從前，有一個自力更生的燒炭工人獨自在家工作。碰巧，一個漂洗工搬至隔壁，與他成了鄰居。結識漂洗工後，燒炭工人經過了解發現，這個鄰居將是一個很好的合作夥伴，就問漂洗工願不願意搬到他的鋪子裡一起工作。“那樣我們會變得更加親密，”燒炭工人說，“不僅如此，我們還可以節省生活開銷呢。”漂洗工卻謝絕了他，回答說：“我可不這樣看，先生，因為不管我把衣服漂洗得多麽白，都會立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”

 

【燒炭工和漂洗工寓言寓意】

　　這篇伊索寓言告訴了我們，每一個人都有每一個人的生活，做為朋友，自己內心知道朋友對自己的好，但是不要去強迫和占有你朋友的生活，要理解朋友。

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                                          THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER

　　

    There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighborhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: “We shall get to know one another better that way,” he said, “and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished.” The Fuller thanked him, but replied, “I couldn’t think of it,sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal.”