A Pair of Socks

一双袜子

One fine afternoon I was walking along Fifth Avenue, when I remembered that it was necessary to buy a pair of socks. I turned into the first sock shop that caught my eye, and a boy clerk who could not have been more than seventeen years old came forward. “What can I do for you, sir?” “I wish to buy a pair of socks.” His eyes glowed. There was a note of passion in his voice. “Did you know that you had come into the finest place in the world to buy socks?” I had not been aware of that, as my entrance had been accidental. “Come with me,” said the boy, ecstatically. I followed him to the rear of the shop, and he began to haul down from the shelves box after box, displaying their contents for my delectation.

“Hold on, lad, I am going to buy only one pair!” “I know that,” said he, “but I want you to see how marvelously beautiful these are. Aren’t they wonderful?” There was on his face an expression of solemn and holy rapture, as if he were revealing to me the mysteries of his religion. I became far more interested in him than in the socks. I looked at him in amazement. “My friend,” said I, “if you can keep this up, if this is not merely the enthusiasm that comes from novelty, from having a new job, if you can keep up this zeal and excitement day after day, in ten years you will own every sock in the United States.”

My amazement at his pride and joy in salesmanship will be easily understood by all who read this article. In many shops the customer has to wait for someone to wait upon him. And when finally some clerk does deign to notice you, you are made to feel as if you were interrupting him. Either he is absorbed in profound thought in which he hates to be disturbed or he is skylarking with a girl clerk and you feel like apologizing for thrusting yourself into such intimacy.

He displays no interest either in you or in the goods he is paid to sell. Yet possibly that very clerk who is now so apathetic began his career with hope and enthusiasm. The daily grind was too much for him; the novelty wore off; his only pleasures were found outside of working hours. He became a mechanical, not inspired, salesman. After being mechanical, he became incompetent; then he saw younger clerks who had more zest in their work, promoted over him. He became sour. That was the last stage. His usefulness was over.

I have observed this melancholy decline in the lives of so many men in so many occupations that I have come to the conclusion that the surest road to failure is to do things mechanically. There are many teachers in schools and colleges who seem duller than the dullest of their pupils; they go through the motions of teaching, but they are as impersonal as a telephone.

　　一个晴朗的下午,我沿第五大街而行,忽然想起需要买双袜子｡我拐进看到的第一家袜店,一个不到17岁的少年售货员迎上来:“先生,我能为您效劳吗?” “我想买双短袜｡” 他双眸满是热情,声音饱含激情:“您知道您来到了世界上最好的袜店吗?”我倒并未意识到这点,我不过是随便进来的｡ “随我来,”男孩欣喜若狂地说｡我跟着他往里走｡他开始从货架上拽下一个又一个盒子,向我展示里面的袜子,让我欣赏｡

“停一停,孩子,我只买一双!”“我知道,”他说,“但我想让您瞧瞧这些袜子是多么漂亮､令人赞叹!难道它们不棒吗!”他的脸色庄严而虔诚,就像是在向我透露他的信仰中的奥秘似的｡我对他远远超过了对袜子的兴趣｡我吃惊地打量着他｡“我的朋友,” 我说,“如果你能这样保持下去,如果这热情并不仅仅缘于新奇,缘于找到份新工作,如果你能日复一日地保持这种热心和激情,不出十年,全美的每一双袜子都将是从你手中卖出去的｡”

我对他推销时的自豪与欣喜所感到的诧异,读者诸君当不难理解｡在很多店铺,顾客不得不等待有人来招呼｡当终于有个售货员肯屈尊理你,那样子又让你感觉像是打扰了他｡他不是陷于讨厌被人搅扰的深思之中,就是和女售货员嬉戏调笑;而你不适时的插入打断了他们的亲昵,为此你感觉好像需要道歉似的｡

他显示出对你和他拿着工资去卖的东西毫无兴趣｡然而,就是这样一个如此冷漠的售货员,或许当初也是满怀希望和热情开始工作的｡天天枯燥乏味的苦差事令他不堪忍受,新鲜感磨去了,惟一的乐趣只能在工作之外找到｡他成了一个机械的､没有干劲的售货员｡机械呆板之后便是笨拙无能｡随后,看到比他年轻､工作热情比他高的售货员得到了提拔,在他之上,他于是变得烦躁刻薄｡此时便到了他职业生涯的最后阶段｡他不再有用了｡

我观察到,很多职业中的太多人在人生道路上都有这种可悲的堕落｡由此我得出结论:机械地应付差事是离失败最近的路｡大中小学里的许多教师,似乎比他们最最迟钝的学生还要呆滞;他们似乎也搞搞教学,却毫无人的感情,就如同一部电话机｡

智慧都是自己的



Isn't it amazing how one person, sharing one idea, at the right time and place can change the course of your life's history? This is certainly what happened in my life. When I was 14, I was hitchhiking from Houston, Texas, through El Paso on my way to California.

　　如果一个人，在适当的时候和地方因为一句话而改变了他的人生历程，你会感到惊异和不可思议吗？然而这的确是千真万确的，它就发生在我14岁那年。那时，我正在从得克萨斯州的休斯敦，经由爱坡索市前往加利福尼亚州去的旅途中。

I was following my dream, journeying with the sun. I was a high school dropout with learning disabilities and was set on surfing the biggest waves in the world, first in California and then in Hawaii, where I would later live.

　　日出即行，日落即息，痴痴地追寻着我的梦想。我本来在读高中，也许我天生就不是读书的材料，因此我不得不中途辍学。随即我决心要到世界上最大的海浪上去冲浪，先准备到加利福尼亚州，再到夏威夷，然后我准备就在那里住下来。

Upon reaching downtown El Paso, I met an old man, a bum, on the street corner. He saw me walking, stopped me and questioned me as I passed by. He asked me if I was running away from home, I suppose because I looked so young.

　　在刚进入爱坡索市区的时候，我看到有一个老头，一个流浪者，坐在街道的拐角处。他看见了走路的我，当我就要从他的旁边走过去时，他拦住了我，并开口向我发问。他问我是不是偷着从家里跑出来的，我想他这么问我一定是看我太年轻，觉得我太嫩的缘故。

I told him, "Not exactly, sir," since my father had given me a ride to the freeway in Houston and given me his blessings while saying, "It is important to follow your dream and what is in your heart. Son. "

　　“不完全是，先生，因为是我爸爸开车把我送到休斯敦的高速公路上的，他还一边为我祝福，一边说：‘儿子，追寻你的梦想和心中的憧憬非常重要。’”

The bum then asked me if he could buy me a cup of coffee. I told him, "No, sir, but a soda would be great." We walked to a corner malt shop and sat down on a couple of swiveling stools while we enjoyed our drinks.

　　然后那个流浪者问我他能请我喝咖啡吗？我回答说：“不，先生，一杯汽水就可以了。”于是，我们走进街道拐角处的一家酒吧，坐在一双转椅上，喝着饮料。

After conversing for a few minutes, the friendly bum told me to follow him. He told me that he had something grand to show me and share with me. We walked a couple of blocks until we came upon the downtown El Paso Public Library.

　　在闲聊了几分钟后，这个和蔼可亲的老流浪汉要我跟他走。他告诉我说他有一样大东西给我看，要与我分享。我们走过了几个街区，来到了爱坡索市的公立图书馆。

We walked up its front steps and stopped at a small information stand. Here the bum spoke to a smiling old lady, and asked her if she would be kind enough to watch my things for a moment while he and I entered the library. I left my belongings with this grandmotherly figure and entered into this magnificent hall of learning.

　　我们沿着它前面的台阶向上走，在一处小小的咨询台前停了下来。老流浪汉向一位笑容可掬的老太太说了几句话，并问她是否愿意在他和我进图书馆时帮忙照看一下我的行李。我把行李放在那位老奶奶般的人那里，走进了那座宏伟的学习殿堂。

The bum first led me to a table and asked me to sit down and wait for a moment while he looked for something special amongst the shelves. A few moments later, he returned with a couple of old books under his arms and set them on the table.

　　老流浪汉先把我带到一张桌子前，让我坐下来稍等片刻，而他则到那些林立的书架中去寻找那个特别重要的东西去了。不一会儿，他腋下夹着几本旧书回来了。

He then sat down beside me and spoke. He started with a few statements that were very special and that changed my life. He said, "There are two things that I want to teach you, young man, and they are these: "Number one is to never judge a book by its cover, for a cover can fool you. "He followed with, "I ll bet you think I m a bum, don t you, young man?"

　　他把书放到桌子上，然后他在我的身边坐了下来，打开了话匣子，出口便不凡，其话语非常特别，改变了我一生的命运。他说：“年轻人，我想教你两件事，就是：第一是切记不要从封面来判断一本书的好坏，因为封面有时也会蒙骗你。”他接着说道：“我敢打赌，你一定认为我是个老流浪汉，是不是？年轻人。”

I said, "Well, uh, yes, I guess so, sir. "

　　我说：“嗯，是的，先生，我想是的。”

"Well, young man, I've got a little surprise for you. I am one of the wealthiest men in the world. I have probably everything any man could ever want. I originally come from the Northeast and have all the things that money can buy. But a year ago, my wife passed away, bless her soul, and since then I have been deeply reflecting upon life.

