Books that have become classics - books that have had their day and now get more praise than perusal - always remind me of retired colonels and majors and captains who, having reached the age limit, find themselves retired on half pay.
那些已经成为经典的书——那些曾经风光一时的书，现在得到的赞誉多于细细品味的书——总是让我想起退休的上校、少校和上尉，他们到了退休的年龄，却发现自己只拿着一半的薪水。