The Ways of Men
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CHAPTER 18—What is “Art”?

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 In former years, we inquiring youngsters in foreign studios were much bewildered by the repetition of a certain phrase.  Discussion of almost any picture or statue was (after other forms of criticism had been exhausted) pretty sure to conclude with, “It’s all very well in its way, but it’s not Art.”  Not only foolish youths but the “masters” themselves constantly advanced this opinion to crush a rival or belittle1 a friend.  To ardent2 minds seeking for the light and catching3 at every thread that might serve as a guide out of perplexity, this vague assertion was confusing.  According to one master, the eighteenth-century “school” did not exist.  What had been produced at that time was pleasing enough to the eye, but “was not Art!”  In the opinion of another, Italian music might amuse or cheer the ignorant, but could not be recognized by serious musicians.
 
As most of us were living far from home and friends for the purpose of acquiring the rudiments4 of art, this continual sweeping5 away of our foundations was discouraging.  What was the use, we sometimes asked ourselves, of toiling6, if our work was to be cast contemptuously aside by the next “school” as a pleasing trifle, not for a moment to be taken seriously?  How was one to find out the truth?  Who was to decide when doctors disagreed?  Where was the rock on which an earnest student might lay his cornerstone without the misgiving7 that the next wave in public opinion would sap its base and cast him and his ideals out again at sea?
 
The eighteenth-century artists and the Italian composers had been sincere and convinced that they were producing works of art.  In our own day the idol8 of one moment becomes the jest of the next.  Was there, then, no