　　“嗯，年轻人，我要给你一个小惊喜：其实我是这个世界上最富有的人之一，人们梦寐以求的任何东西我几乎都有。我最初从美国东北部来，凡是金钱能买到的东西，我全都有。但是一年前，我妻子死了，愿上帝保祐她的在天之灵，从那以后，我开始深深地反思人生的意义。

I realized there were certain things I had not yet experienced in life, one of which was what it would be like to live like a bum on the streets. I made a commitment to myself to do exactly that for one year. For the past year I have been going from city to city doing just that. So, you see, don't ever judge a book by its cover, for a cover can fool you.

　　我意识到，生活中有些东西我还没有体验过，其中之一就是做一个沿街乞讨的流浪汉滋味如何。于是我对自己发誓要像流浪汉一样活一年。在过去的一年里，我从一个城市流浪到另一个城市，就像流浪汉一样生活。所以，你看，切记不要从封面来判断一本书的好坏，因为封面有时也会蒙骗你。”

"Number two is to learn how to read, my boy. For there is only one thing that people can't take away from you, and that is your wisdom. " At that moment, he reached forward, grabbed my right hand in his and put them upon the books he'd pulled from the shelves. They were the writings of Plato and Aristotle-immortal classics from ancient times.

　　“第二，我的孩子，是要学会如何读书。因为这个世界上只有一种东西是别人无法从你的身上拿走的，那，就是你的智慧！”说到这，他俯身向着我，抓住我的右手放在他从书架中找到的书上。那是柏拉图和亚里士多德的著作--尚古以降已经流传了几千年的不朽的经典。

A Place to Stand

一个人的空间



Those who wish to sing always find a song. — Swedish proverb

　　If you have ever gone through a toll booth, you know that your relationship to the person in the booth is not the most intimate you’ll ever have. It is one of life’s frequent non-encounters: You hand over some money; you might get change; you drive off. I have been through every one of the 17 toll booths on the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge on thousands of occasions, and never had an exchange worth remembering with anybody.

　　Late one morning in 1984, headed for lunch in San Francisco, I drove toward one of the booths. I heard loud music. It sounded like a party, or a Michael Jackson concert. I looked around. No other cars with their windows open. No sound trucks. I looked at the toll booth. Inside it, the man was dancing.

　　“What are you doing?” I asked.

　　“I’m having a party,” he said.

　　“What about the rest of these people?” I looked over at other booths; nothing moving there.

　　“They’re not invited.”

　　I had a dozen other questions for him, but somebody in a big hurry to get somewhere started punching his horn behind me and I drove off. But I made a note to myself: Find this guy again. There’s something in his eye that says there’s magic in his toll booth.

　　Months later I did find him again, still with the loud music, still having a party.

　　Again I asked, “What are you doing?”

　　He said, “I remember you from the last time. I’m still dancing. I’m having the same party.”

　　I said, “Look. What about the rest of the people”

　　He said. “Stop. What do those look like to you?” He pointed down the row of toll booths.

　　“They look like tool booths.”

　　“Nooooo imagination!’

　　I said, “Okay, I give up. What do they look like to you?”

　　He said, “Vertical coffins.”

　　“What are you talking about?”

　　“I can prove it. At 8:30 every morning, live people get in. Then they die for eight hours. At 4:30, like Lazarus from the dead, they reemerge and go home. For eight hours, brain is on hold, dead on the job. Going through the motions.”

　　I was amazed. This guy had developed a philosophy, a mythology about his job. I could not help asking the next question: “Why is it different for you? You’re having a good time.”

　　He looked at me. “I knew you were going to ask that, “ he said. “I’m going to be a dancer someday.” He pointed to the administration building. “My bosses are in there, and they’re paying for my training.”

　　Sixteen people dead on the job, and the seventeenth, in precisely the same situation, figures out a way to live. That man was having a party where you and I would probably not last three days. The boredom! He and I did have lunch later, and he said, “I don’t understand why anybody would think my job is boring. I have a corner office, glass on all sides. I can see the Golden Gate, San Francisco, the Berkeley hills; half the Western world vacations here and I just stroll in every day and practice dancing.”



　　



如果你仔细观察一个收费亭，你就会知道你与亭子里的这个人关系不是最亲密的，这是生命中常常出现的非偶遇者。你递给他一些钱，或许他还要找你些零钱，然后你开车走了。我仔细观察过17家收费亭，并在奥克兰-旧金山海湾大桥千百次路过，却没有一次找钱值得我记起某个人。

　　1984年的一个上午，很晚了，我驱车去旧金山吃午饭，开到一个收费亭旁边，我听到很响的音乐声。听起来好像在开舞会，或是迈克尔•杰克逊的音乐会。我朝四周看了看。别的汽车没有打开窗户的，也没有宣传车。我朝收费亭里望去，有个人在里边跳舞。

　　“你在干吗？”我问。

　　“我在开舞会呢，”他说。

　　“那其他人呢？”我看了看其他的亭子，没什么动静。

　　“我没邀请他们。”

　　我还有十几个问题要问他，但我后面的人急着要去某地，开始按喇叭，我只好开走了。但我在心里告诉自己：还要再找这个人。他眼里有某种东西，告诉我在他的收费亭里一种魔力。

　　几个月后我又见到了他，音乐仍然很响，舞会还在举行。

　　我再次问他：“你在做什么呢？”

　　他说：“我记得你上次问过了。我还在跳舞，还在举行同样的舞会。”

　　我说：“瞧，其他人呢？”

　　“打住。”他说，“你看那些东西像什么呢？”他指着那排收费亭。

　　“看来就像收费亭啊。”

　　“真是没有想象力！”

　　我说；“那好，我放弃。你看它们像什么呢？”

　　他说：“直立的棺材。”

　　“你在说些什么呀？”

　　“我可以证实。每早八点半，活的人进去。然后他们死亡八个小时。下午四点半，就像死人中的拉撒路，他们复活回到家中。整整八个小时，头脑思维中断，他们只是呆板地工作，重复着相同的动作。”

　　我感到非常惊异。这个小伙子发展了一种哲学，创造了一个有关工作的神话。我禁不住又问了一个问题：“为什么你不一样？你过得很快乐。”

　　他看了看我：“我就知道你会问这个，”他接着说，“总有一天我会成为一个舞蹈家。”我指向行政机关大楼：“我的老板都在那里，他们花钱为我培训。”

　　十六个人呆板地做着工作，而第十七个，几乎处于同样的情况，却找到另外一种生活方式。那个人在举办的舞会，你我恐怕连三天都坚持不了。无聊！他和我后来确实一起吃过午饭，他说：“我不理解为何每个人都认为我的工作很枯燥。我有一个街角办公室，四周都是玻璃。我可以看见金门海峡、旧金山和伯克利山，半个西方世界都在这儿度假，每天我只是漫步到这里，练习跳舞。”

很喜欢这些美文，真的。可是我不懂英文。！

快唤醒你的生活



Years ago, when I started looking for my first job, wise advisers urged, "Barbara, be enthusiastic! Enthusiasm will take you further than any amount of experience."

How right they were. Enthusiastic people can turn a boring drive into an adventure, extra work into opportunity and strangers into friends.

　　多年前， 当我第一次找工作时， 不少明智之士强烈向我建议：“巴巴拉，要有热情！热情比任何经验都更有益。”这话多么正确，热情的人可以把沉闷的车程变成探险， 把加班变成机会， 把生人变成朋友。

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is the paste that helps you hang in there when the going gets tough. It is the inner voice that whispers, "I can do it!" when others shout, "No, you can't."

　　“没有热情就不会有任何伟大的成就，” 拉尔夫-沃尔多-爱默生写道当事情进展不顺时，热情是帮助你坚持下去的粘合剂当别人叫喊“你不行”时， 热情是你内心发出的声音：“我能行”。

It took years and years for the early work of Barbara McClintock, a geneticist who won the 1983 Nobel Prize in medicine, to be generally accepted. Yet she didn't let up on her experiments. Work was such a deep pleasure for her that she never thought of stopping.

　　1983年诺贝尔医学奖的获得者遗传学家巴巴拉-麦克林托克早年的工作直到很多年后才被公众所承认但她并没有放弃实验工作对她来说是一种如此巨大的快乐， 她从未想过要停止它。

We are all born with wide-eyed, enthusiastic wonder as anyone knows who has ever seen an infant's delight at the jingle of keys or the scurrying of a beetle.

It is this childlike wonder that gives enthusiastic people such a youthful air, whatever their age.

　　我们都生来好奇, 睁大眼睛，满怀热情——每一个看到过婴儿听到钥匙声或看见乱爬的甲虫就兴奋不已的人都会明白这一点。

At 90, cellist Pablo Casals would start his day by playing Bach. As the music flowed through his fingers, his stooped shoulders would straighten and joy would reappear in his eyes. Music, for Casals, was an elixir that made life a never ending adventure. As author and poet Samuel Ullman once wrote, "Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul."

