是最重要的。
eg：Money isn''t everything.
不是一切。
16Millions of dollars have since passed through my hands. But the genuine satisfaction I hadfrim that one dollar and twenty cents outweighs any subsequent pleasure in money making.—— The satisfaction I got from the one dollar and twenty cents was far greater than any pleasure I felt in making money later on. 从那以后有成百万的美元经过我的手，可是以后赚的任何一笔钱给我带来的欢欣，都远远比不上那1美元20美分使我体验到的满足感。
since adv.： since I received that one dollar and twenty cents.
outweigh： be greater or more important than更大，更重要，又如：
eg：Many people believe that the benefits of TV far outweigh the harm it might do to children.
许多人认为电视的好处大大超过它可能会对少年儿童伤害。
注：Outwin胜出， outscore 得分超过， outmatch战胜
17 itrepresented a week of very hard work——so hard that it might have been described asslavery if it hadn''t been for its aim and end.这1美元20美分代表一个星期十分艰苦的劳动，要不是因为干活的目的是挣钱帮父母养家，那活真可以称为奴隶般的劳动。
represent代表
eg： She will represent our class to go to the English Speech Contest.
她将代表我们班参加这次英语演讲比赛。
that从句表示hard的程度。
as slavery是that从句中主语it的补足语。
describe sth./ sb. as：称……为……
eg：The place is described as a paradise.
这个地方被描绘成天堂。
eg：I wouldn''t describe the meeting as successful.
我不会说那次会议开得成功。
aim and end：目的。这里aim与end的意思相近。英语有些约定俗成的短语由两上意思很近的词组成
eg：fair and square（公平合理）
eg： the stresses and strains紧张压力。
18. It was a terrible task for a lad of twelve to rise every morning， except Sunday， go to the factory while it was still dark， and not be released until after darkness came again in the evening， forty minutes'' break only being allowed at noon.—— Working in the factory was a terrible experience for a child of twelve. I was kept there from early in the morning to late in the eveningj ，with a lunch break of only forty minutes. （In American history， child labour wasunscrupulously explited by the industrial capitalists in the early 1900''s.） 除星期日之外，每天天不亮就要起床去工厂，直到晚上天黑下来才让离开，中午只给40分钟的时间休息，这对一个12岁的孩子来说，担子真是太重了。这个由45个词组成的句子主要是主语长而复杂。句子的主语是三个并列的不定式短语：1） to rise…… Sunday；2） （to）go to the factory；3） not （to） be released.两个时间从句中：1） while it was still dark修饰go to the factory；2） until after darkness came again in the evening修饰not be released.for引出三个不定式的逻辑主语a lad of twelve.It是全句的形式主语。 until after作连接词，after可有可无。 Forty minutes'' break only being allowed at noon是独立主格分词结构，作状语修饰三个不定式短语，说明从早到晚只有40分钟的休息。注意作者用be released（释放出来）形容他的一天在工厂里干活，到收工时感觉就像从监狱或笼子里放出来一样。
release：to allow a person or an animal to come out of a place； to set them free释放出来
eg：He was just released from prison.
他刚从监狱释放出来。
eg：He was released from hospital yesterday.
他已于昨天出院。
Poverty-release
19.something within always told me that this awarelast. 我的内心有一种力量时时激励我：这种情况不会，也不可能，更不应该持续下去。
注意句子的结尾是用了三个否定的情态动词，一个比一个有力
eg：I firmly believe that racial discrimination should be eliminated. It can be and will be.
我坚信种族歧视应该消除，能够消除，也一定会消除。
20 But here for a time it was even worse than in the cotton factory， because I was set to firethe boiler in the cellar and run the small steam engine which drove the machinery. 可是在这里，有一段时间情况比棉纺厂更糟，因为我既要烧地下室的锅炉，还要看管那台驱动机器的小蒸汽机。
be set to do sth.：被派做……
eg：He was set to clean the corridor.
他被派去扫走廊。
be set to sth.还有“决意做……”的意思
eg：She was set to win the championship.
