第3章 永不放弃
- 英汉双语心灵鸡汤全集
- 青闰主编
- 25324字
- 2021-10-28 22:02:27
The Wolves within
An old Indian grandfather said to his grandson,who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice.“Let me tell you a story.”
“I too,at times,have felt great hatred for those who have taken so much,with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down,and does not hurt your enemy.It's like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die.I have struggled with these feelings many times.”
“It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm.He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense is intended.He will only fight when it is right to do so,and in the right way.”
“But the other wolf……ah！The smallest thing will send him into a fit of temper. He fights against everyone,all of the time,for no reason.He cannot think because his anger and hatred are so great.It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.”
“Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me,for both of them try to dominate my spirit.”
The boy looked intently into his grandfather's eyes and asked，“Which one wins,Grandfather?”
The grandfather smiled and quietly said，“The one I feed.”
Whether you are angry or not is totally up to you.
心中的两只狼
一位印第安老爷爷对他的孙子说：“让我给你讲个故事吧。”他的孙子来找他是因为被朋友欺负而生气。
“我有时也觉得非常憎恨那些索取太多而对自己的行径毫不悔恨的人。但是，仇恨会使你萎靡不振，却于你的敌人无妨。这就如同服用毒药，却希望你的敌人死去一样。有很多次我都挣扎在这种感觉中。
“这种感觉就像我心里有两只狼。一只善良无害，他与周边的一切和睦相处，做到人不犯我、我不犯人。他师出有名，有理有节。
“可是，另一只狼……啊！最微不足道的事情也会使他大为光火。他跟所有的人争斗，自始至终，毫无理由。他无法理性思考，因为他的愤怒和仇恨太大、太深。那是无用之火，因为他的愤怒无济于事。
“有时与我心里的这两只狼相处很难，因为他们两个都试图控制我的情绪。”
男孩目不转睛地看着爷爷的眼睛问道：“哪一只赢了呢，爷爷？”
爷爷笑了笑，平静地说：“我饲养的那只。”
你生气与否，都完全取决于你自己。
Cut the Rope and Let Go
They tell the story of a mountain climber who,desperate to conquer the Aconcagua,initiated his climb after years of preparation. But he wanted the glory all to himself,therefore,he went up alone.He started climbing and it was becoming late.He did not prepare the camping,and decided to keep on going.
Soon it got dark. Night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude.Visibility was zero.Everything was black.There was no moon,and the stars were covered by clouds.
As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top,he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could only see blotches of darkness that passed.He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity.He kept falling and in those anguishing moments,good and bad memories passed through his mind.He thought certainly he would die.
But then he felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. Yes！Like any good mountain climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist.In those moments of stillness,suspended in the air he had no other choice but to shout：“Help me,Help me！”
All of a sudden he heard a deep voice from heaven，“What do you want me to do?”
“Save me.”
“Do you REALLY think that I can save you?”
“Of course.”
“Then cut the rope that is holding you up.”
There was another moment of silence and stillness. The man just held tighter to the rope.The rescue team says that the next day they found a frozen mountain climber hanging strongly to a rope……TWO Feet OFF THE GROUND.
Sometimes you have to have some faith,cut the rope and let go. The results might be out of your expectation.
割断绳索，然后放手
人们讲述了一个登山者的故事，他不顾一切要征服阿空加瓜山，经过数年的准备，他开始了攀爬。可是，他希望荣耀光环都只属于自己，因此他只身前往，开始攀爬。天色已经渐晚，他并没有准备宿营，仍然决意继续前进。
很快天黑了，海拔高的地方夜幕阴沉黑寂，能见度为零，一切都黑黢黢的，没有月亮，星星也被云遮蔽了。
他在攀登一道距离峰顶大约有100米的山脊时，脚下一滑摔了下来。下落的速度快得让他只能看到所经之处是一片片的黑暗。他异常惊恐，觉得要被地球重力吞噬了。他继续下落，在这种痛苦煎熬的时刻，美好和痛苦的回忆都划过他的脑海。他笃信自己必死无疑。
但是，他感到一震，有股力道几乎要把自己断成两半。对！正如任何优秀的登山者一样，他用一条长绳索系住腰部把自己拴住了。在沉寂下来的时间里，他悬在空中，别无选择，只是呼喊着：“救救我，救救我！”
突然，他听到天空中传来一个低沉的声音：“你想让我为你做什么呢？”
“救我。”
“你的的确确认为我能救你吗？”
“当然。”
“那就割断支撑你的绳索吧。”
又是一阵沉寂无声。那个男人只是紧紧附在绳索之上。营救队说，第二天他们发现一个冻僵的登山者牢牢地吊在绳索之上……离地两尺。
有时，人们需要一定的信念，割断绳索，然后放手，结局或许会出乎你的意料。
Earn Respect with the Truth
The crowd cheered as the young man walked across the stage to claim his award as the company's top producer. He received the microphone,looked over the audience and faltered.I watched him confront his fear,wrestle with the doubt.It took him a moment to start again.
“The last three months hit me pretty hard，”he began.“And I feel the need to share a piece of my story—though I'm not sure why.”
“About four months ago,one of my colleagues called me about this new marketing system,an outbound fax blaster that could reach thousands of potential customers at very little cost.”He paused.“I checked it out,got excited and signed up. Long story short—after thousands of faxes,a process server showed up to deliver some papers.It seems that what I did was illegal.One of the companies that received a blast complained to the attorney general who filed a lawsuit against me—not just for that fax,but with a dollar punishment for every one sent out.”
The crowd gasped.
“I failed to do proper research,didn't pay attention to the details and now face prosecution with enormous potential liability.”
Two hundred people sat riveted to their chairs.
“As some of you know,I recently moved up here from down south.”He ran his fingers through his hair.
“I stored my stuff in my old office,which we closed down. When I drove back to pick it all up,I found that everything except my computer and the clothes I brought with me,was gone.Every memento,every memory and every possession had been stolen.”
No one moved.“It gets better. As some of you know,I drive a sports car—black on black convertible,my pride and joy.I love that car.”His voice cracked a little.“No more，”he added.A memory flooded his mind.
“As it sometimes happens,a guy cut my car off. Instead off letting it go,my ego kicked in.coming up on a ramp,I stomped on the accelerator,missed the final turn,lost control at 85 miles an hour,spun across three lanes,hit the guard rail and bounced back across two—in the middle of rush hour.I wrecked the car and by some weird fate,walked away without a scratch.”
The room sighed with relief.“Because I had been on the road,I didn't open my mail and missed an insurance payment. I don't know what's going to happen.”
Heads shook in dismay.
“In three months,I got sued,lost everything I owned,and wrecked my car.”
He gathered himself.“We all face challenges，”he smiled，“Some tougher than others. I guess I wanted to share mine with you.Thanks for listening.”He then left to a standing ovation.
Standing in the back of the room,I realized how much respect that young man earned. He confronted his fear,publicly admitted his mistakes and never quit,despite the obstacles.That day,he won much more than a trophy.