　　正是这种孩子气的好奇给了热情的人们（不论年龄大小） 一种青春的气息大提琴家帕布罗-卡萨尔斯在90岁时还坚持以拉巴赫开始他的每一天音乐从他的指间流出， 他弯着的背挺直起来， 欢乐再度溢满他的眼眸音乐对卡萨尔斯来说, 是使人生变成无止境的探索之旅的灵丹妙药就像作家兼诗人塞缪尔-厄尔曼曾写过的：“岁月使皮肤起了皱纹， 但如果失去热情， 便会使灵魂起皱纹”。

How do you rediscover the enthusiasm of your childhood? The answer, I believe, lies in the word itself. "Enthusiasm" comes from the Greek and means "God within." And what is God within is but an abiding sense of love -- proper love of self (self-acceptance) and, from that, love of others.

　　怎样才能找回孩提时代的热情呢？我相信答案就在“热情”这个词本身“热情”一词源于希腊语， 原意是“内在的上帝”这里所说的“内在的上帝”不是别的, 而是一种持久不变的爱——恰当的自爱（自我接受）， 并推而及于他人。

Enthusiastic people also love what they do, regardless of money or title or power. If we cannot do what we love as a full-time career, we can as a part-time avocation, like the head of state who paints, the nun who runs marathons, the executive who handcrafts furniture.

　　热情的人们同样热爱他们所做的事，而不是考虑钱位权如果我们不能把热爱的事作为正式职业， 我们也可把它当作业余消遣：比如有国鲜花首喜欢画画的， 有修女参加马拉松长跑的， 有行政官员手工制作家具的。

Elizabeth Layton of Wellsville, Kan, was 68 before she began to draw. This activity ended bouts of depression that had plagued her for at least 30 years, and the quality of her work led one critic to say, "I am tempted to call Layton a genius." Elizabeth has rediscovered her enthusiasm.

　　堪萨斯州韦尔斯维尔市的伊丽莎白-莱顿到68岁才开始画画这一爱好消除了曾纠缠她至少达30年之久的忧郁症而她的作品水准之高使得一个评论家说：“我忍不住要称莱顿为天才”伊丽莎白又找回了她的热情。

We can't afford to waste tears on "might-have-beens." We need to turn the tears into sweat as we go after "what-can-be."

　　我们不应该把眼泪浪费在“早该”之类的后悔上我们需要把眼泪化为汗水，去追求“可能”之物。

We need to live each moment wholeheartedly, with all our senses -- finding pleasure in the fragrance of a back-yard garden, the crayoned picture of a six-year-old, the enchanting beauty of a rainbow. It is such enthusiastic love of life that puts a sparkle in our eyes, a lilt in our steps and smooths the wrinkles from our souls.

　　我们需要以全副身心去度过生命中的每一分钟——在后花园的芬芳中在6岁小孩的蜡笔画中在彩虹醉人的美中找到快乐正是这种对生活的热爱， 让我们双目有神，让我们步履矫健，让我们灵魂的皱纹展平。

The Goodness of Life

　By Ralph Marston

　　

生命的美好

Though there is much to be concerned about, there is far, far more for which to be thankful. Though life’s goodness can at times be overshadowed, it is never outweighed.

尽管有很多事让人忧虑，但相比而言，值得感激的事情要多得多。尽管生命的美好有时被蒙上阴影，但它却永远不会被埋没。

For every single act that is senselessly destructive, there are thousands more small, quiet acts of love, kindness and compassion. For every person who seeks to hurt, there are many, many more who devote their lives to helping and to healing.

相对于每一个无畏的破坏行为而言，都有更多数以千计更为微小的，包含着爱，友善和同情的举动静静地上演着。相对于每一个试图伤害他人的人而言，都有更多的人致力于帮助他人，治愈他人的创伤。

There is goodness to life that cannot be denied.

生命的美好不能否认。

In the most magnificent vistas and in the smallest details, look closely, for that goodness always comes shining through.

在最为壮观的前景和最为琐碎的细节中，请仔细观察，因为美好的事物总是散发着耀眼的光芒闪亮登场。

There is no limit to the goodness of life. It grows more abundant with each new encounter. The more you experience and appreciate the goodness of life, the more there is to be lived.

生命的美好没有界限。每一次相遇都会使这美好变得越发丰富。你经历得越多，越能欣赏生命的美好，生命中的美好就会变得越多。

Even when the cold winds blow and the world seems to be covered in foggy shadows, the goodness of life lives on. Open your eyes, open your heart, and you will see that goodness is everywhere.

即使当寒风袭来，整个世界似乎被雾气掩盖之时，生命的美好仍会存在。睁开双眼，打开心扉，你就会发现这美好无处不在。

Though the goodness of life seems at times to suffer setbacks, it always endures. For in the darkest moment it becomes vividly clear that life is a priceless treasure. So the goodness of life is made even stronger by the very things that would oppose it.

尽管生命的美好有时似乎遭受挫折，但它总会挺过来。因为，在最黑暗的时刻，有一点变得格外清晰，那就是，生命是无价的财富。因此， 正是与生命的美好相对立的事物使其越发强大。

Time and time again when you feared it was gone forever you found that the goodness of life was really only a moment away. Around the next corner, inside every moment, the goodness of life is there to surprise and delight you.

无数次地，当你担心这美好已经远离之时，你会发现生命的美好其实只与你相隔须臾。它就在下一个角落，存在于每个时刻之间，等着给你惊喜。

Take a moment to let the goodness of life touch your spirit and calm your thoughts. Then, share your good fortune with another. For the goodness of life grows more and more magnificent each time it is given away.

花些时间让生命的美好感动自己的灵魂，放松自己的思绪。然后，把你的幸运与他人分享。因为生命的美好会在每次给予之间变得越来越壮观。

Though the problems constantly scream for attention, and the conflicts appear to rage ever stronger, the goodness of life grows stronger still, quietly, peacefully, with more purpose and meaning than ever before.

尽管总是有问题让你去关注，冲突也似乎愈演愈烈，但生命的美好却总是静静地，平和地，带着比以前更强的意志和更多的价值变得更加强大。

　Joy in the Journey

生命重在过程



If you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on.

For often, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.

　　如果你曾因失败沮丧过，请继续读下去。

　　完成你经常开始要做的事可不是大事，让我娓娓道来。

Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.

"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors.

　有兄弟俩人决定在他们房子后面挖一个深洞。就在他们不停挖洞时，几个年龄大点的男孩在附近停下来观看。

　　“你们在做什么？”其中一个问道。

"We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.

The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.

　　“我们计划挖一个洞，一直穿过地球到达另一端！”兄弟俩中的一个兴奋地抢先说道。

　　这些大男孩开始大笑，告诉这两个兄弟挖洞穿过地球是不可能的。

After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors.

Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"

　　长长的沉寂之后，其中一个挖掘者从洞里拿出一个装满蜘蛛、蠕虫和各种各样昆虫的罐子，他打开盖子把这些奇妙的东西展示给那些嘲讽者看。

　　然后他平静而又自信地说：“即使我们挖不到地球另一端，但看看我们途中发现的东西！”

Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for-to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!

But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized.

　　他们的目标是太过于雄心勃勃了，但确实鼓励他们去做了。而这就是目标之所在——使我们朝着我们所选择的方向前进，换句话说，就是让我们去挖掘！

　　但不是每一个目标都会完全实现，也不是每一样工作都能够最终成功；不是每一种关系都能够持久，也不是每一丝希望都能够实现；不是每一次爱都能够天长地久，不是每一次努力都会硕果累累，也不是每一个梦想都能够实现。

But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!"

It is in the digging that life is lived. And I believe it is joy in the journey, in the end, that truly matters.

　　但当你没有达到目标时，也许你可以说：“是的，但看看我们途中所发现的东西！看看这些因为我尽力去做而走进我生活的美妙东西！”

　　生命正是在挖掘的过程中才具有活力。而且我相信到最后真正要紧的还是过程中的乐趣。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-5-4 14:44 编辑 ]

Make every day special

让每天都变得特别



Be thankful and look to every new day with positive hope

心怀感恩，对每个新的一天都抱有积极的希望。

Take time to pull yourself away from all the noise and just look around you. Take inventory.

给自己一点时间摆脱喧哗的纠缠，明辨身边的是是非非。

Appreciate those who have enhanced the quality of your life, and remember that they have been a gift to you. Also remember that you’re a gift to them, too.

感激那些使你的生活质量得到提高的人，记住他们是对你的赠礼。同样，对于他们，你也是一份赠礼。

Be grateful for the choices you’ve made, both good and bad. Accept your mistakes; you can’t change them anyway. Apply what you’ve learned and go on. Use these lessons to help you with your other decisions in life. Appreciate yourself and your own uniqueness.

