VOA朗读:Words and Their Stories: Nuts and Bolts 螺栓和螺帽

 

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.

每台机器都是由螺帽和螺栓所连接在一起的。如果少了他们，机器就会分散开来。这也适用于一个组织。螺帽和螺栓就是最基本，必须的元素。是他们使组织可以运作下去。

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.

在政府，制造业，外交部和几乎所有的地方，都了解这些螺帽和螺栓才是最重要的。比起其他任何事物，成功更多的是依赖这些具体的细节。

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.

在政府的总统或者是首相制定和决定方案和政策。但是这要做大量的工作使这些决策通过并得以成功。

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.

这需要做出大量的细节工作。这些工作通常交予一些专家手里处理。高级领导人都是有名的，但不是他们来完成这些细节工作。

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.

在国会日常运转中也是如此。参议会的多数派领导人，众议院的发言人连同国会委员会主席一起保持国会事务运行。

Behind every Senator and Congressman, however, are assistants. These people do all the detailed work to prepare congressmen to vote wisely on each issue.

每一位参议员和国会议员背后都有助手们。这些助手们要为议员们对每个议题的明智投票做好细节准备工作。

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.

在外交上，首席部长无疑是谈判中的重要人物。但那些手下官员们要对谈判的各种议题做好基本准备工作。

A recent book, tells of a British Prime Minister who decided to send an ambassador to Washington to learn if details could be worked out for joint action on an issue. "The talks in Washington," the minister said, "would be of nuts and bolts." he meant of course, the talks would concern all the necessary elements to make joint action successful.

最近一本书中讲述了一位英国首相决定派出一位大使到华盛顿，去了解对于某项议题的两国合作的细节是否可以解决。这位首相说到，“在华盛顿的这次谈话，将会是细节的对话。” 他的意思当然是，对话将会关注所有使联合合作能做成功的所有必要细节。

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.

在军事活动中，战略决策是重要的。但是更多的时间是花在螺帽和螺栓上-通常所说的后勤部-怎样运送和供给一个军队。据说，拿破仑成功之处在于他知道他的每个士兵的野外位置。对于他的行动中的细节他给予了仔细关注。

The extreme importance of nuts and bolts was expressed by the Elizabethan poet, George Herbert. He wrote:

伊丽莎白时期的私人，乔治。赫伯特表达了细节中的至关重要性。他写道：

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.

因缺乏掌钉，蹄铁就掉了。因缺乏蹄铁，马就丧失了作用。因缺乏马匹，骑兵就失去了作用。

Benjamin franklin carried these lines even further. He wrote:

本杰明。法兰克林对这么语句接了下去。他写道：

For want of a rider, the battle was lost

For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost

因缺乏骑兵，就输掉了战役。因输掉了战役，国家就毁灭了。

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. 所有缺乏的只是一个马蹄铁钉子。

(MUSIC)

***译文来自网络***