真诚赢得尊重
写年轻人走上台来领取他作为公司一流销售员的奖品时，听众一片喝彩。年轻人接过麦克风，看了看听众，颤抖起来。我看到他克服了胆怯，消除了顾虑。他花费了一点时间重新开始。
“过去的3个月对我的打击很沉重，”他开始说，“我认为有必要分享一段我的故事——尽管我不清楚为什么。”
“大概4个月前，一个同事给我打电话告诉我这种新的销售系统，这种传真外联机能以非常低的成本联系到成千上万的潜在客户。”他顿了一下，“我检验之后很兴奋，随即注册使用。长话短说——发送了数千封传真之后，程序服务器跳出来，发送一些文件。看起来我所做的事情是违法的。收到群发传真的其中一家公司向首席检察官提出控诉，他对我提出了诉讼——不仅针对那封传真，还针对发送出去的所有传真进行现金处罚。”
听众都屏住了呼吸。
“我没有进行正当的调研，没有注重细节，如今要面对负有重大责任的起诉程序。”
两百人牢牢地坐在椅子上。
“正如你们有些人所了解的，我最近刚从南部升职到这里。”他用手指捋捋头发。
“我在原来的办公室里存放了我的物品，那里已经被我们关闭了。我开车回去想都取走时，发现除了我随身携带的电脑和衣物，其他所有东西都不见了。每个纪念品、每段记忆和所有物品都失窃了。”
谁也没有动。“它会转好的。你们有人知道，我开的是一辆跑车——黑色车身黑色敞篷，它是我的骄傲，也是我的乐趣，我爱那辆车。”他的声音有些轻微嘶哑了，“它不再是我的了。”他补充道。回忆在他的脑海里潮水般翻涌。
“就像有时发生的那样，一个家伙夺走了我的车。我没有放手，我的自尊突然蹦出来，无法按捺，我猛踩加速器，错过了最后一个转弯，车以每小时85英里的速度失控了，在三条巷子里不停打转，撞上护栏，在两个护栏间被弹回来——当时正值高峰期。我毁了那辆车，凭着一点诡异的运气，我皮都没擦破就离开了。”
房间里，人们松了口气。“因为我在公路上无法打开邮箱，所以错过了一份保险赔付金。我不清楚会发生什么事情。”
大家沮丧摇头。
“3个月里，我被起诉，失去了拥有的一切，还毁了我的车。”
他打起精神。“我们都会面临挑战，”他笑着说，“有些比其他挑战更棘手。我觉得我需要与你们分享我面临的挑战，谢谢倾听。”于是，他立刻迎来一阵长时间的起立鼓掌。
站立在房间后面，我认识到这个青年赢得了很多的尊重。他战胜了自己的胆怯，公开承认自己的过失，决不言弃，无视困境。那天，他赢得的远不止一份奖品。
Never Give up
You are never given a wish without also having been given the power to make it come true.—Richard Bach
Just imagine a young girl who learned dancing when she was three years old and whose greatest passion remains dancing. She loses one of her legs in an accident.Read on this true incident that took place almost 20 years ago and find out whether she gives up dancing or fights back to realize what she believes in：
Sudha Chandran,a classical dancer from India,was cut off in the prime of her career—quite literally—when her right leg had to be amputated after a car accident. Though the incident brought her bright career to a halt,she didn't give up.
In the painful months that followed,she met a doctor who developed an artificial limb made from vulcanized rubber filled with sponge. So strong was her desire that she decided to go back to dancing after she had been fitted with an artificial leg.Knowing that she believed in herself and could fulfill her dream,Sudha began her courageous journey back to the world of dancing—learning to balance,bend,stretch,walk,turn,twist,twirl and finally dance.
After every public recital,she would ask her dad about her performance.“You still have a long way to go”was the answer she used to get in return.
In January 1948，Sudha made a historic comeback by giving a public recital in Bombay. She performed in such a marvelous manner that it moved everyone to tears while pushing her to the Number One position again.That evening when she asked her dad the usual question,he didn't say anything.He just touched her feet as a tribute to a great artist.
Sudha's comeback was such heart-warming that a film producer was inspired to capture the incident into a box office hit，‘Mayuri.'
When someone asked Sudha how she managed to dance again,she said quite simply，“YOU DON'T NEED FEET TO DANCE.”
If you have fallen down,get up and brush the dust off your knees and move on. A temporary setback is not a defeat.For that matter,there's no such thing as defeat.Nothing is impossible in this world.If you have the will to win,you can achieve anything.And always remember that the whole world will help you when you want to achieve something.
永不放弃
只要有梦想，也就有让梦想成真的力量。
——理查德·巴哈
设想一下，有一个3岁开始学跳舞的小姑娘，她把全部激情都倾注在了舞蹈上。在一次意外事故中，她失去了一条腿。请读读这个大约20年前发生的真实故事，看看她是放弃了舞蹈，还是不断抗争成就了她的信念：
苏哈·占德让，一个印度古典舞舞蹈家，正值事业鼎盛时期——确切地讲——是她的右腿在车祸后必须被截肢时，被剥夺了跳舞的权利。尽管这次事故中断了她辉煌的事业，她却没有放弃。
在接下来痛苦不堪的几个月里，她结识了一位医生，他发明了一种用硫化橡胶制成、内部填充海绵体的假肢。安装上假腿后，她决意重新开始跳舞的欲望是那么强烈。苏哈清楚她对自己有信心也笃信她能够实现自己的梦想，苏哈重新返回舞蹈世界，开始她的勇敢之旅——学习平衡、弯腰、伸展、行走、转身、旋转，直到最后舞动起来。
每一场公开表演，她都会问父亲她的表演如何。“你仍有很长一段路要走”是她通常得到的回答。
1948年1月，苏哈在孟买举行了一次公演，取得了历史性的回归。她的表演形式非凡绝伦，使每一位观众都感动得潸然泪下，也把她再次推到头号人物的宝座。那天晚上，她又向父亲问起那个老问题，父亲什么也没说。他只是抚摸着她的双脚，这是对一位伟大艺术家的礼赞。
苏哈的再次辉煌感人至深，一位制片人获得灵感，将她曲折动人的经历拍成了一部票房轰动一时的影片——《孔雀女》。
当有人询问苏哈是怎样设法重新跳舞时，她讲得特别简单：“你不需要脚来跳舞。”
摔倒了，起身掸掉膝盖上的尘土再继续前行，暂时的挫折并不是失败。正因为如此，我们才能够虽败犹荣。这个世界上没有什么事情是不可能的。只要你想赢，你可以得到任何东西。要永远牢记，只要你想得到什么，整个世界都会帮助你。
Blind Ambition
Charlie Boswell has always been one of my heroes. He has inspired me and thousands of others to rise above circumstances and live with our true passion.
Charlie was blinded during World War II while rescuing his friend from a tank that was under fire. He was a great athlete before his accident and in a testimony to his talent and determination he decided to try a brand new sport,a sport he had never imagined playing,even with his eyesight—golf！
Through determination and a deep love for the game,he became the National Blind Golf Champion！He won that honor 13 times. One of his heroes was the great golfer Ben Hogan,so it truly was an honor for Charlie to win the Ben Hogan Award in 1958.
Upon meeting Ben Hogan,Charlie was awestruck and stated that he had one wish and it was to have one round of golf with the great Ben Hogan.
Mr. Hogan agreed that playing a round together would be an honor for him as well,as he had heard about all of Charlie's accomplishments and truly admired his skills.
“Would you like to play for money,Mr. Hogan?”blurted out Charlie.
“I can't play you for money,it wouldn't be fair！”said Mr. Hogan.
“Aw,come on,Mr. Hogan……$1，000 per hole！”
“I can't,what would people think of me,taking advantage of you and your circumstance，”replied the sighted golfer.
“Chicken,Mr. Hogan?”
“Okay，”blurted a frustrated Hogan，“but I am going to play my best！”
“I wouldn't expect anything else，”said the confident Boswell.