感谢你所做的选择，无论它们是好是坏。接受你的错误，因为已经无法挽回了。用你得到的经验继续走下去。让它帮助你以后的决定。欣赏自己和你的独特之处。

Go outside and look at the sky. Soak in the atmosphere. Enjoy the colors of the landscape. Feel the textures of every place you are that you’ve thankful for. Smile at the world. don’t allow any negative feelings to creep into your consciousness. Feel the power of your own acceptance. Put a positive spin on every thought you have.

走出门外看看天空。融入大自然中，享受自然景致中的五彩缤纷。体会你所到之处的景观，并由衷地感激上苍对你的恩赐。含笑地面对世界，不要让反感潜入你的意识，感受你身体里宽恕的力量。乐观地看待每一个想法。

Make every day special. Own it. Enjoy it. Bask in the glory of life. Appreciate the gift of your own life.

让每一个都变得特别。拥有它，享受它。沐浴在生命的尊荣之中，欣赏生命中的一切恩赐

THE LEAP-FROG



跳高者

A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room.

有一次，跳蚤、蚱蜢和跳鹅想要知道它们之中谁跳得最高。它们把所有的人和任何愿意来的人都请来参观这个伟大的场面。它们这三位著名的跳高者就在一个房间里集合起来。

"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "forit is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for."

　　“对啦，谁跳得最高，我就把我的女儿嫁给谁！”国王说，“因为，假如让这些朋友白白地跳一阵子，那就未免太不像话了！”

The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite anners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover,accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference.

跳蚤第一个出场。它的态度非常可爱：它向四周的人敬礼，因为它身体中流着年轻小姐的血液，习惯于跟人类混在一起，而这一点是非常重要的。

Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me."

接着蚱蜢就出场了，它的确很粗笨，但它的身体很好看。它穿着它那套天生的绿制服。此外，它的整个外表说明它是出身于埃及的一个古老的家庭，因此它在这儿非常受到人们的尊敬。人们把它从田野里弄过来，放在一个用纸牌做的三层楼的房子里——这些纸牌有画的一面都朝里。这房子有门也有窗，而且它们是从“美人”身中剪出来的。“我唱得非常好，”它说，“甚至十六个本地产的蟋蟀从小时候开始唱起，到现在还没有获得一间纸屋哩。它们听到我的情形就嫉妒得要命，把身体弄得比以前还要瘦了。”

It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves,and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess.

跳蚤和蚱蜢这两位毫不含糊地说明了它们是怎样的人物。它们认为它们有资格和一位公主结婚。

The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac.

跳鹅一句话也不说。不过据说它自己更觉得了不起。宫里的狗儿把它嗅了一下，很有把握地说，跳鹅是来自一个上等的家庭。那位因为从来不讲话而获得了三个勋章的老顾问官说，他知道跳鹅有预见的天才：人们只须看看它的背脊骨就能预知冬天是温和还是寒冷。这一点人们是没有办法从写历书的人的背脊骨上看出来的。

"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, not with standing."

　　“好，我什么也不再讲了！”老国王说，“我只须在旁看看，我自己心中有数！”

Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.

现在它们要跳了。跳蚤跳得非常高，谁也看不见它，因此大家就说它完全没有跳。这种说法太不讲道理。

The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's face,who said that was ill-mannered.

蚱蜢跳得没有跳蚤一半高。不过它是向国王的脸上跳过来，因此国王就说，这简直是可恶之至。

The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed at last he would not jump at all.

跳鹅站着沉思了好一会儿；最后大家就认为它完全不能跳。

"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a little golden stool close by.

"我希望它没有生病！”宫里的狗儿说，然后它又在跳鹅身上嗅了一下。“嘘！”它笨拙地一跳，就跳到公主的膝上去了。她坐在一个矮矮的金凳子上。

Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has understanding.He is brave and

intellectual."

国王说：“谁跳到我的女儿身上去，谁就要算是跳得最高的了，因为这就是跳高的目的。不过能想到这一点，倒是需要有点头脑呢——跳鹅已经显示出它有头脑。它的腿长到额上去了！”

And so he won the Princess.

所以他就得到了公主.

"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days."

“不过我跳得最高！”跳蚤说。“但是这一点用处也没有！不过尽管她得到一架带木栓和蜡油的鹅骨，我仍然要算跳得最高。但是在这个世界里，一个人如果想要使人看见的话，必须有身材才成。”

The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed.

跳蚤于是便投效一个外国兵团。据说它在当兵时牺牲了。

The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly things;and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything--a fine exterior is what people care about." And then he began chirping his peculiar melancholy song,from which we have taken this history; and which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here printed in black and white.

那只蚱蜢坐在田沟里，把这世界上的事情仔细思索了一番，不禁也说：“身材是需要的！身材是需要的！”于是它便唱起了它自己的哀歌。我们从它的歌中得到了这个故事——这个故事可能不是真的，虽然它已经被印出来了。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-5-9 13:19 编辑 ]

匆匆



Swallows may have gone, but there is a time of return; willow trees may have died back, but there is a time of regreening; peach blossoms may have fallen, but they will bloom again. Now, you the wise, tell me, why should our days leave us, never to return? If they had been stolen by someone, who could it be? Where could he hide them? If they had made the escape themselves, then where could they stay at the moment?

I don't know how many days I have been given to spend, but I do feel my hands are getting empty. Taking stock silently, I find that more than eight thousand days have already slid away from me. Like a drop of water from the point of a needle disappearing into the ocean, my days are dripping into the stream of time, soundless, traceless. Already sweat is starting on my forehead, and tears welling up in my eyes.

Those that have gone have gone for good, those to come keep coming; yet in between, how swift is the shift, in such a rush? When I get up in the morning, the slanting sun marks its presence in my small room in two or three oblongs. The sun has feet, look, he is treading on, lightly and furtively; and I am caught, blankly, in his revolution. Thus--the day flows away through the sink when I wash my hands, wears off in the bowl when I eat my meal, and passes away before my day-dreaming gaze as reflect in silence. I can feel his haste now, so I reach out my hands to hold him back, but he keeps flowing past my withholding hands. In the evening, as I lie in bed, he strides over my body, glides past my feet, in his agile way. The moment I open my eyes and meet the sun again, one whole day has gone. I bury my face in my hands and heave a sigh. But the new day begins to flash past in the sigh.

What can I do, in this bustling world, with my days flying in their escape? Nothing but to hesitate, to rush. What have I been doing in that eight-thousand-day rush, apart from hesitating? Those bygone days have been dispersed as smoke by a light wind, or evaporated as mist by the morning sun. What traces have I left behind me? Have I ever left behind any gossamer traces at all? I have come to the world, stark naked; am I to go back, in a blink, in the same stark nakedness? It is not fair though: why should I have made such a trip for nothing!



燕子去了，有再来的时候；杨柳枯了，有再青的时候；桃花谢了，有再开的时候。但是，聪明的，你告诉我，我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢？——是有人偷了他们罢：那是谁？又藏在何处呢？是他们自己逃走了：现在又到了哪里呢？

我不知道他们给了我多少日子；但我的手确乎是渐渐空虚了。在默默里算着，八千多日子已经从我手中溜去；象针尖上一滴水滴在大海里，我的日子滴在时间的流里，没有声音也没有影子。我不禁头涔涔而泪潸潸了。

去的尽管去了，来的尽管来着，去来的中间，又怎样的匆匆呢？早上我起来的时候，小屋里射进两三方斜斜的太阳。太阳他有脚啊，轻轻悄悄地挪移了；我也茫茫然跟着旋转。于是——洗手的时候，日子从水盆里过去；吃饭的时候，日子从饭碗里过去；默默时，便从凝然的双眼前过去。我觉察他去的匆匆了，伸出手遮挽时，他又从遮挽着的手边过去，天黑时，我躺在床上，他便伶伶俐俐地从我身边垮过，从我脚边飞去了。等我睁开眼和太阳再见，这算又溜走了一日。我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。

在逃去如飞的日子里，在千门万户的世界里的我能做些什么呢？只有徘徊罢了，只有匆匆罢了；在八千多日的匆匆里，除徘徊外，又剩些什么呢？过去的日子如轻烟却被微风吹散了，如薄雾，被初阳蒸融了；我留着些什么痕迹呢？我何曾留着象游丝样的痕迹呢？我赤裸裸来到这世界，转眼间也将赤裸裸地回去罢？但不能平的，为什么偏要白白走这一遭啊？

你聪明的，告诉我，我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢？

Three old men and housewife

三位老人与一位主妇



A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said,"I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

一位妇人走出房门，看到三位白胡子老人坐在她家的前院里。她并不认识他们。她说：“虽然我不知道你们是谁，但你们一定饿了，快进来吃点东西吧。”

"We do not go into a house together," they replied.

“我们从不一起进到一户人家里去，”他们答到。

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

“为什么？”女人想知道怎么回事。

One of the old men explained, "His name is Wealth," he said, pointing to one of his friends, and then pointed to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

其中一位老人指了指他的一个朋友，解释说：“他的名字叫财富，”然后，又指着另一个说：“他叫成功，而我叫爱。”接着他又补充道：“进去和你的丈夫商量一下，你们想请我们中的哪一个到你家做客？”

After some heated discussion, the husband and wife decided to have their home be filled with love. The woman went out and asked them,"Who is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

经过一番激烈的讨论，丈夫和妻子决定让他们的家充满爱。

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, "I only invited Love. Why are you coming in?"