她决意要赢得冠军的称号。
21.The responsibility of keeping the water right and of running the engine， and the danger of my making a mistake and blowing the whole factory to pieces， caused too great a strain， and I ofter awoke and found myself sitting up in bed through the nignt， trying the steam-gauges.—— I was told to look after the steam engine， that is， to make sure that there was the right amount of water in the boiler and that the engine was running normally to drive the machines. If I made amistake， the boiler might explode and the force of the explosion would destroy the factory. The responsibility was oo great. I couldn''t sleep properly at night and would often sit up in my sleep trying the steam-gauges. 我要使锅炉内的水位保持正常，还要看管发动机，责任重大；我要是出点差错，整个工厂就有被爆飞的危险；这两件事给我的压力太大了。我经常夜间从睡梦中醒来，发现自己坐在床上做调试蒸汽压力表的动作。（作者由于精神紧张，夜里常常做噩梦，在梦里调试蒸汽压力表，经常突然醒来，从床上坐起来。）这也是个长句，有49个词，由两个并列句组成，第一个并列句的主语是两个并列的名词短语：1） the responsibility of……，2） the danger of……，第二个并列句有两个并列的谓语动词（词组）：1） awoke，2） found……，其中分词短语sitting……是宾语myself的补语，trying……是状语，修饰sitting up in bed through the night.
responsibility of……的责任
eg：The responsibility of supporting a large family kept him working from day to night.
养家糊口的责任使他从白到晚地忙碌着。
eg：The responsibility of protecting the benefits of the people makes the police always maitaining sharp vigilance.
保护人民利益的责任使警察总是保持高度警惕。
strain： a severe demand on mental or physical strength， resources， abilities，etc. 压力
eg：the stresses and strains of modern life
现代生活的压力
eg：under great strain
在很大压力之下
sit up：stay up熬夜，不睡觉
eg：He often sits up late to play computer games.
他经常熬夜打游戏。
22. No， no！ Evetything must be brightto them. 只能让他们知道好的一面。 I never told my family about the strain I had. I only wanted them to know that everything was all right.
Bright美好的，光明的
eg：We have a bright future.
我们都有着美好的未来。
23. This was a point of honor， for every member of the family was working hard， and we were telling each other only the bright things. 这是我应该做的事，因为家里每个人都在拼命干活，我们相互都是报喜不报忧。
a point/ matter / question of honor： something you feel you must do because of your moral principles原则问题
eg：It was a point of honour with the washwoman to return the wash to its rightful owner.
对那位洗衣妇来说把所洗的衣物归还给原主是个信誉问题。
24.Besides， no man would complainand give up-
he would die first. 并且家里每个成员宁愿死也不会去抱怨，去放弃。 Every member of the family would rather die than complain and give up.
complain（of， about） 抱怨
The people in that country are always complaining about high prices.
he would die first 虚拟语气，省略了条件句if he complained and gave up
25 And could I complain？ 这是个修辞性疑问句，意思是：“我当然不能怨天尤人。”
This is a rhetorical（修辞性）
question meaning： Surely I couldn''t complain.
A rhetorical question is one you ask as a way of making a statement， without expecting an answer.
Aren''t the flowers beautiful？这些花多漂亮！
26. My kind employer soonrelieved me of the strain， for he needed someone tomake outbills and keep his accounts， and finding that I could write a plain schoolboy handand could add uphe made me his only clerk. Soon my boss found that I could write well enough to make out bills and keep his acounts. As he needed someone to do this， he kindly made me the only clerk in the factory. This freed me from the terrible strain of running the steam engine. 我那好心的老板很快就解除了我的压力，他需要有个人开帐单、记帐，他看我还能写出小学生水平的字，还会做加法，就叫我当了他惟一的职员。
relieve sb. of： 免除某人的……（负担、职位等）
eg：The medicine will relieve you of the pain.
这药会减轻你的疼痛。
eg：Let me relieve you of this heavy box.
让我来帮你拿这个沉重的盒子。
eg：The university assigned a part-time secretary to relieve Professor Smith''s assistant of some of his work.
学校分派一个兼职秘书，来减轻史密斯教授助手的工作。
make out： to write a cheque， bill， etc.开（支票、帐单等）。
eg：The old man made out a cheque for ten thousand pounds as a wedding present for Hughie and Laura.
那老人开出了一万英镑的支票作为送给休吉和劳拉的结婚礼物。
schoolboy hand： the clear rounded writing that was taught in school （old use） writing
add （sth.） up： 把……加起来
eg：Add all the items up and see how much we have to pay.
你把所有的项目都加起来，看我们要付多少钱。
eg：It turned out that the old man couldn''t add up.