“You're on,Mr. Boswell.You name the time and the place！”
A very self-assured Boswell responded，“10 o'clock……tonight！”
盲人的雄心
查理·博斯韦尔一直以来都是我崇拜的英雄中的一个。他鼓舞着我，也鼓舞着其他成千上万的人走出逆境，怀着炽热的真情生活。
“二战”期间，查理在从一辆被炮火攻击的坦克里营救自己的朋友时失明了。出事之前，他是一名卓越的运动员。在一段对他才华和毅力的陈述中，这样叙述他决定尝试一项全新的运动，一项他从未设想参与的运动，他甚至没有亲眼见过——高尔夫！
凭借坚韧的毅力和对这项运动的喜爱，他成为全国盲人高尔夫冠军！这一奖项他赢得了13次。他的偶像之一是杰出的高尔夫选手本·霍根，因此对查理而言，1958年获得本·霍根奖项实属荣幸。
见到本·霍根，查理敬慕不已，并说他有一个愿望，希望与这位杰出的本·霍根竞技一个回合。
霍根先生表示同意并说一起竞技一个回合也是他的荣幸，因为他早已听闻查理所有的成就，而且真心钦佩查理的技艺。
“你愿意玩赌钱的吗，霍根先生？”查理突然冒出一句。
“我不能跟你玩赌钱的，这不公平！”霍根先生说。
“噢，快点，霍根先生……1000美元一杆！”
“不行，人们会怎么看我，恃强凌弱，乘人之危。”目清神明的高尔夫手回应道。
“懦夫，霍根先生？”
“那好，”窘迫的霍根脱口而出，“可我会打出我的最高水平！”
“我别无他求。”信心十足的博斯韦尔说道。
“你接受了，博斯韦尔先生。你来定时间和地点！”
意气满满的博斯韦尔回道：“10点钟……今晚！”
Saying Your Thank-yous
One year ago,at a get-together of a dozen girlfriends from college,I saw my old friend,Therese Gibson. When I told her I was writing a book called Happy for No Reason,which focuses on the 21 core habits of unconditionally happy people,she told me about the daily gratitude ritual she practices with her 95-year-old father Charlie that keeps them smiling and feeling good.
Therese moved in with Charlie during a bad time in both their lives. Charlie's wife had just died,Therese was at the tail end of a painful divorce,and money was tight.They were as glum as any two people could be.But both had heard that gratitude was a great way to feel better,so they decided to sit together for a few minutes each morning before Therese went off to work and tell each other three things they were grateful for in their lives.
“It was slow going in the beginning，”Therese told me.“The first time we did it,I had a hard time thinking of even one thing I was grateful for.”Finally,she looked around the room and saw a vase she liked. She told Charlie，“I'm grateful for how pretty that vase is.”It sounded silly,but it was the best she could do.Charlie wasn't any better at it,often waiting for Therese to give him a clue about what to say.But she and Charlie both noticed that even a thank-you for something superficial had a good effect.
Soon,their decision to focus on what was right in their lives began to pay off. Both Therese and Charlie started to feel happier,and to notice that more and more things were going their way.Even their money situation was improved.Three thank-yous became five,then ten,and soon they had to stop listing the good things in their lives long before they ran out of things to say—or Therese would be late for work.
One day,they were feeling so light and happy after finishing their lists that Charlie,who'd always liked the musical Oklahoma,started singing“Oh,What a Beautiful Morning.”Therese joined it. It was the perfect expression of how being grateful made them feel.They added this song to their ritual and now“saying their thank-yous”and singing together has become one of the highlights of their day.
I've experienced myself just how powerful gratitude is. Once,after going through a heartbreak,a friend told me to write down five things I was grateful for each night before I went to bed for three weeks straight.I knew that psychologists say it takes 21 days to change a habit,so I agreed.At first I struggled to come up with anything,but I continued doing it every night and over time the pain in my heart eased.
Try doing the gratitude exercise yourself. Every night before you go to sleep,list five things that you're grateful for that day,and notice how you feel when you wake up the next morning.A grateful heart can send your happiness level soaring.
常怀感恩之心
一年前，在有十几个大学女朋友参加的一次聚会上，我见到了老朋友特丽萨·吉布森。我告诉她我正在写一本名为《幸福不需要理由》的书，它关注的是百分百幸福人群的21个重要的生活习惯，她对我提起她与95岁的父亲查理每天一起做的感恩仪式，这种仪式使他们心情愉悦，感觉良好。
特丽萨在他俩生活消沉的日子里搬去与查理同住。查理的太太刚刚去世，特丽萨还处于痛苦不堪的离婚过程的尾声，而且过得捉襟见肘。他们愁眉不展，困苦不已。然而，他俩都听闻怀有感恩之心是一种能感觉好些的途径，于是决定，每天早晨在特丽萨去上班前的几分钟坐在一起，给对方讲3件生活中要感恩的事情。
“开始会很耗时，”特丽萨告诉我，“我们第一次做时，我即便是想出一件要感恩的事情都很伤脑筋。”后来，她环顾房间看到她喜欢的一只花瓶。她对查理说：“我要感谢这只花瓶是如此美丽。”这听起来无聊可笑，但她已经尽力而为了。查理根本好不到哪里去，常常等着特丽萨提示他该说些什么。可是，她和查理都发现，即便是对微乎甚微的事物道一声感谢，都会产生愉快的效果。
不久，他们关注生活中积极向上方面的决定开始回报他们。特丽萨和查理开始觉得更开心了，开始发现越来越多的事情走入正轨。他们的资金状况也得到改善。3个感恩变成5个，接着是10个，很快他们不得不终止列出生活中的好事，他们要说的事情需要太长时间——否则特丽萨上班就会迟到。
一天，他们感恩过所列出的内容后，感觉非常轻松愉快，查理一直喜爱音乐之乡的俄克拉何马州，开始高歌起来：“噢，多么美丽的清晨。”特丽萨跟着唱起来。这首歌完美地抒发了感恩之心带给他们的感受。他们把这首歌附在感恩仪式之后，现在“说出他们的感恩之心”和一起颂唱已成为他们每天重要的一部分。
我自己也体会了感恩之心的巨大力量。有一次，经历痛苦心碎之后，一个朋友告诉我，在我每晚睡觉前写下5件我要感恩的事情，坚持3周。我记得心理学家说过改变一个习惯需要21天，就同意了。开始我很难想到什么，可我仍然坚持每天晚上都做，随着时间的流逝，我内心的伤痛平息了下来。
尝试去做这种感恩活动。每天晚上你睡觉之前，列出当天所要感谢的5件事情，感受一下第二天清晨醒来时的心情，一颗感恩的心会使你的幸福程度剧增。
The Most Fitting Finish Line
In December of 1992，I was a happy husband and father of two young children. A month later,I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
After two years of chemo that helped me into remission,my body was weak and lifeless. I felt as if I were a puppet who needed help to lift his arms or hold up his head.
I began to run. Six months later my strength came back.On one of my runs,one where I felt I could run forever,I decided that I was going to try to run a marathon.
After telling my dad about my plan,he told me of a program that trains people to ran a marathon,while raising funds for Leukemia research at the same time. So that summer,through the Leukemia Society's Team In Training program,I started to train for the Marine Corps Marathon.During mile after mile of uncertainty,the day finally came to run the marathon.
On October 27，1996，at 8 A. M.，the cannon went off and so did I.Along with 19000 other brave souls I started on a 26.2-mile journey that I will never forget.
I first saw my wife Patty at the six mile mark. She seemed happy that I was still looking as if I knew what I was doing,and having a good time doing it.At mile 17，my mind was going back to those two horrible years that tried to bring my family and me down.I saw her again.The concern in her face told me she knew I was starting to struggle.I felt as if we were thinking the same,nine more miles and these last few years would be behind us.
That thought alone pulled me forward. Mile 22，23，slowing but going，24，25，then there it was.The Iwo Jima War Memorial.I have seen nothing so grand and inspiring in my life.Three hours and forty one minutes after I started,I crossed what I think has to be the most fitting finish line in all of road racing！
That night the Leukemia Society gave me a pin at a post-race party that simply says，“Leukemia 26. 2.”
If God wills,and I relapse,my cancer may once again take away my hair and my strength,maybe even my life. But it can never take away my pin,or the fact that I am a marathoner.
