Thoughts：
第六章写到宋英宗治平三年（1066），苏洵病逝，苏东坡兄弟二人依礼居丧期满后，携眷回京，于1069年抵达京都。
此时朝廷已是宋神宗年间（1068年为宋神宗熙宁元年），王安石开始得势。因此，本章节主要集中笔墨介绍王安石其人，其政治理念，其变法纲要，及最终的变法失败。
说实话，上一次听到王安石变法，应该要追溯到高中的历史课了吧。而读书期间的我对历史向来不感冒，因为那么多的年份事件，起因经过结果意义，寥寥数笔读来总是枯燥乏味，不愿细读。
然而今日读林语堂先生的文字，他笔下的人物个个性格鲜明，趣味十足。虽名为《苏东坡传》，却不局限于只写苏轼一人，而是围绕着他，将整个宋朝数代相关的所有人事物及社会习俗，都一一铺陈开来写，其中更是不乏一些稗官野史趣谈，让人读来兴味十足。
我有预感，这本《苏东坡传》会是那一棵独特的树，引领着我去一步步深入整个宋朝的大森林之中。不言而喻，读完第七章后，我对王安石这个人也产生了莫大的兴趣，还有前面提到的欧阳修，这位能 “一语定乾坤”，影响宋朝才子前途的人物……
古人诚有意思也~
Words and Expressions:
This was the last of China’s experiments in state capitalism, though by no means the first.
by no means, 表示 “绝不…”，used as a way of emphasizing a negative statement；也可表达为：not by any means = not by any manner of means；
例句：It's difficult, but by no means impossible.
例句：I was not happy about the arrangements by any means, but I agreed to do it.
例句：This issue has not been resolved yet by any manner of means.
反义表达：by all means，表示 “无论如何，用尽一切办法”， used for politely agreeing with someone, giving permission, or saying ‘yes’.
例句：“Do you mind if I invite a few friends?”、“By all means.”
Wang Anshih bided his time.
bide one's time，表示 “等待时机”，to wait calmly for a good opportunity to do something;
例句：He is biding his time [=waiting for the right opportunity] before asking his parents for a loan.
例句：People with great wisdom can always afford to bide their time.
Is he really ill, or is he fishing for a better post？
fish for (sth)，表示 “搜寻获取…” to ask for or try to get (sth, such as praise or attention) in an indirect way，如：fish for compliments - 沽名钓誉.
例句：It’s sickening the way he’s always fishing for compliments.
这个句子出现在文中，王安石曾多次拒绝皇帝的任命，到宋神宗继位，擢其翰林之位，王安石欣然拜受，却因病延迟进京。故而宋神宗在这里怀疑，王安石是不是故意称病，想以此为饵 “钓” 个更好的职位。
和 fish 有关的还有一句习语：a big fish in a small pond，表示 “大材小用“，someone who is important or powerful only because there are not many other people competing with them; 这句话与前面文中的 a big frog in a little puddle 有异曲同工之意。
When serving as a magistrate in an outlying district, Wang Anshih was the big frog in a little puddle.
文章里说到宋仁宗在位期间，国家太平，俊才遍地，而王安石三番几次谢绝朝廷的高位，宁愿待在偏远外县，以他的性情脾性，必是有 “宁为鸡头，不做凤尾” 之深意，所以才坐以待时，宁可暂做 “小池塘里的大青蛙”。
Sentence:
I should advise you to make the best use of the year of your youth and apply yourself to studies. [少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲]
There is nothing to somebody except his fine looks. [除了长相，别无所长]
After reading the long memorandum, Emperor Jentsung laid it aside and let it sleep. [置之高阁]
The young emperor was ready to go through fire and water to carry through this man’s political doctrines. [赴汤蹈火]
He began to sweep the whole governmental household with a wide new broom. [大刀阔斧]
Without being an economist, one is safe to accept the general thesis that the two factors in a nation’s wealth are production and distribution. [尽可放心接受...观点]
Without going too much into the details of the various reforms, we may give a brief summary of these measures. [无须深究细节，抓个大概脉络]
It was inevitable that the government and the businessmen would be treading on each other’s toes. [相互掣肘]
There was a great discrepancy between official intentions and actual practice. [本意与实际情况大相径庭]
Actions speak louder than words. [行胜于言]
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