女人出去问三位老人：“谁是爱？请进来做客吧。”

爱站起来向房子走去。另外两位老人也站起跟在他后面。女主人很吃惊地对财富和成功说：“我只邀请了爱，你们为什么出要进去？”

The old men replied together, "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him."

三位老人一起答道：“如果你只请了财富或成功，那么其余的两个就会留在外面。但是你邀请了爱，无论他到哪儿，我们都会跟着。哪里有爱，哪里就有财富和成功。”

Love the Job



Every day we hear about people making radical career changes. The opportunities exist, but will all these changes make us any happier once we get there? Maybe the question is not "How can I get the job I'll love?", but "How can I love the job I have?" Following are four practical steps towards coming to terms with why you do what you're doing. Take some time to think about it, and you might be surprised by what you find.

1. Realize that your job does not define you, but how you do it does. There's a lot to be said for attitude, more than will fit here. Any job can be done well, done with compassion, done with care. Your attitude at work and the way you treat people --- even your mood --- does not go unnoticed. They have a profound influence on the people you work with. There are times when you can't control your situation, but you can always choose how you live in it.

2. Stop focusing on the money. Money will never be enough so stop using it (or the lack of it) as an excuse. Whatever you are bringing home on the 15th and 30th, there are always going to be things you could do or would do if you had more. Try taking tracking every penny you spend in a week. Seeing where your money is really going can help you to refocus your spending towards the things you really want. Getting paid is only one small part of what you do, your work has to be more than just a paycheck to be fulfilling.

3. Find the significance in what you do. This may require you to think big, but it can be done. Take some time to really think about what you do. Do you provide an essential service? Do you get to see the finished product? Do you give direction that gets things done? Then ask yourself "how is this job done differently because I am doing it?" Perspective plays a huge role in personal satisfaction and sense of well being. Try to remember why you took the job in the first place. If it was only going to be "for now" are you actively looking for other work?

4. Dare to ask yourself if it's worth it. If you can't find the part of your job that you like, or if you can see yourself turning into the person you said you would never be, consider the reasons. It may not be a new job that you need, just a new direction. Do you like the person you are doing this job? If not, are there changes you can make to the way you do your job or is the job itself the problem? Do you need to be doing a different position within the same company? Are additional responsibilities taking you away from the work you were hired to do? Maybe all that's needed is some refocusing. Learn to say "no". As much as you can choose the things you spend your time on, don't attend events or meetings only because everyone expects it.

Asking yourself why you do your job doesn't mean you're dissatisfied, just self-aware. This awareness can lead to greater job satisfaction, increased sense of well being and a little more control over what you do, rather than just "going along for the ride". For some, it may be time for a change — if so, don't be afraid of it. Change isn't necessarily bad, it's just different. For the rest of us, take a look around, you may find you've got a great view.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it's all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

　　每天我们都听说有人跳槽了。机会确实是有，但跳槽真能让我们更快乐吗？可能问题不在于“我如何才能找到我喜欢的工作？”，而在于“我如何喜欢上我现在的工作？”。下面就是为什么你能胜任目前工作的四个可行步骤，花些时间考虑一下，你可能会为你的发现而感到惊奇。

　　1. 要知道造就你的不是工作本身，而是你的工作方式。关于态度有很多话题。干任何工作只要带着热情和细心，都能干好。你的工作态度和为人处事方式——甚至你的情绪——不是没人注意。它们给你的同事带来很大的影响。有时你无法左右你的处境，然而你总能选择如何在这种处境中生存。

　　2. 不要老是盯着金钱。金钱永远都不会够的，因此不要把钱或者缺钱作为一个借口。无论在每月15号或30号带什么回家，如果你有更多的钱，也总会有更多的事情可以去做或者想要去做。试着记录下来一周内你花的每一分钱，看看你都把钱花在哪儿了，这能帮你重新确定把钱花在你喜欢的东西上。取得报酬只是你工作的一小部分，工作的成就感不仅仅在于一张薪水支票。

　　3. 发现你工作的重要性。这可能需要雄心壮志，然而是可以做到的。花些时间认真考虑一下你的工作，你有没有提供关键性的服务？有没有看过一件成品？有没有指导过某件事的完成？然后自问一下“如果我做这项工作结果会有何不同？”设想在达到自我满足和幸福方面起着很大的作用。努力回忆一下当初你为何选择这份工作，如果仅仅是为了“暂时”的权宜之计，那么你还在积极寻找其他工作吗？

4. 敢于问自己是否值得。如果你不能在工作中找到感兴趣的部分，或者你看到自己正在转变为你永远都不想成为的那种人，那么考虑一下原因。可能你需要的不是一份新工作，而是一个新的方向。你喜欢工作时的那个自己吗？如果不喜欢，你能否改变一下自己的工作方法，还是工作本身存在问题？你是否需要在这个公司调换一下职位？是否因为承担额外的责任而脱离了本职工作？或许所有需要的就是重新定向。学会说“不”。尽量选择做那些你应该花费时间的工作，而不要因为其他人的要求就去做其他事情或参加别的会议。

问问自己为何你做这项工作并不意味着你对它不满意，而是做到自知之明。这种意识可以使你获得更大的工作满意度，增加自我满足的程度，更好地把握自己的工作，而不仅仅是“随波逐流”。对有些人来说，可能是改变的时候了——如果这样，不要害怕。改变不一定是坏事，只是不同而已。而对于其他人，环顾四周，你会发现风景这边独好。

审视一下自己的生活。你怎么描述它呢？满足？匆忙？刺激？紧迫？前进？还是后退？对许多人来说，生活经常都是以上所有的情形。有些事情我们梦想着有一天可以去做，而有些事情我们希望可以忘却。圣经上说，耶稣使一切焕然一新。如果你以新的姿态重新开始，你的生活会是怎样的呢？

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-5-23 21:42 编辑 ]

上帝的恩赐－看清你的一生 On the very first day, God created the cow. He said to the cow, “Today I have created you! As a cow, you must go to the field with the farmer all day long. You will work all day under the sun! I will give you a life span of 50 years.”

　　The cow objected, “What? This kind of a tough life you want me to live for 50 years? Let me have 20 years, and the 30 years I’ll give back to you.” So God agreed.

　　On the second day, God created the dog. God said to the dog, “What you are supposed to do is to sit all day by the door of your house. Any people that come in, you will have to bark at them! I’ll give you a life span of 20 years.”

　　The dog objected, “What? All day long to sit by the door? No way! I’ll give you back my other 10 years of life!” So God agreed.

　　On the third day, God created the monkey. He said to the monkey, “Monkeys have to entertain people. You’ve got to make them laugh and do monkey tricks. I’ll give you 20 years life span.”

　　The monkey objected. “What? Make them laugh? Do monkey faces and tricks? Ten years will do, and the other 10 years I’ll give you back.” So God agreed.

　　On the fourth day, God created man and said to him, “Your job is to sleep, eat, and play. You will enjoy very much in your life. All you need to do is to enjoy and do nothing. This kind of life, I’ll give you a 20 year life span.”

　　The man objected. “What? Such a good life! Eat, play, sleep, do nothing? Enjoy the best and you expect me to live only for 20 years? No way, man! Why don’t we make a deal? Since the cow gave you back 30 years, and the dog gave you back 10 years and the monkey gave you back 10 years, I will take them from you! That makes my life span 70 years, right?” So God agreed.

　　AND THAT’S WHY...

　　In our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play, enjoy the best and do nothing much. For the next 30 years, we work all day long, suffer and get to support the family. For the next 10 years, we entertain our grandchildren by making monkey faces and monkey tricks. And for the last 10 years, we stay at home, sit by the front door and bark at people!



　　第一天，上帝创造了牛。上帝对牛说：“今天，我创造了你。作为牛，你必须跟农夫下田，整天在日头下干活。我给你50年的生命。”

　　牛反对说：“这样的苦日子，你要我忍上50年？我只要20年，另外30年你收回吧。”上帝答应了。

　　第二天，上帝创造了狗。上帝对狗说：“你要整天坐在自家门口，有人进来就叫。我给你20年的生命。”

　　狗不乐意了，说：“什么？整天坐在门口？绝对不行！我只要10年就够了，其余的10年还给你吧。”上帝答应了。

　　第三天，上帝创造了猴子。上帝对猴子说：“你必须耍猴把戏，逗人开心，让他们捧腹大笑。我给你20年的生命。”

　　猴子可不干，说：“什么？逗人发笑？还要扮鬼脸，耍把戏？10年就行了，剩下的10年你留着吧。”上帝答应了。

　　第四天，上帝创造了人。上帝对人说：“你只要吃喝玩乐，休息睡觉，舒舒服服地过日子就行了。别的什么都不用做，只管尽情享受。我给你20年的生命。”

　　人有意见了，说：“什么？吃喝玩乐，休息睡觉，安逸享受？这样的好日子，才让我活20年？啊呀，不行！你看这样好不好？牛还给你30年，狗还了10年，猴子也还了10年，就把它们还的时间全给我吧。这样，我就能活上70年了，对吧？”上帝答应了。

　　这下，你明白了吧……

　　最初的20年，我们吃喝玩乐，休息睡觉，安逸享受。随后的30年，我们整天工作个不停，辛辛苦苦地养家糊口。接下来的10年，我们扮鬼脸，耍把戏，逗孙子孙女们开心。最后的10年，我们终日呆在家里，坐在门口，不住地对别人唠叨。

A lesson of life

生活的一课

“everything happens for the best,”my mother said whenever I faced disappointment. "If you can carry on, one day something good will happen. And you'll realize that it wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment."