最完美的终点线
1992年12月，我还是一位幸福的丈夫、两个孩子的父亲。一个月后，我被诊断患有急性淋巴细胞性白血病。
经过两年促使我恢复健康的化疗之后，我的身体变得虚弱无力，毫无生气。我觉得自己如同一只木偶，需要有人牵动手臂才能支起头部。
我开始跑步，6个月后体力开始复原。有一次跑步时，我决心尝试跑马拉松，因为那次跑步经历使我觉得自己可以一直跑下去。
跟父亲讲了我的打算后，他告诉我一个组织机构，它培训人如何跑马拉松，同时为白血病研究募集资金。于是，那个夏季，通过白血病社团训练队机构，我开始为参加海军陆战队马拉松而训练。在绵绵无尽的半信半疑中，跑马拉松的这一天终于到来了。
1996年11月27日，早晨8点，子弹射出，我也出发了。和其他一万九千个勇敢之躯一起，我开始了那段26.2英里长的永远难忘的马拉松之旅。
我先是在6英里标记处看到妻子帕蒂。她好像很开心，因为我看起来好像还清楚自己的状态，而且感觉良好地进行着。在17英里处，我的思绪回到了将家人和我击垮的那痛苦不堪的两年。我又看到了她，她脸上焦虑的神情告诉我，她清楚我开始挣扎了。我觉得好像我们在想着同样的事情，还有9英里，然后过去的这几年就被我甩在身后了。
这样的念头支撑着我继续向前。22……23英里，虽然缓慢，但仍在继续，24……25，马上就到了。硫黄岛战斗纪念碑，我一生再没有见过有比它更雄伟更令人鼓舞的事物。从开始跑历时3小时41分钟，我跨过了我认为应当是所有公路赛跑中最完美的终点线！
那天晚上，白血病社团在赛后聚会上奖励我一枚胸针，上面文字简洁地写着：“白血病26.2。”
如果上帝执意如此，我白血病复发，那么我体内的癌会再次夺走我的毛发和气力，甚至我的生命。但是，它永远夺不走我的胸针，也无法更改我是一名马拉松运动员的事实。
Great Expectations
Pete Rose,the famous baseball player,and I have never met,but he taught me something so valuable that it changed my life. Pete was being interviewed in the spring training,the year he was about to break Ty Cobb's all time hits record.One reporter blurted out，“Pete,you only need 78 hits to break the record.How many at-bats do you think you'll need to get the 78 hits?”Without hesitation,Pete just stared at the reporter and said very matter-of-factly，“78.”The reporter yelled back，“Ah,come on,Pete,you don't expect to get 78 hits in 78 at-bats,do you?”
Mr. Rose calmly shared his philosophy with the throngs of reporters who were anxiously awaiting his reply to this seemingly boastful claim.“Every time I step up to the place,I expect to get a hit！If I don't expect to get a hit,I have no right to step in the batter's box in the first place！”“If I go up hoping to get a hit，”he continued，“then I probably don't have a prayer to get a hit.It is a positive expectation that has got me all of the hits in the first place.”
When I thought about Pete Rose's philosophy and how it applied to everyday life,I felt a little embarrassed. As a father,I was hoping to be a good dad.As a married man,I was hoping to be a good husband.
The truth was that I was an adequate salesperson,I was not so bad of a father,and I was an okay husband. I immediately decided that being okay was not enough！I wanted to be a great salesperson,a great father and a great husband.I changed my attitude to one of positive expectation,and the results were amazing.I was fortunate enough to win a few sales trips,I won Coach of the Year in my son's baseball league,and I share a loving relationship with my wife,Karen,to whom I expect to be married for the rest of my life！Thanks,Mr.Rose！
雄心壮志
皮特·罗斯是著名棒球运动员，虽然我从未与他谋面，但他教给我的一些有价值的事情改变了我的生活。皮特在春季训练期间接受采访，那年他计划打破泰·科布的全垒打纪录。记者脱口就问：“皮特，你只要再有78个全垒打就能破这项纪录。你认为你需要多少个击球才能得这78个全垒打呢？”皮特直视着记者，实事求是地说：“78个。”记者嚷嚷着回应：“啊，得了，皮特，你并不指望这78个击球每次都是全垒打吧？”
拥挤成团的记者们迫切等待看罗斯先生如何回应这句似乎傲慢自负的话，罗斯先生平静地向他们道出了他的人生哲学。“每次踏入击球区，我都准备打出全垒打！如果不准备击球，我就没有资格踏入击球区一垒！如果我只是希望获胜，那我可能毫无希望获胜。正是这种乐观预期使我在一垒成功击出所有的球。”
当我认真思考皮特·罗斯的人生哲学，并思考如何将它付诸日常生活时，我感到一丝羞愧。身为人父，我希望自己是个好爸爸；身为人夫，我希望自己是个好丈夫。
然而现实生活中我是一名差强人意的销售员，一个还算不赖的父亲，一个说得过去的丈夫。我随即下定决心不能流于一般！我要成为一名杰出的销售员、一位伟大的父亲、一个大丈夫。我改变了对乐观预期所持的态度，结果出乎意料。我很幸运地赢得了几次销售旅行，我赢得了儿子棒球队年度教练荣誉，我和太太克伦夫妻恩爱，我希望在有生之年与她永结连理之好！感谢你，罗斯先生！
Control Your Attention and Mind
A disciple and his master were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.
He asked his master，“Why most people's minds are restless,and only a few possess a calm mind?What can one do to still the mind?”
The master looked at the disciple,smiled and said，“I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree.A family fly came,flying and buzzing near his ear.The elephant waved it away with his long ears.Then the fly came again,and the elephant waved it away once more.
“This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly，‘Why are you so restless and noisy?Why can't you stay for a while in one place?'
“The fly answered，‘I am attracted to whatever I see,hear or smell. My five senses pull me constantly in all directions and I cannot resist them.What is your secret?How can you stay so calm and still?'
“The elephant stopped eating and said，‘My five senses do not rule my attention. Whatever I do,I get immersed in it.Now that I am eating,I am completely immersed in eating.In this way I can enjoy my food and chew it better.I rule and control my attention,and not the other way around.'”
Upon hearing these words,the disciple's eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at his master and said，“I understand！If my five senses are in control of my mind and attention,then my mind is in constant unrest.If I am in charge of my five senses and attention,then my mind becomes calm.”
“Yes,that's right，”answered the master，“The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention is. Control your attention and mind.”
神聚则心收
一对师徒步行穿过森林，徒弟因自己心神不宁而烦恼。
他问师父：“为什么大多数人的内心都躁动不安，而只有少数人能保持沉静之心？如何才能静心呢？”
师父看看徒弟，笑着说：“我给你讲个故事。有一只大象站着从树上采叶子吃，一只苍蝇飞来，在它耳畔又飞又哼。大象用长耳朵把苍蝇扇跑。可是，苍蝇又飞过来，大象再次把苍蝇扇跑。
“这种情形重复了几次。大象问苍蝇：‘你怎么这么烦、这么吵呢？你就不能在哪里待一会儿吗？’
“苍蝇回答：‘不论什么东西，只要是见到、听到、闻到，我都会被吸引住。五官不停地把我趋向各个方向，我无法抗拒。你有什么秘诀？你怎么能保持这么平静安详呢？’
“大象停止进食，说道：‘我的五官并不掌控注意力。无论做什么，我都沉浸其中。既然我在进食，我就完全沉浸于进食，这样我就能享用食物，把它咀嚼得更好。我掌握控制注意力，别无他法。’”
听了这些话，徒弟双目圆睁，笑容展现在他脸上。他看着师父说道：“我明白了！如果我的五官受制于心神，内心就不得安宁。如果我控制五官和注意力，内心就平静下来了。”
“对，说得对。”师父答道，“心无宁则神不定，神聚则心收。”
Time Your Actions
Whatever your career is,you will accomplish twice as much in half the time when you learn to time your actions.
All of us are,in a sense,sales people who are trying to sell our way through life successfully.
But only a relatively few of us manage to become master Salesmen. The secret lies largely in learning to time your words and deeds to the most opportune moment.
A southern lumberman wanted a large loan from a bank in Big Stone Gap,Virginia,owned by General Rufus A. Ayers.Fearing that his modest credit rating by itself would never convince the bank to take such a large risk,he decided to take a different approach to overcome this hurdle.
He knew that Mrs. Ayers was a lover of flower gardens.With the help of his wife,the lumberman learned the particular flowers for which Mrs.Ayers had the greatest fondness.He procured some very rare specimens and presented them to her.
