从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结识漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解發现，这个邻居将是一个很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子裡一起工作。“那样我们会变得更加亲密，”烧炭工人说，“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢。”漂洗工却谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我把衣服漂洗得多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”

 

【烧炭工和漂洗工寓言寓意】

　　这篇伊索寓言告诉了我们，每一个人都有每一个人的生活，做为朋友，自己内心知道朋友对自己的好，但是不要去强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.”