　　每当我遇到挫折时,母亲就会说:"一切都会好的。如果你坚持下去,总有一天会有好事发生。你会认识到,如果没有以前的挫折就不会有现在的一切。"

Mother was right, as I discovered after graduating from college in 1932.I had decided to try for a job in radio, then work my way up to sports announcer. I hitchhiked to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station-and got turned down every time.

　　母亲是对的,发现这个是在1932年,我刚从大学毕业。我已决定试着在电台找个事儿做,然后争取做体育节目的播音员。我搭便车到了芝加哥,挨个电台地敲门推销自己——但每次都被拒绝了。

　　In one studio, a kind lady told me that big stations couldn't risk hiring inexperienced person-"Go out in the sticks and find a small station that'll give you a chance,”she said.

　　在一个播音室里,一位好心的女士告诉我,大的广播电台是不会冒险雇用没经验的新手的。"去乡下找一家给你机会的小电台吧,"她说。

I thumbed home to Dixon, Illinois. While them was no radio-announcing jobs in Dixon, my father sad Montgomery Ward had opened a store and wanted a local athlete to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was where I had played high school football, I applied. The job sounded just right for me. But I wasn't hired.

　　我搭车来到我的家乡,那是伊利诺斯州的迪克森。在迪克森当时还没有电台播音员这样的工作,父亲说,蒙哥马利·沃德开了一家新商店,想雇请一个本地的运动员管理店里的体育部。我中学时曾在迪克森打过橄榄球,出于这个原因我去申请了这份工作。工作听起来挺适合我的,但是我没被聘用。

　　My disappointment must have shown. "Everything happens for the best," Mom reminded me. Dad offered me the car to job hunt. I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, a wonderful Scotsman named Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer.

　　我的沮丧心情一定表现出来了。"一切总会好的,"母亲提醒我说。爸爸给我买了一辆汽车找工作用。我试着到爱荷华州达文波特的woc电台去求职。那里的电台节目总监是一个很棒的苏格兰人,名叫彼得·麦克阿瑟,他告诉我他们已经雇到播音员了。



As I left his office, my frustration boiled over. I asked a1oud,"How can a fellow get to be a sport announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?"

　　离开他办公室时,我的挫折感达到了极点。我大声地说:"一个连在电台都找不到工作的家伙又怎么能成为体育节目的播映员呢？

　　I was waiting for the elevator when I heard MacArthur calling, "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football?"Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game.

　　等电梯时，我听到麦克阿瑟喊道：“你说什么体育？你懂橄榄球吗？”接着他让我站到麦克风前面，请我解说一场想象中的比赛。

　　On my way home, as I have many times since, I thought of my mother's words: "if you carry on, one day something good will happen. Something wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment" I often wonder what direction my life might have taken if I’d gotten the job at Montgomery Ward.

　　在回家的路上——以后也有很多次的，我思考着母亲的那句话：“如果你坚持下去，总要一天会有好事发生。如果没有以前的挫折，就不会有现在的一切。”我常想，如果当年我得到蒙哥马利·沃德的那份工作，我的人生之路又会怎样走呢？

Death's Messengers



In ancient times a giant was wandering along the highway when suddenly a stranger jumped toward him and shouted, "Stop! Not one step further!"

　　"What?" said the giant. "You, a creature that I could crush between my fingers, you want to block my way? Who are you that you dare to speak so boldly?"

　　"I am Death," answered the other one. "No one resists me, and you too must obey my orders."

　　But the giant refused, and began to wrestle with Death. It was a long, violent battle, and finally the giant got the upper hand, and knocked Death down with his fist, causing him to collapse by a stone. The giant went on his way, and Death lay there conquered, so weak that he could not get up again.

　　"What is to come of this?" he said. "If I stay lying here in a corner, no one will die in the world, and it will become so filled with people that they won't have room to stand beside one another."

　　Meanwhile a young man came down the road. Vigorous and healthy, he was singing a song and looking this way and that. Seeing the half-conscious individual, he approached him with compassion, raised him up, gave him a refreshing drink from his flask, and waited until he regained his strength.

　　"Do you know," asked the stranger, as he stood up, "who I am, and whom you have helped onto his legs again?"

　　"No," answered the youth, "I do not know you."

　　"I am Death," he said. "I spare no one, nor can make an exception with you. However, so you may see that I am grateful, I promise you that I will not attack you without warning, but instead will send my messengers to you before I come and take you away."

　　"Good," said the youth. "It is to my benefit that I shall know when you are coming, and that I will be safe from you until then."

　　then he went on his way, and was cheerful and carefree, and lived one day at a time. However, youth and good health did not last long. Soon came sickness and pain, which tormented him by day and deprived him of his rest by night.

　　"I shall not die," he said to himself, "for Death will first send his messengers, but I do wish that these wicked days of sickness were over."

　　Regaining his health, he began once more to live cheerfully. then one day someone tapped on his shoulder.

　　He looked around, and death was standing behind him, who said, "Follow me. the hour of your departure from this world has come."

　　"What?" replied the man. "Are you breaking your word? Did you not promise me that you would send your messengers to me before you yourself would come? I have not seen a one of them."

　　"Be still!" answered Death. "Have I not sent you one messenger after another? Did not fever come and strike you, and shake you, and throw you down? Has not dizziness numbed your head? Has not gout pinched your limbs? Did your ears not buzz? Did toothache not bite into your cheeks? Did your eyes not darken? And furthermore, has not my own brother Sleep reminded you every night of me? During the night did you not lie there as if you were already dead?"

　　the man did not know how to answer, so he surrendered to his fate and went away with Death.



死神的使者

古时后，有个巨人漫步在乡间的大道上，突然一个陌生人跳到他跟前说：“站住，不许再往前走一步！”“甚么？”巨人叫道，“你这小东西，我两根指头就能把你捏死，你敢挡我的路？你是甚么人，敢口吐狂言？”“我是死神，”他回答说，“没有人能反抗我，你也必须服从我的命令。”但巨人拒绝了，和死神打斗起来，这是一场持久而激烈的战斗，最后巨人佔了上风，一拳击倒了死神，使他瘫倒在一块石头旁。巨人凯旋而去，死神倒在那儿屈服了，他太虚弱了，竟爬不起来了。“现在我该怎么办呢？”他说，“如果就缩在这个角落里，世上就没人会死，那么必定会挤满人而无处容身了。”这时来了位年轻人，朝气蓬勃，一路高歌，并且在举目四顾。一看见这个半死半活的人，马上关切地走了上来，扶起他，从自己的瓶中倒了口水给他，看着他恢复了几分力气。那陌生人边爬起边说：“你可知道我是谁吗？你知道你帮了谁吗？”“不，”年轻人说，“我不认识你。”“我是死神，我从不放过任何人，你也不例外。但为了表示我的感激之情，我向你保证我绝不出其不意地降临於你，我会在来取你性命之前派我的报信使者通知你。”“好的，”年轻人说，“能知道自己的死期就足够了，至少在这以前我不用提心吊胆的。”然后他愉快地走了，无忧无虑地生活着。



但青春和健康不会长久，很快病痛与悲哀都来了，它们开始一天天地折磨他。他自言自语道：“我不会死的，因为死神还没来，我真希望这病痛缠身的痛苦日子赶快结束。”后来他的病好了，他又过上了开心的日子。有一天，有人拍了拍他的肩膀，他扭头一看，发现死神就站在他身后。“跟我来，你和这个世界告别的时刻已经到了。”“甚么？”这人问道，“你怎能食言？你不是保证说你本人来之前会派信使来吗？”“别作声！”死神说，“我不是接二连三地差信使到这里了吗？寒热不是来打你、推你、摔倒你了吗？晕眩不是弄得你头昏脑胀吗？痛风病不是折磨你四肢吗？耳鸣有过吗？牙痛时不曾使面颊发肿吗？而且，我的兄弟'睡神'不是每晚向你提起我吗？夜里，你难道不是像死人那样地躺在那吗？”

　　这人无话可说，只得听天由命，跟着死神走了。

I will live this day as if it is my last.

假如今天是我生命中的最后一天



And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping? First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday’s misfortunes, yesterday’s defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?



Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.