Nothing was said about bank loans or business of any nature because the approach was being conducted by an expert salesman who kept it strictly on a social,neighborly basis. After three different presentations of flowers to Mrs.Ayers,she reciprocated by inviting the lumberman and his wife for dinner.
After dinner,General Ayers and his guest went into the library to visit while their wives had a talk in the flower garden. That was a perfect setting for the lumberman to get over to General Ayers the story of his lumber business and describe a large tract of timber,for which he was negotiating if he could get some additional financing.
The General wanted to know how much he needed. When told the amount he said，“Go down to the Bank tomorrow and I'll tell the Cashier to make you a loan of the amount you need.”
By proper timing,the lumberman got his loan without actually having to ask for it. If he had gone into the Bank without the preparation,and had asked for the loan he probably would have been refused by the Cashier.
It has been said that a man who can sell himself successfully to people can also sell his goods and wares successfully,a fact which strongly indicates that buyers often buy the salesman first or they don't buy his wares.
It is estimated that not one person in a million who buys insurance ever takes the trouble to find out what is in the policy. What he actually buys is the personality of the salesman who did such a good job that reading the policy seemed unnecessary.
In public speaking and in ordinary conversation,timing plays an important part as to the impression the speaker makes upon his listener. This writer once paid Professor William Hawn,a distinguished teacher of public speaking,a fee of$100 for a single lesson in speaking which consisted of only thirteen words：get up,have something to say worth hearing,say it and sit down.The lesson was worth every dollar of its cost.
When asked the secret of his success as a criminal lawyer the great Clarence Darrow replied,I usually win by letting the other lawyer talk his case to death.
There's only one way to assure yourself that your words and actions are properly timed. Think and plan before you speak or act.
把握行动时机
无论从事什么职业，只要学会把握行动时机，你就能做到事半功倍。
从某种意义上说，我们都是推销员，我们都在尽力使自己成功销售人生。
但是，我们中只有少数人能够成为销售大师。成功的秘决很大程度上在于要学会在最恰当的时刻去表现你的言行。
一个南方的木材商想要从弗吉尼亚大石峡的一家银行贷一大笔款，这家银行的老总是鲁弗斯·埃尔斯行长。但是，木材商担心他的信用等级不高，银行不会冒这么大风险把款贷给他，于是他决定另辟蹊径解决这个难题。
他得知埃尔斯夫人爱好花卉，并在妻子的帮助下知道了埃尔斯夫人最喜欢的那几种花卉。他就设法弄到了一些非常稀有的品种送给了她。
在送给埃尔斯夫人花卉时，他没有提到任何有关贷款和生意之类的话题，因为这是一个老练的销售员在掌控着事情的进展，他严格把这种往来控制在睦邻友好的基础上。送了3次花后，埃尔斯夫人为了答谢他，邀请他和他的妻子共赴晚餐。
晚餐后，妻子们在花园里聊天，埃尔斯行长领着他去参观书房，这是一个绝佳的场合，于是他就向行长谈起了自己的生意情况，说他正在和别人谈判要买下一大片林地，但需要得到一些资金支持。
行长问他需要多少钱，他告诉了行长后，对方就说：“明天你就去银行，我会让出纳员贷给你需要的钱。”
通过把握合适的时机，这个木材商不求而得，获得了他需要的贷款。如果他毫无准备径直去银行要求那笔贷款，他可能已经被出纳员拒绝了。
只有一个能把自己成功销售出去的人才能成功卖掉他的商品。事实表明，买方总是要先接受销售员，然后才会买他的东西。
据估计，在买保险的人中，不到百万分之一的人会仔细看保险单上的说明。事实上，他买的是销售员的人品，销售员工作如果认真，就会为他阅读看起来并不重要的保险单的条款说明。
无论是公共场合的讲话还是平时的普通谈话，把握时机对给听者留下印象起着关键作用。本文作者曾付给一位杰出的公共演讲老师威廉·霍恩教授100美元听他的一堂课，这堂课只由13个字组成：起立说值得一听的话，说完坐下。这堂课物有所值。
当被问到成功的秘密时，伟大的刑事辩护律师克拉伦斯·达罗答道：“通常我会让另一个律师滔滔不绝地说下去，然后我就赢了。”
你要想把握好你言行的时机，只有一种方法，那就是在言行之前要仔细思考、周密计划。
Go for It！
While watching the Olympics the other night,I came across an incredible sight. It was not a gold medal,or a world record broken,but a show of sheer determination and guts.
The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another,two of them false started,so they were disqualified.That left only one to compete.That would have been difficult enough,not having anyone to race against,even though the time on the clock is what's important.
I watched the man dive off the blocks and knew right away that something was wrong. Now I'm not an expert swimmer,but I can tell a good dive from a poor one,and this was not exactly medal quality.When he resurfaced,it was evident that the man was not out for gold—his arms were flailing in an attempt at freestyle.The crowd started to titter.Clearly this man was not a medal contender.
I heard to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man that was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back.It was pitiful.He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was exhausted.
But in those few awkward strokes,the crowd had changed. No longer were they laughing,but beginning to cheer.Some even began to stand and yell things like，“Come on,you can do it！”and，“Go for it！”He did.
A clear minute past the average swimmer,this young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild.You would have thought that he had won the gold,and he should have.Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history,this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.
Just a short years ago,he had never even swum,let alone raced. His country had been asked to Sydney as a courtesy.
In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals,feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold,or when they act so arrogantly in front of their rivals,it is nice to watch an underdog,a man that gave his all—knowing that he had no chance,but still competed because of the spirit of the games.
加油，你行！
前几天夜里，我正在观看奥运会比赛时，看到了让人难以置信的一幕。那一幕不是谁夺取了金牌，也不是谁打破了世界纪录，而是一场不折不扣的决心和意志的展现。
那是一场游泳比赛，开始时只有3个选手在跳台上。由于种种原因，两个选手都在起跳时因出现错误而被取消了比赛资格，因此只剩下一名选手来完成比赛。虽然计时器上的时间非常重要，但因为没有人和他比赛，那将会很难。
我看着那个人跳入水中，马上就知道他有些不对劲。虽然我不是游泳专家，但我能够判断出什么是优秀的跳水，什么是蹩脚的跳水。他的跳水完全拿不了奖。当他再次露出水面时，显然他是得不到金牌的。他摆动胳膊，试图采用自由泳方式。人们开始偷笑，显而易见，这个人拿不了奖牌。
我听到人们开始嘲笑那个蹩脚的选手了，显然他游得艰难。最后，他游到池壁开始转身。真遗憾，他拼命划了几下水，看得出他已是筋疲力尽了。
但在他笨拙地划水时，人们的反应变了。大家不再嘲笑他了，而是开始为他加油呐喊。有的人甚至站起来大声喊：“加油，你行！加油！”他奋力拼搏。
几分钟过去了，这个年轻选手最终完成了比赛，人们为他疯狂。你会认为他得了金牌，而且他也该得。虽然他创造了奥运会历史上最慢的纪录，但他比其他任何选手更让人激动。
就在几年前，他还从未游过泳，更别说参加比赛了。他的国家是出于礼节才被邀请来悉尼参加奥运会的。
在比赛中，那些因为觉得被欺骗而没有获得金牌就摘下银牌的选手，或者那些在对手面前表现得狂妄自大的选手，应该来看看这场比赛，看看一个输了的选手是怎样全力以赴的——在知道他没有丝毫机会取胜时仍奋力拼搏，他是在为体育精神进行比赛。
Hang in There
Nicolo Paganini was a well-known and gifted nineteenth century violinist. He was also well-known as a great showman with a quick sense of humor.His most memorable concert was in Italy with a full orchestra.He was performing before a packed house and his technique was incredible,his tone was fantastic,and his audience dearly loved him.
Toward the end of his concert,Paganini was astounding his audience with an unbelievable composition when suddenly one string on his violin snapped and hung limply from his instrument. Paganini frowned briefly,shook his head,and continued to play,improvising beautifully.
