Even though sharpening the axe before chopping down a tree takes you sometime, the speed and efficiency of it will be improved a lot, and you will spend less time cutting down the same tree.

在砍到一棵树前，去磨斧头，即使会花一点时间，砍伐的速度和效率会提高很多，但是你会花更少的时间，减少花在同一棵树上的时间。

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Several times at public executions in 1698 and 1699, he brushed the executioner away, grabbed the axe and did the dirty work himself, chopping off a head or two.

在1698年和1699年的数次公开行刑里,他轰走了刽子手,抄起斧子亲自动手,手刃了几个囚犯

耶鲁公开课 - 欧洲文明课程节选