如今，从事体力劳动的人往往比在办公室工作的人挣更多的钱。
These days, people who do manual work often receive far more money than people who work in offices.
在办公室工作的人通常被称为"白领工人"，原因很简单，因为他们上班时通常会系领带、穿有领子的衬衫。
People who work in offices are frequently referred to as 'white-collar workers' for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to work.
人性就是如此，许多人往往愿意为了成为白领工人这一特权而放弃更高的薪酬。
Such is human nature, that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white-collar workers.
这种心理可以引发一些奇特的情形，就像阿尔弗雷德·布洛格斯的情况那样——他曾在埃尔斯米尔市政公司担任垃圾清洁工。
This can give rise to curious situations, as it did in the case of Alfred Bloggs who worked as a dustman for the Ellesmere Corporation.
当他结婚时，阿尔夫太过尴尬，以至于无法向妻子透露任何关于自己工作的事。
When he got married, Alf was too embarrassed to say anything to his wife about his job.
他只是告诉她，他在那家公司工作。
He simply told her that he worked for the Corporation.
每天早晨，他都穿着一套笔挺的黑色西装离开家。
Every morning, he left home dressed in a smart black suit.
然后他换上工作服，以垃圾清洁工的身份度过接下来的八个小时。
He then changed into overalls and spent the next eight hours as a dustman.
在夜晚回家之前，他冲了个澡，并换回了他的西装。
Before returning home at night, he took a shower and changed back into his suit.
阿尔夫就这样坚持了两年多，他的垃圾清洁工同事们也为他保守了秘密。
Alf did this for over two years and his fellow dustmen kept his secret.
阿尔夫的妻子从来没有发现自己嫁了一个垃圾清洁工，今后也永远不会发现了，因为阿尔夫刚刚找到了另一份工作。
Alf's wife has never discovered that she married a dustman and she never will, for Alf has just found another job.
他很快就会在办公室里工作了。
He will soon be working in an office.
他挣到的钱只有以前的一半，但他觉得地位的提升完全值得这份收入上的损失。
He will be earning only half as much as he used to, but he feels that his rise in status is well worth the loss of money.
从今以后，他将整天穿着西装，别人也会称呼他"布洛格斯先生"，而不再是"阿尔夫"了。
From now on, he will wear a suit all day and others will call him 'Mr. Bloggs', not 'Alf'.