Then to everyone's surprise,a second string broke. And shortly after that,a third one.Almost like a slapstick comedy,Paganini stood there with three strings dangling from his Stradivarius.But instead of leaving the stage,Paganini stood his ground and calmly completed the difficult number on the one remaining string.
坚持下去
尼科罗·帕格尼尼不仅是19世纪很有才华的著名小提琴家，还是一个颇具幽默感的伟大表演家，他最让人难忘的一次演奏是在意大利的管弦音乐会上。音乐厅里坐满了人，他的演奏技巧非常出色，他演奏的音乐美妙无比，听众们都非常喜欢他。
在音乐会接近尾声时，帕格尼尼演奏起一段乐曲，给观众带来了阵阵惊喜，突然小提琴的一根弦断了，断弦从小提琴上松松垮垮地垂下来。帕格尼尼微微皱了皱眉，摇摇头，继续演奏下去，他的即兴表演非常精彩。
接着让人吃惊的是，第二根弦也断了，紧接着第三根也断了，简直就像一场闹剧。帕格尼尼站在那里，他的小提琴上的三根弦都垂了下来。可是，帕格尼尼并没有离开舞台，而是站在自己的位置上，在仅存的最后一根弦上完成了最难演奏的一段曲子。
A Boy Named Sparky
The late Earl Nightingale,writer and publisher of inspirational and motivational material,once told a story about a boy named Sparky.
For Sparky,school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade.He flunked physics in high school,getting a grade of zero.
Sparky also flunked Latin,algebra,and English. He didn't do much better in sports.Although he did manage to make the school's golf team,he promptly lost the only important match of the season.There was a consolation match—he lost that too.
Throughout his youth,Sparky was awkward,socially. He was not actually disliked by the other students；no one cared that much.He was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours.
There's no way to tell how he might have done at dating. Sparky never asked a girl out in high school.He was too afraid of being turned down.
Sparky was a loser. He,his classmates,everyone knew it.So he went with it.Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out they would.Otherwise,he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.
However,one thing was important to Sparky—drawing. He was proud of his artwork.Of course,no one else appreciated it.In his senior year of high school,he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook.The cartoons were turned down.Despite this,Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.
After completing high school,he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork,and the subject for a cartoon was suggested.Sparky drew the proposed cartoon.He spent a great deal of time on it and on all the other drawings he submitted.Finally,the reply came from Disney Studios.He had been rejected once again.Another loss for the loser.
So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood self—a little boy loser and chronic underachiever.
The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky,the boy who had such lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again,was Charles Schulz.
He created the“Peanuts”comic strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking a football—Charlie Brown.
一个名叫斯帕奇的男孩
厄尔·南丁格尔——启迪和励志作品的作家和出版家——曾经讲过一个叫斯帕奇的男孩的故事。
对斯帕奇来说，上学是他最不可能做好的事情。八年级时，他门门功课都不及格。上高中时，他物理不及格，得了个零分。
斯帕奇的拉丁文、代数和英语也都不及格，体育运动方面也不是太好，尽管他勉强进入了学校的高尔夫球队，还是很快就输掉了赛季中唯一的一场重要比赛，就连随后的安慰赛也输掉了。
整个青年时期，斯帕奇都拙于交际。其他人并不是讨厌他，而是没有人在乎他。如果有同学在课余时间和他打招呼，他会感到非常吃惊。人们也无从得知他约会时是什么样子，因为上高中时，他从来没有和女孩约会过。他害怕被拒绝。
斯帕奇是个失败者，他自己、他的同学，每个人都清楚这一点。所以，他也安然接受。斯帕奇很小时就认为，如果事情会有好结果，那它迟早总会有的。否则的话，他就对自己注定的平庸自我满足。
但是，有一件事对斯帕奇很重要，就是绘画。他为自己的绘画作品感到自豪。当然，没有人欣赏他的作品。高中的最后一年，他把自己画的一些卡通画提交给学校年刊的编辑，却遭到拒绝。尽管这样，斯帕奇对自己的能力依然深信不疑，他决心成为一名职业画家。
高中毕业后，他给沃特·迪士尼工作室写了一封信。迪士尼工作室让他寄一些绘画样本过去，并给他提供了一幅卡通画的主题。斯帕奇完成了指定的卡通画。他花了大量时间来画这幅卡通画和他要提交的其他画。最后，迪士尼工作室的答复是：拒绝。一个失败者的又一次失败。
于是，斯帕奇决定用卡通画来写自传。他描绘了自己的童年——一个失败的小男孩、永远的落后生。
这个卡通人物很快就风靡全球。那个在学校里处处失败，作品被再三拒绝的男孩斯帕奇，就是查尔斯·舒尔茨。
他创作了连环漫画“花生”，还塑造了一个小卡通人物查理·布朗——他的风筝永远飞不起来，他永远也踢不到足球。
Sharpen Your Axe
A young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job.“That depends，”replied the foreman.“Let's see you fell this tree.”The young man stepped forward,and skillfully felled a great tree. Impressed,the foreman exclaimed，“You can start Monday.”
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday went by—and Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said，“You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today.”
Startled,the young man replied，“I thought you paid on Friday.”
“Normally we do，”said the foreman.“But we're letting you go today because you've fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last place today.”
“But I'm a hard worker，”the young man objected.“I arrive first,leave last,and even have worked through my coffee breaks！”
The foreman,sensing the young man's integrity,thought for a minute and then asked，“Have you been sharpening your ax?”
The young man replied，“No sir,I've been working too hard to take time for that！”
Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to“sharpen the ax.”In today's world,it seems that everyone is busier than ever,but less happy than ever.Why is that?Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?
There's nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we shouldn't get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life.We all need time to relax,to think and meditate,to learn and grow.If we don't take time to sharpen the axe,we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
打磨斧头
一位年轻人找到一个伐木队的工头，想讨份工作，“那得视情况而定，”工头答道，“你把这棵树砍倒让我看看。”年轻人走上前，娴熟地砍倒了一棵大树。工头很振奋，大声说：“周一你就能来上班了。”
周一、周二、周三、周四，时间一天天过去了。到了周四下午，工头来到年轻人跟前说：“你今天就可以领走薪水回去了。”
年轻人吃惊地回答：“我想周五才会发薪水。”
“通常是这样的，”工头说，“但我们今天就要解雇你，因为你已经落后了。我们的每日砍伐图显示，你已经从周一的第一名落到了今天的最后一名。”
“可我工作很努力，”年轻人辩解道，“我来得最早，走得最晚，甚至连休息时间也在工作。”
工头觉得这个年轻人很诚实，思索了一会儿问道：“你有没有磨过你的斧头？”
年轻人回答：“没磨过，先生，我一直在努力伐木，没有时间去磨斧头。”
生活中也是如此，有时我们太忙了，顾不上去“磨斧头”。在当今社会，似乎大家都比以前更忙了，却比以前拥有更少的快乐。为什么会这样？难道我们已经忘记了如何使自己保持敏锐？
积极行动、努力工作本没有错。但是，我们不应该太忙碌而忽视了生活中真正重要的东西。我们都需要时间放松，需要时间深思，并需要时间不断学习和成长。如果我们不花时间来打磨斧头，就会变得愚钝而失去效率。
The Competitive Spirit
This speech is delivered by Scott W. Biehl,General Manager of Mercedes Benz of Fresno.
While growing up I spent a lot of time at my Grandparents'home. Yes,they would spoil my sister and me like most loving grandparents with gifts and treats but the things I loved most was playing catch,having putting contests in the living room,and playing basketball with my Grandpa.
My Grandfather had a basketball hoop set up in his backyard and when I would come over we would always play a game of 21. The way it was scored was if you made a basket it was worth 2 points and then you could shoot free throws for 1 point a piece until you missed.My Grandfather who was a professional boxer in his younger days always stayed fit and was in great shape.As I got older,the basketball games became more competitive but he would never just let me win.
