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Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
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Every machine is held together by its nuts and bolts. Without them, the machine would fall apart. That is also true of an organization. Its nuts and bolts are its basic, necessary elements. They are the parts that make the organization work.
In government, industry, diplomacy -- in most anything -- those who understand the nuts and bolts are the most important. Success depends more on them than on almost anyone else.
In government, the president or prime minister may plan and shape programs and policies. But, it takes much more work to get them approved and to make them successful.
There is a mass of detailed work to be done. The nuts and bolts. This is often put into the hands of specialists. The top leaders are always well-known, but not those who work with the nuts and bolts.
This is equally true in the day-to-day operation of Congress. The majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, together with the chairmen of committees, keep the business of Congress moving.
Behind every Senator and Congressman, however, are assistants. These people do all the detailed work to prepare congressmen to vote wisely on each issue.
In diplomacy, the chief ministers are unquestionably important in negotiations. But there are lesser officials who do the basic work and preparations on the different issues to be negotiated.
In a military operation, strategy decisions are important. But much more time is spent on the nuts and bolts -- generally called logistics -- of how to transport and supply an army. It has been said that Napoleon was successful because he knew the field position of every one of his guns. He gave careful attention to the nuts and bolts of his operations.
The extreme importance of nuts and bolts was expressed by the Elizabethan poet, George Herbert. He wrote:
For want of a nail, the shoe is lost
For want of a shoe, the horse is lost
For want of a horse, the rider is lost.
Benjamin franklin carried these lines even further. He wrote:
For want of a rider, the battle was lost
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
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This VOA Special Englsih program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Marilyn Christiano. The narrator was Maurice Joyce. I'm Warren Scheer.
这里是VOA慢速英语词语典故节目.
每台机器都由螺母和螺钉连接在一起.如果没有它们,机器会散架.对于一个组织来说也是这样.一个组织的螺母和螺钉(nuts and bolts)是它的基本的,必要的组成部分.它们是使得组织可以正常工作的组分.
在政府,工业和外交中--几乎在所有事情中,那些了解具体细节(nuts and bolts)的人都是最重要的.相对于其他人,成功更加依赖了解细节的人.
在政府中,总统或者首相可能计划或形成某个项目或政策.但是,需要进行更多的工作才能使这些政策得以通过,使计划获得成功.
有许多细节的工作要做,也就是nuts and bolts.这些工作通常交给专家来进行.高级领袖通常都很出名,但是却不是那些做具体工作,细节工作的人.
在国会的日常运营中也是如此.参议院多数派领袖和众议院发言人已经委员会主席一起使国会事务正常进行.
然而,在每个参议员和国会议员背后都有助理人员.这些人进行所有细节的工作,以使国会议员在某个问题上能够进行明智地投票.
在外交方面,部长在谈判中的重要性无可厚非.但是还有一些次要官员针对要协商的不同问题来做基本的准备工作.
在军事行动中,战略决策非常重要.但是更多的时间是花费在细节上--通常叫做后勤--怎样运输和为军队提供补给.据说,拿破仑之所以成功是因为他了解每一支枪的位置.他非常关心行动的细节问题(nuts and bolts).
伊丽莎白女王时代的诗人George Herbert描写了具体细节(nuts and bolts)的重要性.他写道:
For want of a nail, 一只马蹄钉断了,
the shoe is lost. 失往了马蹄鞋.
For want of a shoe, 马蹄鞋没了,
the horse is lost. 倒下了战马.
For want of a horse, 战马倒下了,
the rider is lost. 摔伤了将军.
富兰克林将此表达地更为深刻,他写道:
For want of a rider,将军没了,
the battle was lost.输掉了战争.
For want of a battle,战争输掉了,
the kingdom was lost.最后亡了国家.
And all for the want of a horse shoe nail. 这一切的一切,都是由于一只小小的马蹄钉.
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发表于 2009-12-5 16:03
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