原来那位老人不会算加法。
made me his only clerk：让我成为他惟一的职员。
27. You know how peoplegrumble aboutpoverty as a great evil， and it seems to be accepted that if people had only plenty ofmoney and were rich， they would be happy and more useful， and get more out oflife.—— Many people consider poverty as something bad and complain about it. People seem to believe that money could make them happy and more useful and able to enjoy life more. 大家都知道人们总是把贫困说成是一大罪恶，好像觉得谁要是许多钱，谁要是富有，谁就会更幸福、更有作为，谁就能享受更多的生活乐趣。注意第二个并列句的结构：it是形式上的主语，代表主语从句。that if people……get more out of life.only修饰had plenty of money and rich.
grumble about： to keep complaining about
eg：They have been grumbling about their teacher for giving them so much homework.
他们老是抱怨老师给他们留的作业太多。
plenty of许多
get sth. out of sth.：从……中得到（乐趣、满足等）
eg：She got a lot out of reading.
读书使她学到不少东西。
eg：I don''t understand what you''ve got out of this trash.
我真不从那些乱七八糟的作品中能得到什么。
eg：He seems to have got a lot out of the course.
他好像从那门课学到不少东西。
注意对卡耐基的这句话我们要以进行分析。我们一方面不认为有钱就幸福，但贫困不是件好事。
28.As a rule ，there is more genuine satisfaction from life in the humble cottages of the poor than in the palaces of the rich.—— Generally speaking， the poor are genuinely happier than the rich. 一般说来，穷人简陋小屋里的生活比富人豪华宅邸里的生活更温馨。
as a rule：通常
eg：As a rule， there is much more rainfall in the south than in the north.
通常南方的降雨量比北方大许多。
eg：As a rule， children wear new clothes during the Spring Festivals.
通常孩子们在过春节要穿新衣服。
eg：As a rule， northerners are taller than southerners.
一般说来，北方人要比南方人高大。
eg：As a rule， the new academic year begins on September 1.
新学年通常9月1日开始。
29.I always pity the sons and daughters of rich men， who are attended by servants， and have a governesseven at a later age.—— They do not know what they have missed. I always feel sorry for children of the rich who have servants to look after them， and have a governess even when they are teenagers. They do not realize that they have missed what children need most-their parents'' loving care. 我总是可怜那些有仆人伺候、很大了还有家庭教师的富人子女。
governess指住在主人家而负责照看主人幼小子女并教他们一些基本知识的女子。
30.For the poor boy who hasin his fatherhis constant companion， tutor， and model， and in his mother his nurse， teacher， guardian angel， saint， all in one，has a richer， more precious fortune in life than any rich man''s son， and compared with which all other fortunes count for little. 因为对于穷人的孩子来说，父亲无时无刻都是他的伙伴、导师和榜样，母亲则集护士、老师、保护神、他所信奉的圣人于一身；这样，比起富人的孩子，他拥有生活中一笔更大、更宝贵的财富；与这一财富之相比，其他任何财富就是微不足道的了。这个长句有51个词，结构比较复杂。全句由连接词for引出，解释上句。句子的主语和宾语各跟一定语从句。在修饰主语the poor boy的定语从句who has……all in one中，动词has有两长串宾语，动词与宾语之间插入了两个介词短语in his father和in his mother.全句的谓语动词是has，其宾语是a richer， more precious fortune in life than any rich man''s son.在修饰它的定语从句compared with which all other fortunes count for little中，主语是all other fortunes，谓语是count for little，分词短语compared with which作状语，关系代词which代表a rich， more precious fortune.
in sb.： 用来表示某人的特征
eg：We''ve all found a good friend in Xiao Liu.
我们都觉得小刘对人很友好。
eg：We have a good center forward in Xiao Wang.
小王是我们很棒的中锋。
all in one：多位一体，联合体，合为一体
eg：To me， he is brother， friend and guardian all in one.
对我来说，他集兄长、朋友和监护人于一身。
eg：In those days ，that cave dwelling served as a study， a clinic and conference room all in one.
在那个年代，这个窑洞既当书房，又当医务室，又当会议室。
compared with
eg：Compared with Shanghai， Beijing has a larger size of landarea but a less population.
与上海相比，北京土地面积稍大，而人口较少。
count for much / little： of much / little value or importance重要/不重要
eg：Empty promises count for little.
