核心问题
（A）No man is born wise.
(B) Not a man but had tears in his eyes.
请问 no man 与 not a man 有无区别?
词典解答
no + 可数名词单数与 not a(或 not one) + 可数名词单数, 其基本含义是相同的, 因此, 常常是可以互换的。但是, not a(not one) + N 有时候比 no + N 的语气要强的多。请对比下列实例:
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Time and tide wait for no man. (Prov) 岁月不等人。
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Not a soul was to be seen. (Mansfield) 连一个人影也看不到。
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It was a declaration of rights, not a guarantee of rights. (Hazen) 这是一个权利宣言，而不是权利保障。
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Although autumn was well advanced, not a leaf had fallen from the trees. (Mansfield) 虽然已是深秋，但是树上却没有掉下一片叶子。
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Not a word would he say. (CGEL) 他--句话也不愿说。
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Not one bottle did we leave behind. (CGEL) 我们一个瓶子也没有留下。