名人一瞥‖（一）许国璋 A Glimpse of Celebrities︱(1)Xu Guozhang

Starting from this issue, we will launch the column of "A Glimpse of Celebrities", mainly introducing famous figures in the field of English, such as translators, writers, professors, etc., including their works, growth experiences, and interesting stories.

This issue introduces the English expert Xu Guozhang.

Xu Guozhang 1915 - 1994 , born in Haining, Zhejiang Province. He was a Chinese educator and linguist, and a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University. After he compiled " English by Xu Guozhang " and it was published in 1963, it became popular for over 30 years. I myself was also a beneficiary of this series of books. Xu Guozhang's name has become synonymous with "English", and it is widely known. Xu Guozhang was rigorous in his research, had advanced academic thoughts, and was very inclusive in dealing with things. He was also sincere and simple in treating others. Here are two anecdotes about Xu Guozhang, which are quite amusing and reveal his personality.

Once, at the school gate of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Xu Guozhang had a wonderful conversation with a leatherworker who was setting up a stall. This also demonstrated what true great manliness is. The leatherworker heard of Xu Guozhang's name but thought that a university professor wouldn't earn as much as himself from doing business. So, he playfully asked him, "You, Mr. Xu, are a well-known professor, but your monthly salary is less than my income in just a few days. What do you think about this?"

After hearing this, Xu Guozhang didn't get angry at all. Instead, he replied very wisely, "We all live by our own labor. There is no essential difference. If there has to be a difference, it would only be in the aesthetic objects. When you strike a hammer and it hits precisely and firmly, you gain a sense of beauty. When I read and write and get a good sentence, I can be happy for several days. When you and I are fully concentrated on our own work, we are both seeking the aesthetic enjoyment brought by success."

In Xu Guozhang's eyes, whether one is a university professor or a street vendor, they all obtain their gains through labor. There is no distinction of high or low, noble or humble. And the sense of achievement from work is not distinguished by how much money one earns, but by the aesthetic enjoyment one gains from it, which is what makes him so passionate about knowledge and education. If one only thinks about the amount of money, then his salary as a professor would be even lower than that of a business owner, and how could there be happiness?

Whether it is studying, working, or immigrating, people who go abroad will always bring this most suitable English textbook for adults to learn by themselves. Once, Xu Guozhang gave a lecture in Europe and had a meal at a Chinese restaurant in Luxembourg. The owner of the restaurant, upon hearing that the person dining with him was Xu Guozhang, came forward and shouted "Teacher", but Xu Guozhang couldn't figure out why: "I don't remember having a student like you."

The owner explained, "Not only me, but all the people in our restaurant learned English from ' English by Xu Guozhang '. Why aren't you our teacher?" After hearing this, Xu Guozhang burst out laughing.

从本期开始，开辟“名人一瞥”栏目，主要介绍英语方面的翻译家、作家、教授等名人，包括他们的作品、成长经历以及有趣的故事等。

本期介绍英语专家许国璋。

许国璋（1915年—1994年），浙江海宁人。中国英语教育家、语言学家，北京外国语大学教授。他编写的《许国璋英语》1963年出版后，风行了30多年，而我本人也是这套书的受益者。许国璋的名字与“英语”成了同义语，已经家喻户晓。许老治学严谨，学术思想超前，对待事物也很包容，待人真诚朴实。以下是两则许老轶事，读来颇有风趣，可见许老为人。

有一次，在北外校门口，许国璋和一位摆地摊的皮匠师傅发生了一次精彩的对话，也彰显出了什么是真正的大家风范。皮匠师傅听说了许国璋的大名，但觉得大学教授不如自己做生意赚的钱多，于是大打趣地问他说：“您许老是无人不知的名教授，但一个月的工资还不及我两三天的收入，您有何感想呢？”

许国璋听了以后一点都没有生气，而是非常睿智地回答，我们都是靠自己的劳动生活，没有什么本质上的区别，如果一定要说有什么差别，那也只是审美对象不同而已：“你一锤子下去，砸得准，打得牢，便获得一种美感。我读书写文章，得一佳句，也能高兴好几天。真正全神贯注工作的时候，你和我追求的都是成功所带来的美学上的享受。”

在许国璋眼里，不管是大学教授，还是地摊老板，都是靠劳动得到收获，没有什么高低贵贱之分，而工作的成就感也不是靠钱多钱少来区分的，而是靠从中获得的美感来带给自己心灵上的享受，这才是他这么热爱知识、热爱教育的原因。如果一心想着钱的多少，那他当教授的工资还不如做生意的老板，快乐又从何谈起呢？

不管是求学、工作还是移民，出国的人身边都会带上《许国璋英语》这本最适合成年人自学的英语教材。有一次，许国璋到欧洲讲学，在卢森堡的中餐馆用餐，老板一听说来自己餐厅吃饭的人是许国璋，迎上前去就喊“老师”，许国璋却百思不得其解：“我并不记得有你这样一个学生啊？”

老板解释道：“不只我一个人，我们饭店所有人的英语都是从《许国璋英语》学来的，您怎么不是我们的老师呢？”

许国璋听完后，才爽朗地大笑了起来。