空洞的承诺一文不值。
eg：Do diplomas count for anything on the job market？
文凭对找工作重要吗？
31. It is because I know how sweet and happy and pure the home of honest poverty is， how free it is from perplexing care， from social envy and emulations， how loving and how united its members may be in the common interest ofsupporting the family that Isympathize with the rich man''s boy and congratulate the poor man''s boy.我亲身体验过正直贫困家庭里的那种温馨、美满和纯真，这样的家庭无暇为聊的事而操心，不受他人的嫉妒，不与他人争斗，为了养家糊口这个共同目标，家里的人互相爱护，团结一致。正是由于这个原因我对富人家的孩子深表同情，而对穷人家的孩子表示祝贺。
此句用it is…… that……强调原因，整个原因状语从句是强调部分；句子的主要部分是I sympathize……the poor man''s boy.
eg：It is because he didn''t turn off the stove that caused the fire.
正是因为他没关煤气炉子导致了这场火灾。
eg：It is because of his ignorance that led him to prison.
正是因为他的无知使他走上了犯罪。
free from：无……的，摆脱了……的
eg：Some handicapped are free from taxation.
一些残疾人免征税。
eg：He wants to live in a small town free from noise pollution.
他想住在一个没有噪音污染的小镇。
eg：Now that he''s retired he''s free from all responsibilities.
他现在已经退休了，无官一身轻。
in the interest of： in order to achieve the result or maintain a situation
eg：All the people should work together in the interest of world peace.
大家都应为世界和平努力工作。
sympathize with （sb. / sth.）：同情；支持
eg：I must tell you how much we sympathize with you on your loss.
我要告诉你对于你的损失我们对你深表同情。
eg：We always sympathize with just causes.
我们一贯支持正义的事业。
32 .it is for these reasonsthat fromhe ranks of the poor so many strong， eminent， self-reliant men have always sprungand always must spring.—— ……that is why poor families have produced and will continue to prodece so many outstanding people. 正是由于这些原因，穷人的队伍中已经不断涌现出，而且一定还会不断涌现出众多坚强、出众，依赖自己能力的杰出人才。
此句用it is……that的形式强调for these reasons.
spring from：出人意料地从……出现
eg：Where did your sister spring from？ I thought she was in Europe.
你妹妹是从哪里蹦出来的？我还以为她在欧洲呢。
33 .responsibility of read the list of the immortals who “were not born to die，” and I ofter awoke and found myself were born to the precious heritage of poverty
如果你愿意看看那些流芳百世之人的名单，你就会发现他们当中大部分人出生于贫困这个
宝贵的环境中。
If you will如果你愿意
eg：If you will listen to me， I''ll give you some advice.
如果你愿意听， 我就给 你一些建议。
who “were not born to die”：那些不朽的人物，指那些为人类作出巨大贡献的人物。to die表示结果。
be born to / into /of：出于……（环境、家庭等）。
eg：He was born into a poor family.
他出身于一个贫穷家庭。
34.It seems nowadays， amatter of universal desire that povety should be abolished. Nowadays it seems to be a common desire to wipe out poverty. 今天人们好像普遍希望消除贫困。
that从句是desire的同位语，具体说明其内容。
nowadays：当前（与过去相对照）
35.but to abolish honest， industrious self-denying poverty would be destroy the soil upon which mankind produces the virtues which enable our race to reach a still higher civilization than it now possesses. 但是消除正直、勤劳、忘我的贫困就会破坏人类产生诸多美德的土壤，而正是这引起美德能使我们人类达到比现在更高的文明程度。此句是系表结构，主语与表语都是不定式短语；主语to abolish……poverty中隐含着一个虚拟条件句（if we abolished……poverty），would be……是虚拟语气；表语to destroy……中包含两个定语从句：1） upon which mankind produces the virtues 修饰soil，2） which……it now possesses修饰virtues， than引出比较从句it now possesses，修饰higher.
still + 比较级形容词或副词表示更加……
eg：He has been working still harder since he went to college.
自他上大学后，他学习更加努力了。
eg：The began to believe him still more after then.
自那以后，他们更加信任他了。
在课文的最后一部分卡耐基强调贫困能激发人们上进，人物都出身贫寒，这是事实。但是我们不能反过来说越穷越革命，越穷越高尚。也有不少的杰出人物出富裕家庭，对此不可形而上学地看问题。人类毁要消除贫困，也要保持正直、勤劳等诸多美德。贫困是个很复杂的问题，有人说过贫困在诗歌里、在格言里。在牧师的讲道中是美好的，但在家里、在实际生活中却是非常糟糕的。还有人说贫困受到不再贫困的人们过分的赞美。我们不想在这里深入全面分析贫困。我们想说明的是，一个人尤其是年轻时经历一段贫困的生活不完全是一件坏事。