Then one day when I was about 12 years old I finally did it！I beat him at a game of 21. After all those years of playing,I finally won.Then a couple of days later I called to see if he would be home so I could come by and visit and then took the bus across town to his house to see him.I couldn't wait to play him again at 21.All those years of losing to him and now I know I can beat him.
I arrived at his house and was greeted by my Grandmother and asked，“Where's Grandpa?”As she turned to point out in the backyard I could see my Grandfather. He was practicing shooting free throws.My 70-year-old Grandfather was practicing shooting free throws.I then went out in the backyard with my confidence of just winning a few days before,to play a game of 21 with Grandpa.
So,we started to play our usual game of 21 and I made the first basket for 2 points and then made only 1 free throw. My Grandfather then made a basket and proceeded to make 19 free throws in a row and beat me 21-3.Game over！
I learned a lot of lessons from my Grandfather over the years but none of them stands out like the lesson I received in his backyard that day. While he was since passed on,his competitive spirit still lives on through me today.Now I have a 6-year-old son of my own and I know that there is a game of 21 in our future and many of life's lessons to be learned while playing it.
竞争精神
这是弗雷斯诺的梅赛德斯奔驰公司的总经理斯科特·W.贝希尔做的一次演讲。
小时候，我经常住在祖父母家里。的确，他们也像大多数慈爱的祖父母一样，总是给我们好吃的好玩儿的，对我和妹妹百般溺爱，但我最喜欢的却是玩传球，就在客厅里玩，还喜欢和祖父一起打篮球。
祖父的后院里有个篮球框架，每次我到那里去，总是会和祖父打一场21分制的篮球赛。它得分的规则是投进一个球得两分，接着你可以进行罚球，罚球进一个得一分，直到你没投进为止。祖父年轻时是一名职业拳击手，他身体很棒，十分健壮。随着我渐渐长大，我们的篮球赛的竞争性更强了，但祖父从未输给我。
后来，大约12岁时，我终于打赢了！我在一场比赛中击败了他。经过这些年的比赛，我终于赢了。过了几天，我给他打电话，看他在不在家；在家的话，我就到他家去。打过电话后，我坐公交车穿过整个市区来到了他的家，迫不及待地想要和他再打一场比赛。这些年总是输给他，而现在我知道我能打败他了。
到了他的家，祖母出来迎接我，我就问她：“祖父呢？”她转过身，指了指后院，我就看到了祖父，他正在练习罚球。70岁高龄的祖父正在练习罚球。我满怀着前几天获胜的信心，跑到院子里，和他进行比赛。
就这样，我们开始像往常那样进行比赛，我第一个球投进了，得了两分，接着罚球时只进了一个，得了一分。然后我祖父投进了一个球，接着罚球时，他连续进了19个球。最后以21比3打败了我。比赛结束了！
多年来，我从祖父那里学到了许多经验教训，但最重要的却是那天在他家后院学到的东西。虽然他已经去世了，但他的竞争精神如今却能通过我继续延续下去。现在我有了一个6岁的儿子，我知道我们将来也会有一场21分制的比赛，许多人生经验将会在这样的比赛中获得。
Weakness or Strength
Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take,for example,the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well,so he couldn't understand why,after three months of training,the master had taught him only one move.
“Sensei，”the boy finally said，“shouldn't I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know,but this is the only move you'll ever need to know，”the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding,but believing in his teacher,the boy kept training. Several months later,the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.Surprising himself,the boy easily won his first two matches.The third match proved to be more difficult,but after some time,his opponent became impatient and charged；the boy deftly used his one move to win the match.Still amazed by his success,the boy was now in the finals.
This time,his opponent was bigger,stronger,and more experienced. For a while,the boy appeared to be overmatched.Concerned that the boy might get hurt,the referee called a time-out.He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.
“No，”the sensei insisted，“Let him continue.”
Soon after the match resumed,his opponent made a critical mistake：he dropped his guard. Instantly,the boy used his move to pin him.The boy had won the match and the tournament.He was the champion.
On the way home,the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned up the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
“Sensei,how did I win the tournament with only one move?”
“You won for two reasons，”the sensei answered.“First,you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second,the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grasp your left arm.”
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
是弱项还是强项
有时，你的弱项能变成你的强项。例如一个10岁小男孩的故事。小男孩在一次悲惨的车祸中失去了左臂，尽管这样，他还是决心学习柔道。
男孩开始跟着一个年长的柔道大师学习。男孩学得非常棒，但他不明白，训练3个月了，老师却只教给他一个动作。
“老师，”男孩终于说道，“我不该学习更多的招数吗？”
“你只知道这一招，但这也是你需要知道的唯一一招。”
男孩虽然相当不解，但他相信老师，于是继续训练着。几个月后，老师带着男孩去参加他的第一次比赛。男孩自己也感到惊讶，他居然轻而易举地赢了前两场比赛。第三场比赛更为艰难，但过了一会儿，对手就沉不住气了，向他猛冲过来。男孩非常敏捷地用他学过的一招赢得了比赛。男孩对自己的成功感到不可思议，他就这样进入了决赛。
这次，他的对手更高、更强，也更有经验。很快，男孩似乎就招架不住了。裁判担心男孩可能受伤，就叫了暂停。当他正要停止比赛时，那位老师阻止了他。
“不，”老师坚持道，“让他继续比下去。”
比赛继续进行，不久，男孩的对手就犯了一个致命的错误：他放松了警惕。男孩立刻用那一招将他扳倒。他赢得了比赛，成了冠军。
在回家的路上，男孩和他的老师回顾了每场比赛里的每个动作。男孩鼓起勇气问老师他心中的不解。
“老师，我是怎么一招制胜赢得比赛的？”
“你能获胜有两个原因，”老师答道，“首先，你已经基本掌握了柔道里最难的一个动作。其次，对付那个动作的唯一防御方法就是对手要抓住你的左臂。”
男孩最大的弱项成了他最大的强项。
A Seed
Once upon a time,there was a seed and because it was only a seed,nobody cared to notice it. Thus,seized by a sense of inferiority,the seed gave no importance to his existence.
Then one day,a wind picked him up—randomly or otherwise he didn't know—and threw him on an open field under the sweltering sun. He was confused.Why would anything do such a thing?But instead of any copasetic answers,he was provided with rain（in addition to sunlight）sometimes in drizzles and sometimes in torrents.
Meanwhile time flew and years later he saw a traveler sitting by his side.“Thank God for this. I really needed some rest，”he heard the traveler say.
“What are you talking about?”The seed promptly asked. He thought the man was making fun of him.Sure,he had witnessed many people sitting by his side—more so in recent years—but no one ever spoke to him like that.
“Who is this?”The man was startled.
“This is me. The seed.”
“The seed?”The man looked at the giant tree.“Are you kidding me?You are no seed. You are a tree.A goliath of tree！”
“Really?”
“Yes！Why else do you think people come here?”
“What do they come here for anyway?”
“To feel your shade！Don't tell me you didn't know you had grown over time.”
A moment passed before the traveler's words struck the chord of realization within him.
The seed,now a flourishing tree,thought and smiled for the first time in his life. The years of relentless tortures by the sun and the rain finally made sense to him.
