Chapter2

1. In his early twenties, as ambitious as most other young men at such an age.

很有感触，二十多岁的年纪，觉得生活一往无前，雄心壮志，但实际只不过是平凡的不能更平凡的个体了。

2.He had no private means and no family connections of any importance.

想起了之前金世佳说的，他三十多岁，独居北京，没车没房没存款，大部分人可能都是这样的，家里没矿，手上没钱。

3.At forty， he was rooted, settled, and quite happy. A decent career,decently closed.

生于斯，长于斯，死于斯。

4.He was not, despite his long years of assiduous teaching, a very profound classical scholar.

哎更惨了，勤勉一生，未功成名就，而且想到后文他一个人手忙脚乱地调茶，又有丧妻之痛，简直了。

at any rate：无论如何，至少