What does this sentence mean? (from Abraham Lincoln's letter):

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faizankhan666@hotmail.com - 19 Dec 2006 16:11 GMT

Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
green hill."

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Leszek L. - 22 Dec 2006 13:17 GMT

> Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
> eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
> green hill."

It means what it says. Which part do you find hard to understand?

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Philip Baker - 24 Dec 2006 00:36 GMT

>> Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
>> eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
>> green hill."
>
>It means what it says. Which part do you find hard to understand?

Astronomy tells us that it is very unlikely for there to be any bees in
the sun.

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Philip Baker

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John Ramsay - 24 Dec 2006 01:28 GMT

>>> Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
>>> eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Astronomy tells us that it is very unlikely for there to be any bees in
> the sun.

Bees in the sun means in the sunlight.

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Philip Baker - 25 Dec 2006 01:02 GMT

>>>> Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
>>>> eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>Bees in the sun means in the sunlight.

Yes, in English; but perhaps 'bees in the sun' translated literally into
the OP's main language can have no such meaning.

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Philip Baker

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John Ramsay - 25 Dec 2006 00:43 GMT

>>>>> Teach him the wonder of books, give him quiet time to ponder the
>>>>> eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Yes, in English; but perhaps 'bees in the sun' translated literally into
> the OP's main language can have no such meaning.

Check an English dictionary. 'Sun' is defined as 'sunlight'.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / December 2006

What does this sentence mean? (from Abraham Lincoln's letter):