我要如何利用这最后、最宝贵的一天呢？首先，我要把一天的时间珍藏好，不让一分一秒的时间滴漏。我不为昨日的不幸叹息，过去的已够不幸，不要再赔上今日的运道。

时光会倒流吗？太阳会西升东落吗?我可以纠正昨天的错误吗？我能扶平昨日的创伤吗？我能比昨天年轻吗？一句出口的恶言，一记挥出的拳头，一切造成的伤痛，能收回吗？

不能！过去的永远过去了，我不再去想它。



I will live this day as if it is my last.



And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw note after maybe? Can tomorrow's sand flow through the glass before today's? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing in today's path? Can I place tomorrow's gold in today's purse? Can tomorrow’s child be born today? Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy? Should I concern myself over events which l may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.



假如今天是我生命中的最后一天。



我该怎么办？忘记昨天，也不要痴想明天。明天是一个未知数，为什么要把今天的精力浪费在未知的事上？想着明天的种种，今天的时光也白白流逝了。企盼今早的太阳再次升起，太阳已经落山。走在今天的路上，能做明天的事吗?我能把明天的金币放进今天的钱袋里吗？明日瓜熟，今日能蒂落吗？明天的死亡能将今天的欢乐蒙上阴影吗？我能杞人忧天吗？明天和明天一样被我埋葬。我不再想它。

I will live this day as if it is my last.



This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterterday's sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others,far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be? Is there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel?

今天是我生命中的最后一天．



这是我仅有的一天，是现实的永恒。我像被赦免死刑的囚犯，用喜悦的泪水拥抱新生的太阳。我举起双手，感谢这无与伦比的一天。当我想到昨天和我一起迎接日出的朋友，今天已不复存在时，我为自己的幸存，感激上苍。我是无比幸运的人，今天的时光是额外的奖赏。许多强者都先我而去，为什么我得到这额外的一天？是不是因为他们已大功告成，而我尚在途中跋涉？如果这样，这是不是成就我的一次机会，让我功德国满？造物主的安排是否别具匠心？今天是不是我超越他人的机会？



I will live this day as if it is my last.



I have but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time. When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold? What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless!

今天是我生命中的最后一天。



生命只有一次，而人生也不过是时间的累积。我若让今天的时光白白流逝，就等于毁掉入生最后一页。因此，我珍惜今天的～分一秒，因为它们将一去不复返。我无法把今天存入银行，明天再来取用。时间像风一样不可捕捉。每一分一秒，我要用双手捧住，用爱心抚摸，因为它们如此宝贵。垂死的人用毕生的钱财都无法换得一口生气。我无法计算时间的价值，它们是无价之宝；



I will live this day as if it is my last.I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence. Where there are idle mouths I will listen not; where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not. Henceforth I know that to court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. I am not a thief. I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and my greatness.



今天是我生命中的最后一天。



我憎恨那些浪费时间的行为．我要摧毁拖延的习性．我要以真诚埋葬怀疑，用信心驱赶恐惧。我不听闲话、不游手好闲，不与不务正业的人来往。我终于醒悟到，若是懒惰，无异于从我所爱之人手中窃取食物和衣裳。我不是贼，我有爱心，今天是我最后的机会，我要证明我的爱心和伟大。

I will live this day as if it is my last.



The duties of today I shall fu1fill today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will I. Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomorrow she will be gone, and so will I. Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I shall give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive.



今天是我生命中的最后一天．



今日事今日毕。今天我要趁孩子还小的时候，多加爱护，明天他们将离我而去，我也会离开。今天我要深情地拥抱我的妻子，给她甜蜜的热吻，明天她会离去，我也是。今天我要帮助落难的朋友，明天他不再求援，我也听不到他的哀求。我要乐于奉献，因为明天我无法给予，也没有人来领受了。



I will live this day as if it is my last.



And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full. I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will make the every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles



until they cry for relief, and then I will continue.I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.



今天是我生命中的最后一天．



如果这是我的末日，那么它就是不朽的纪念日，我把它当成最美好的日子。我要把每分每秒化为甘露，一口一口，细细品尝，满怀感激。我要每一分钟都有价值。我要加倍努力，直到精疲力竭。即使这样，我还要继续努力。我要拜访更多的顾客，销售更多的货物，赚取更多的财富。今天的每一分钟都胜过昨天的每一小时，最后的也是最好的。

I will live this day as if it is my last.



And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

假如今天是我生命中的最后一天．



如果不是的话，我要跪倒在上苍面前，深深致谢。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-6-25 21:28 编辑 ]

clouds

　飘忽的云

　I've opened the curtain of my east window here above the computer, and I sit now in a holy theater before a sky-blue stage. A little cloud above the neighbor's trees resembles Jimmy Durante's nose for a while, then becomes amorphous as it slips on north. Other clouds follow, big and little and tiny on their march toward whereness. Wisps of them lead or droop because there must always be leading and drooping.

　　拉开了房间东边电脑上方的窗帘，感觉自己仿佛身处一个神圣的剧场，天蓝的舞台展现在面前。有好一会儿，邻居家树丛上飘着一朵像杰米·杜兰特那大鼻子形状的云朵，但渐渐云朵就往北飘移，大鼻子也就散了状。周围的云，大的、小的、丁点儿的都随之往不知什么地方飘走了。缕缕白云或前行，或散去，这最自然不过了。

　　The trees seem to laugh at the clouds while yet reaching for them with swaying branches. Trees must think that they are real, rooted, somebody, and that perhaps the clouds are only tickled water which sometimes blocks their sun. But trees are clouds, too, of green leaves—clouds that only move a little. Trees grow and change and dissipate like their airborne cousins.

　　树梢随风轻摆，像往上攀附云朵，也像在嘲笑云朵。树肯定在想自己才是实实在在、稳稳扎根的重量级人物，而云朵只不过是积聚的水珠，只会偶尔挡住太阳的光辉。其实树也是一种云，是绿叶做的云，是不怎么动的云。树会成长、变化、老去，就跟天空的浮云一样。

　　And what am I but a cloud of thoughts and feelings and aspirations? Don't I put out tentative mists here and there? Don't I occasionally appear to other people as a ridiculous shape of thoughts without my intending to? Don't I drift toward the north when I feel the breezes of love and the warmth of compassion?

　　我不也是一朵云吗？一朵怀着种种想法、感受和抱负的云。我不是也到处作尝试，制造一个个雾团吗？我的那些异想天开不也常不经意地在人面前变成了一团奇形怪状的云吗？在感受到爱的微风和怜悯的温暖时，我不也像一朵朝北畅快游走的浮云吗？

　　If clouds are beings, and beings are clouds, are we not all well advised to drift, to feel the wind tucking us in here and plucking us out there? Are we such rock-hard bodily lumps as we imagine?

　　若浮云如人，人亦如浮云，我们是否都应该飘，感受风的力量，让我们一时扎根这里，一时又把我们拔起吹走？难道我们真的就如自己想像中的那样稳如磐石吗？

　　Drift, let me. Sing to the sky, will I. One in many, are we. Let us breathe the breeze and find therein our roots in the spirit.

　　飘吧，让我！我要向天高歌。我们是人海里的过客，就让我们一起呼吸微风的气息，在其中寻找我们精神的根。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。



For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.

My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.

因为，这是一切成功的最大秘密。强力能够劈开一块盾牌，甚至毁灭生命，但是只有无与伦比的力量，使人们敞开心扉。在掌握了爱的艺术之前，我只算商场上的无名小卒。我要让爱成为我最大的武器，没有人能抵挡它的威力。

我的理论，他们也许反对；我的言谈，他们也许怀疑；我的穿着，他们也许不赞成；我的长相，他们也许不喜欢；甚至我廉价出售的商品都可能使他们将信将疑，然而我的爱心一定能温暖他们，就像太阳的光芒能溶化冰冷的冻土。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

我该怎样做呢？从今往后，我对一切都要满怀爱心，这样才能获得新生。我爱太阳，它温暖我的身体；我爱雨水，它洗净我的灵魂；我爱光明，它为我指引道路；我也爱黑夜，它让我看到星辰。我迎接快乐，它使我心胸开阔；我忍受悲伤，它升华我的灵魂；我接受报酬，可为我为此付出汗水；我不怕困难，因为它们给我挑战。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

我该怎样说呢？我赞美敌人，敌人于是成为朋友；我鼓励朋友，朋友于是成为手足。我要常想理由赞美别人，绝不搬弄是非，道人长短。想要批评人时，咬住舌头，想要赞美人时，高声表达。

飞鸟，清风，海浪，自然界的万物不都在用美妙动听的歌声赞美造物主吗？我也要用同样的歌声赞美她的儿女。从今往后，我要记住这个秘密。它将改变我的生活。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I act? I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall fo suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.

