Gold

Now, the VOA Special English

program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

Throughout history,

gold has been a sign of purity,

beauty and power.

Calling something golden means

it has great quality and value.

For example, the golden rule

is possibly the world's

most widespread moral rule.

It says people should treat others

the way they themselves

would like to be treated.

Every major religion

has its own version of this idea.

The golden ratio is found in art,

architecture and nature.

It describes a rectangle

with a length about one

and one-half times its width.

Objects using this ratio

in their design seem

to please the eye more than others.

Philosophers have

their own golden idea.

The golden mean says

moderation in all things

is the best way to live one's life.

It is an idea linked

to the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

Similar thoughts exist

in Buddhism and Confucianism.

Ancient Greek myths told of

a time long ago when people lived

in peace and happiness.

Poets called it the Golden Age.

A golden age now describes

a historical period of great artistic,

scientific or economic progress.

It can even recall a time of success

and popularity for an industry.

For example, the nineteen thirties

and forties were called

the Golden Age of Radio.

You may have heard the proverb

silence is golden.

This means silence is of great value.

It is sometimes better

to say nothing than to speak.

You might say your child was good

as gold when he behaved well at school.

British writer Charles Dickens

used this expression

in eighteen forty-three.

He was describing the child Tiny Tim

in the book "A Christmas Carol."

In nineteen thirty-seven,

American playwright Clifford Odets

wrote a play called "The Golden Boy."

This expression describes

a young man who has many

good qualities and a bright future.

You might tell someone you are golden

when that person does something very well.

Gold digger is another description.

But this does not say

something nice about a person.

A gold digger is someone

who seeks to marry a rich person

because he or she is only interested

in that person's money.

Maybe you like old songs

from the nineteen fifties or sixties

that are still well known and popular today.

These are called golden oldies.

In the nineteen eighties and nineties,

an American television comedy series

told about four older women

living in Miami, Florida.

The Golden Girls often dealt

with social issues in a funny way.

Today, most older people look forward

to reaching their golden years.

This is when hard-working people

can retire to a life of ease and fulfillment.

(MUSIC)

This program was written by Mario Ritter.

I'm Faith Lapidus.