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1 belittle quozZ     
v.轻视，小看，贬低
参考例句：
  • Do not belittle what he has achieved.不能小看他取得的成绩。
  • When you belittle others,you are actually the one who appears small.当你轻视他人时， 真正渺小的其实是你自己。
2 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的
参考例句：
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
3 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住
参考例句：
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
4 rudiments GjBzbg     
n.基础知识，入门
参考例句：
  • He has just learned the rudiments of Chinese. 他学汉语刚刚入门。
  • You do not seem to know the first rudiments of agriculture. 你似乎连农业上的一点最起码的常识也没有。
5 sweeping ihCzZ4     
adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的
参考例句：
  • The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
  • Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？
6 toiling 9e6f5a89c05478ce0b1205d063d361e5     
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉
参考例句：
  • The fiery orator contrasted the idle rich with the toiling working classes. 这位激昂的演说家把无所事事的富人同终日辛劳的工人阶级进行了对比。
  • She felt like a beetle toiling in the dust. She was filled with repulsion. 她觉得自己像只甲虫在地里挣扎，心中涌满愤恨。
7 misgiving tDbxN     
n.疑虑，担忧，害怕
参考例句：
  • She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.她对自己即将要做的事情存有一些顾虑。
  • The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.正文开头的文字让我们颇为担心。
8 idol Z4zyo     
n.偶像，红人，宠儿
参考例句：
  • As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
  • Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。
9 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
10 lauded b67508c0ca90664fe666700495cd0226     
v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
  • The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句
11 acclaimed 90ebf966469bbbcc8cacff5bee4678fe     
adj.受人欢迎的
参考例句：
  • They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
  • Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。
12 decried 8228a271dcb55838e82261f4e24dc430     
v.公开反对，谴责( decry的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The measures were decried as useless. 这些措施受到指责，说是不起作用。
  • The old poet decried the mediocrity of today's writing. 老诗人抨击了现代文体的平庸无奇。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
13 fleeting k7zyS     
adj.短暂的，飞逝的
参考例句：
  • The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
  • Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。
14 metallic LCuxO     
adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的
参考例句：
  • A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
  • He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。
15 cannon 3T8yc     
n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮
参考例句：
  • The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
  • The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。
16 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的；巨大的
参考例句：
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
17 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论
参考例句：
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 requisite 2W0xu     
adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品
参考例句：
  • He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
  • Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。
19 enquiring 605565cef5dc23091500c2da0cf3eb71     
a.爱打听的，显得好奇的
参考例句：
  • a child with an enquiring mind 有好奇心的孩子
  • Paul darted at her sharp enquiring glances. 她的目光敏锐好奇，保罗飞快地朝她瞥了一眼。
20 meditation yjXyr     
n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录
参考例句：
  • This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。
21 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚，诚意；真实
参考例句：
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
22 adoration wfhyD     
n.爱慕，崇拜
参考例句：
  • He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
  • The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
23 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
24 meditations f4b300324e129a004479aa8f4c41e44a     
默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想
参考例句：
  • Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉，打断你思考问题了。
25 perusing bcaed05acf3fe41c30fcdcb9d74c5abe     
v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字）
参考例句：
  • She found the information while she was perusing a copy of Life magazine. 她在读《生活》杂志的时候看到了这个消息。 来自辞典例句
  • Hence people who began by beholding him ended by perusing him. 所以人们从随便看一看他开始的，都要以仔细捉摸他而终结。 来自辞典例句
26 lucid B8Zz8     
adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的
参考例句：
  • His explanation was lucid and to the point.他的解释扼要易懂。
  • He wasn't very lucid,he didn't quite know where he was.他神志不是很清醒，不太知道自己在哪里。
27 murmurs f21162b146f5e36f998c75eb9af3e2d9     
n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕
参考例句：
  • They spoke in low murmurs. 他们低声说着话。 来自辞典例句
  • They are more superficial, more distinctly heard than murmurs. 它们听起来比心脏杂音更为浅表而清楚。 来自辞典例句
28 humiliation Jd3zW     
n.羞辱
参考例句：
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
29 edifice kqgxv     
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室)
参考例句：
  • The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。
  • There is a huge Victorian edifice in the area.该地区有一幢维多利亚式的庞大建筑物。
30 aphorisms 5291cd1d01d630b01eaeb2f84166ab60     
格言，警句( aphorism的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • He formulated trenchant aphorisms that caught their attention. 他阐述的鲜明格言引起了人们的注意。
  • The aphorisms started following like water as all the old cliches got dusted off. 一些陈词滥调象尘土一样扬起，一些格言警句象洪水一样到处泛滥。
31 paradox pAxys     
n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物)
参考例句：
  • The story contains many levels of paradox.这个故事存在多重悖论。
  • The paradox is that Japan does need serious education reform.矛盾的地方是日本确实需要教育改革。
32 ERECTED ERECTED     
adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立
参考例句：
  • A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
  • A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。
33 pedants e42fd4df25fc5afd8f02677f099d7d48     
n.卖弄学问的人，学究，书呆子( pedant的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Only pedants believe in the advantage of obfuscation. 只有书呆子才相信使人困惑会有好处。 来自辞典例句
  • Those cold-blooded pedants are not insensible. 那些冷血腐儒，都不是没有知觉。 来自辞典例句
34 lettuce C9GzQ     
n.莴苣；生菜
参考例句：
  • Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
  • The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。
35 tempting wgAzd4     
a.诱人的, 吸引人的
参考例句：
  • It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
  • It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。
36 anathema ILMyU     
n.诅咒；被诅咒的人(物)，十分讨厌的人(物)
参考例句：
  • Independence for the Kurds is anathema to Turkey and Iran.库尔德人的独立对土耳其和伊朗来说将是一场梦魇。
  • Her views are ( an ) anathema to me.她的观点真叫我讨厌。
37 initiated 9cd5622f36ab9090359c3cf3ca4ddda3     
n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入
参考例句：
  • He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
  • The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。
38 expound hhOz7     
v.详述；解释；阐述
参考例句：
  • Why not get a diviner to expound my dream?为什么不去叫一个占卜者来解释我的梦呢？
  • The speaker has an hour to expound his views to the public.讲演者有1小时时间向公众阐明他的观点。
39 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
40 predecessor qP9x0     
n.前辈，前任
参考例句：
  • It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
  • The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
41 gentry Ygqxe     
n.绅士阶级，上层阶级
参考例句：
  • Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
  • Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。
42 acolytes 2d95a6b207a08c631dcce3cfc11c730b     
n.助手( acolyte的名词复数 )；随从；新手；（天主教）侍祭
参考例句：
  • To his acolytes, he is known simply as 'the Boss'. 他被手下人简称为“老板”。 来自辞典例句
  • Many of the acolytes have been in hiding amongst the populace. 许多寺僧都隐藏在平民当中。 来自互联网
43 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
44 brotherhood 1xfz3o     
n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊
参考例句：
  • They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
  • They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。
45 toad oJezr     
n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆
参考例句：
  • Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
  • Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。
46 belly QyKzLi     
n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛
参考例句：
  • The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
  • His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。
47 judgments 2a483d435ecb48acb69a6f4c4dd1a836     
判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判
参考例句：
  • A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
  • He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。
48 formulate L66yt     
v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述
参考例句：
  • He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
  • I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。
49 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的
参考例句：
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
50 inclination Gkwyj     
n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好
参考例句：
  • She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
  • I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
51 recondite oUCxf     
adj.深奥的，难解的
参考例句：
  • Her poems are modishly experimental in style and recondite in subject-matter.她的诗在风格上是时髦的实验派，主题艰深难懂。
  • To a craftsman,the ancient article with recondite and scholastic words was too abstruse to understand.可是对一个车轮师父而言，这些之乎者也的文言文是太深而难懂的。
52 esteeming 59f0b32f1f0cd65ff54c5412e5666e2d     
v.尊敬( esteem的现在分词 )；敬重；认为；以为
参考例句：
53 decry XnOzV     
v.危难，谴责
参考例句：
  • Some people will decry this,insisting that President Obama should have tried harder to gain bipartisan support.有些人会对此表示谴责，坚持说奥巴马总统原本应该更加努力获得两党的支持。
  • Now you decry him as another Hitler because he is a threat to the controlling interest of oil in the middle east.现在你却因为他对中东石油控制权益构成了威胁而谴责他为另一个希特勒。
54 juggle KaFzL     
v.变戏法，纂改，欺骗，同时做；n.玩杂耍，纂改，花招
参考例句：
  • If you juggle with your accounts,you'll get into trouble.你要是在帐目上做手脚，你可要遇到麻烦了。
  • She had to juggle her job and her children.她得同时兼顾工作和孩子。
55 wholesome Uowyz     
adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的
参考例句：
  • In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。
  • It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。
56 suffocating suffocating     
a.使人窒息的
参考例句：
  • After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.和父母呆了几个星期后，她感到自己毫无自由。
  • That's better. I was suffocating in that cell of a room.这样好些了，我刚才在那个小房间里快闷死了。
57 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
58 withheld f9d7381abd94e53d1fbd8a4e53915ec8     
withhold过去式及过去分词
参考例句：
  • I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
59 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

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