I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the richfor they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

我该怎样行动呢？我要爱每个人的言谈举止，因为人人都有值得钦佩的性格，虽然有时不易察觉。我要用爱摧毁困住人们心灵的高墙，那充满怀疑与仇恨的围墙。我要铺一座通向人们心灵的桥梁。

我爱雄心勃勃的人，他们给我灵感；我爱失败的人，他们给我教训；我爱王侯将相，因为他们也是凡人；我爱谦恭之人，因为他们非凡；我爱富人，因为他们孤独；我爱穷人，因为穷人太多了；我爱少年，因为他们真诚；我爱长者，因为他们有智慧；我爱美丽的人，因为他们眼中流露着凄迷；我爱丑陋的人，因为他们有颗宁静的心。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

But how will I react to the actions of others? With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. My shield will protect me in the market place and sustain me when I am alone. It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation. It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

我该怎样回应他人的行为呢？用爱心。爱是我打开人们心扉的钥匙，也是我抵挡仇恨之箭与愤怒之矛的盾牌。爱使挫折变得如春雨般温和，它是我商场上的护身符：孤独时，给我支持；绝望时，使我振作；狂喜时，让我平静。这种爱心会一天天加强，越发具有保护力，直到有一天，我可以自然地面对众生，处之泰然。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say I Love You. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and hisheart will be opened. And who is there who will say nay to my goods when his heart feels my love?

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

我该怎样面对遇到的每一个人呢？只有一种办法，我要在心里默默地为他祝福。这无言的爱会闪现在我的眼神里，流露在我的眉宇之间，让我嘴角挂上微笑，在我的声音里响起共鸣。在这无声的爱意里，他的心扉向我敞开了。他不再拒绝我推销的货物。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And most of all I will love myself. For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

最主要的，我要爱自己。只有这样，我才会认真检查进入我身体、思想、精神、头脑、灵魂、心怀的一切东西。我绝不放纵肉体的需求，我要用清洁与节制来珍惜我的身体，我绝不让头脑受到邪恶与绝望的引诱，我要用智慧入知识使之升华。我绝不让灵魂陷入自满的状态，我要用沉思和祈祷来滋润它。我绝不让心怀狭窄，我要与人分享，使它成长，温暖整个世界。

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

Henceforth will I love all mankind. From this moment all hate is let from my veins for I have not time to hate, only time to love. From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. With love I will increase my sales a hundredfold and become a great salesman. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

从今往后，我要爱所有的人。仇恨将从我的血管中流走。我没有时间去恨，只有时间去爱。现在，我迈出成为一个优秀的人的第一步。有了爱，我将成为伟大的推销员，即使才疏智浅，也能以爱心获得成功；相反地，如果没有爱，即使博学多识，也终将失败。

I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed.

我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-7-3 21:37 编辑 ]

I will persist until I succeed.

In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner. Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance. The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade. Henceforth I will recognize that each day I am tested by life in like manner. If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed.

坚持不懈．直到成功。

在古老的东方，挑选小公牛列竞技场格斗有一定的程序、它们被带进场地，向手持长矛的斗牛士攻击，裁判以它受激后再向斗牛士进攻的次数多寡来评定这只公牛的勇敢程度。从今往后．我须承认，我的生命每天都在接受类似的考验.如果我坚韧不拔，勇往直前，迎接挑战．那么我一定会成功。

I will persist until I succeed.

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

坚持不懈．直到成功。

我不是为了失败才来到这个世界上的，我的血管里也没有失败的血液在流动。我不是任人鞭打的羔羊，我是猛狮，不与羊群为伍。我不想听失意者的哭泣，抱怨者的牢骚，这是羊群中的瘟疫，我不能被它传染。失败者的屠宰场不是我命运的归宿。



I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

生命的奖赏远在旅途终点，而非起点附近。我不知道要走多少步才能达到目标．踏上第一千步的时候，仍然可能遭到失败。但成功就藏在拐角后面，除非拐了弯，我永远不知道还有多远。

再前进一步，如果没有用，就再向前一步。事实上，每次进步一点点并不太难。



I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third. Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence. Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. So it will be with my efforts of today.

I will be liken to the rain drop which washes away the mountain; the ant who devours a tiger; the star which brightens the earth; the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

从今往后，我承认每天的奋斗就像对参天大树的一次砍击,头几刀可能了无痕迹。每一击者似微不足道，然而，累积起来，巨树终会倒下．这恰如我今天的努力。 就像冲洗高山的雨滴，吞噬猛虎的蚂蚁，照亮大地的星辰，建起金字塔的奴隶，我也要一砖一瓦地建造起自己的城堡，因为我深知水滴石穿的道理，只要持之以恒，什么都可以做到．

I will persist until I succeed.

I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat; for they are the words of fools. I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure. I will ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep mine eyes on the goals above my head, for I know that where dry desert ends, green grass grows.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

我绝不考虑失败，我的字典里不再有放弃，不可能、办不到、没法子、成问题、失败,行不通、没希望、退缩…这类愚蠢的字眼．我要尽量避免绝望，一旦受到它的威胁，立即想方设法向它挑战．我要辛勤耕耘，忍受苦楚．我放眼未来，勇往直前，不再理会脚下的障碍．我坚信，沙漠尽头必是绿洲．



I will persist until I succeed.

I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.

I will persist until I succeed.

I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

我要牢牢记住古老的平衡法则，鼓励自己坚持下去，因为每一次的失败都会增加下一次成功的机会。这一次的拒绝就是下一次的赞同，这一次皱起的眉头就是下一次舒展的笑容。今天的不幸，往往预示着明天的好运。夜幕降临。回想一天的遭遇。我总是心存感激。我深知，只有失败多次，才能成功。

坚持不懈，直到成功。

我要尝试，尝试，再尝试。障碍是我成功路上的弯路，我迎接这项挑战。我要像水手一样，乘风破浪。

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I will attempt to achieve one more sale. When my thoughts beckon my tired body homeward I will resist the temptation to depart. I will try again. I will make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails I will make another. Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus will I plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. When others cease their struggle, the mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

从今往后，我要借鉴别人成功的秘诀．过去的是非成败，我全不计较，只抱定信念，明天会更好。当我精疲力歇时，我要抵制回家的诱惑，再试一次。我一试再试．争取每一天的成功，避免以失败收场．我要为明天的成功播种，超过那些按部就班的人。在别人停滞不前时，我继续拼搏，终有一天我会丰收!



I will persist until I succeed.

Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.

So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.

I will persist.

I will win.

坚持不懈，直到成功。

我不因昨日的成功而满足，因为这是失败的先兆。我要忘却昨日的一切，是好是坏，都让它随风而去。我信心百倍，迎接新的太阳，相信"今天是此生最好的一天"。

只要我一息尚存，就要坚持到底，因为我已深知成功的秘诀：

坚持不懈，终会成功。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-7-8 21:00 编辑 ]

Free to Soar

自由飞翔



One windy spring day, I observed young people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds darting and dancing. As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check.

　　在一个有风的春日，我看到一群年轻人正在迎风放风筝玩乐，各种颜色、各种形状和大小的风筝就好像美丽的鸟儿在空中飞舞。当强风把风筝吹起，牵引线就能够控制它们。

Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the restraining string and the cumbersome tail kept them in tow, facing upward and against the wind. As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say, "Let me go! Let me go! I want to be free!" They soared beautifully even as they fought the restriction of the string. Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose. "Free at last," it seemed to say. "Free to fly with the wind."

　　风筝迎风飘向更高的地方，而不是随风而去。它们摇摆着、拉扯着，但牵引线以及笨重的尾巴使它们处于控制之中，并且迎风而上。它们挣扎着、抖动着想要挣脱线的束缚，仿佛在说：“放开我！放开我！我想要自由！”即使与牵引线奋争着，它们依然在美丽地飞翔。终于，一只风筝成功挣脱了。“终于自由了，”它好像在说，“终于可以随风自由飞翔了！”

Yet freedom from restraint simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic breeze. It fluttered ungracefully to the ground and landed in a tangled mass of weeds and string against a dead bush. "Free at last" free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to lodge lifeless against the first obstruction.

　　然而，脱离束缚的自由使它完全处于无情微风的摆布下。它毫无风度地震颤着向地面坠落，落在一堆乱草之中，线缠绕在一颗死灌木上。“终于自由”使它自由到无力地躺在尘土中，无助地任风沿着地面将其吹走，碰到第一个障碍物便毫无生命地滞留在那里了。

How much like kites we sometimes are. The Heaven gives us adversity and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength. Restraint is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition. Some of us tug at the rules so hard that we never soar to reach the heights we might have obtained. We keep part of the commandment and never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground.

　　有时我们真像这风筝啊！上苍赋予我们困境和约束，赋予我们成长和增强实力所要遵从的规则。约束是逆风的必要匹配物。我们中有些人是如此强硬地抵制规则，以至我们从来无法飞到本来能够达到的高度。我们只遵从部分戒律，因此永远不会飞得足够高，使尾巴远离地面。

Let us each rise to the great heights, recognizing that some of the restraints that we may chafe under are actually the steadying force that helps us ascend and achieve.

　　让我们每个人都飞到高处吧，并且认识到这一点：有些可能会令我们生气的约束，实际上是帮助我们攀升和实现愿望的平衡力。

[ 本帖最后由 艾米 于 2007-7-10 21:11 编辑 ]