“Oh！That means I'm not a flimsy seed anymore！I wasn't destined to die unnoticed but was actually born to drive away people's lassitude. Wow！Now that's life worth a thousand gems！”
一粒种子
从前有一粒种子，因为它只不过是一粒种子，没有人在意它，所以这粒种子总是自惭形秽，妄自菲薄。
有一天，一阵风把它吹起来——也许风只是随意为之或是它并不知道的什么原因——把它吹到烈日照射下的田野里。它被搞糊涂了，为什么有人做这样的事儿？它想不出什么好的理由，却得到了雨水的滋润（除了阳光外），有时是毛毛细雨，有时是倾盆大雨。
时光飞逝，几年之后，它看到一个旅行者正坐在他旁边。“谢天谢地，我的确需要休息休息了。”它听到旅行者说道。
“你在说什么呀？”这粒种子急切地问。它以为这个人在取笑它，当然它已经看到过很多人都曾坐在它旁边——近几年更是如此——但从来没有人对它那样说过。
“是谁？”那个人吃惊地问道。
“是我，一粒种子。”
“种子？”那个人看着这棵参天大树说，“你在跟我开玩笑吗？你不是一粒种子，你是一棵树，一棵参天大树！”
“真的吗？”
“是啊！你认为人们到这来是为别的什么原因吗？”
“他们来这里到底做什么？”
“来乘凉啊！不要告诉我你还不知道自己已经长大了。”
过了好一会儿，它才明白了旅行者说的话。
那粒种子现在已是一棵枝繁叶茂的大树了，它平生第一次想了想，笑了起来。多年不断的日晒雨淋最后对它产生了重大意义。
“噢！那就是说我不再是一粒无足轻重的种子了！我不会悄然死去了，而是生来要为人们赶走疲劳的。哇！现在这是价值千金的生活！”
See Yourself Winning
Do you believe our imagination has much to do with success?
Arnold Schwarzenegger won the title of Mr. Universe seven times.But he didn't keep his title by only pumping iron.As part of his workout routine,he would frequently to into the corner of the gym and visualize himself winning the title again.
Jack Nicklaus,the great professional golfer,explained his imaging technique. He said，“First I‘see'the ball where I want it to finish—nice and white and sitting up high on the bright green grass.Then the scene quickly changes,and I‘see'the ball going there,its path,trajectory and shape,even its behavior on the landing.Then，”says Nicklaus，“There's sort of a fade-out,and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.”
I recall hearing the story of a prisoner of war who spent his years of solitary confinement playing gold—on the course of his mind. When he was released and returned to California,one of his first desires was to head for the nearest golfing facility.He was totally shocked at how his game had improved.Without question,his imagination had greatly enhanced his physical skills.
Today,practice“seeing”yourself winning.
想象自己胜利
你相信成功和我们的想象力密切相关吗？
阿诺德·施瓦辛格曾7次赢得世界先生的称号。但是，他并非只是靠举重来享有这个称号的。作为训练的一部分，他经常去健身房锻炼，想象着自己再一次获此殊荣。
伟大的职业高尔夫球手杰克·尼克劳斯曾这样描述他的想象技巧。他说：“首先，我假设球的落点——漂亮的白球在明媚的绿地上弹起。接着情况发生了变化，我想象着球到达目的地，想象着它通过的路线和轨迹以及形状，甚至还要想象它落地时的样子。然后，”尼克劳斯说，“球就会出现那种想象中运动的样子，这样就会把我先前的假设变为现实。”
我记得听过这样一个故事，一名战犯在被单独监禁期间练习打高尔夫——是在脑子里想象着打。他刑满释放，回到加州后，他最先做的事情就是直奔最近的高尔夫球场。他对自己球技大长感到震惊。毫无疑问，他的想象力已经极大地提高了他的球技。
如今，要练习“想象”你自己的胜利。
Don’t Sit on Your Talent
There was a man who played piano in a bar. He was good piano player.People came out just to hear him play.But one night,a patron told him he didn't want to hear him play anymore.He wanted him to sing a song.
The man said，“I don't sing.”
But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender，“I'm tired of listening to the piano.I want that guy to sing！”
The bartender shouted across the room，“Hey,buddy！If you want to get paid,sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing！”
So he did. He sang a song.A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time.And nobody had ever heard the song,Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole！
He had talent he was sitting on！He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar,but because he HAD to sing,he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.
You,too,have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your“talent”is particularly great,but it may be better than you think！And with persistence,most skills can be improved.Besides,you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess！The better question is not“What ability do I have that is useful?”It is rather“How will I use whatever ability I have?”
发挥你的才能
一个人在酒吧里弹琴，弹得非常好。人们到这里来就是为了听他弹琴。但一天晚上，一个老顾客说他不想再听他弹琴，想听他唱歌。
这个人说：“我不会唱歌。”
但这位顾客坚持让他唱。顾客告诉酒吧服务员：“我听烦了钢琴弹奏，想让那个人唱歌！”
服务员喊道：“嗨，老兄！如果想拿到钱就唱首歌吧，这位顾客要你唱歌！”
那个人照做了，他唱了一首歌。一个从没有在公众面前唱过歌的钢琴演奏者第一次唱歌。人们从没有听过像纳特·金·柯尔那样唱出来的《蒙娜丽莎》这首歌！
他有唱歌的天赋却不知利用。也许他余生只会是一个普通酒吧不知名的钢琴演奏者。但由于被逼着唱歌，他成了美国著名的歌手之一。
你也许同样有才能和天赋，也许你并不觉得你的“才能”有多了不起，但它可能比你想的要好！只要坚持下去，大多数才能都能得到施展。可是，如果你怀有才能却不知利用，那你就会毫无才能！最好的问题不是“我有什么有用的才能”，而是“我该如何利用自己的才能”。
I Have a Dream
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago,a great American,in whose symbolic shadow we stand today,signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later,the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later,the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.One hundred years later,the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.One hundred years later,the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence,they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.This note was a promise that all men,yes,black men as well as white men,would be guaranteed the“unalienable Rights”of“Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note,insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.Instead of honoring this sacred obligation,America has given the Negro people a bad check,a check which has come back marked“insufficient funds.”
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.And so,we've come to cash this check,a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.Nineteen sixty-three is not an end,but a beginning.And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people,who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice：In the process of gaining our rightful place,we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.Again and again,we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people,for many of our white brothers,as evidenced by their presence here today,have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk,we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights，“When will you be satisfied?”We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies,heavy with the fatigue of travel,cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote.No,no,we are not satisfied,and we will not be satisfied until“justice rolls down like waters,and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells.And some of you have come from areas where your quest—quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality.You have been the veterans of creative suffering.Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.Go back to Mississippi,go back to Alabama,go back to South Carolina,go back to Georgia,go back to Louisiana,go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities,knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair,I say to you today,my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed：“We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi,a state sweltering with the heat of injustice,sweltering with the heat of oppression,will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today！
I have a dream that one day,down in Alabama,with its vicious racists,with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of“interposition”and“nullification”—one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today！
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted,and every hill and mountain shall be made low,the rough places will be made plain,and the crooked places will be made straight；“and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”?
This is our hope,and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith,we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith,we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.With this faith,we will be able to work together,to pray together,to struggle together,to go to jail together,to stand up for freedom together,knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day—this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning：
My country'tis of thee,sweet land of liberty,of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died,land of the Pilgrim's pride，
From every mountainside,let freedom ring！
And if America is to be a great nation,this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that：
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside,let freedom ring.
And when this happens,when we allow freedom ring,when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet,from every state and every city,we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children,black men and white men,Jews and Gentiles,Protestants and Catholics,will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual，“Free at last！free at last！Thank God Almighty,we are free at last！”
我有一个梦想
今天，我很高兴跟大家一道参加这次将成为我国历史上为争取自由而举行的最伟大的示威集会。
100年前，一位伟大的美国人签署了解放黑奴宣言，今天我们就是在他的雕像前集会。这一庄严宣言犹如灯塔的光芒，给千百万在那摧残生命的不义之火中受煎熬的黑人带来了希望。它的到来犹如欢乐的黎明，结束了束缚黑人的漫漫长夜。
然而，100年后的今天，我们必须正视黑人还没有得到自由这一悲惨事实。100年后的今天，在种族隔离的镣铐和种族歧视的枷锁下，黑人的生活备受压榨。100年后的今天，黑人仍生活在物质充裕的海洋中一个穷困的孤岛上。100年后的今天，黑人仍畏缩在美国社会的角落里，并且意识到自己是故土家园中的流亡者。今天我们在这里集会，就是要把这种骇人听闻的情况公之于众。
就某种意义而言，今天我们是为了要求兑现诺言而汇集到我们国家的首都来的。我们共和国的缔造者在草拟宪法和独立宣言的气壮山河的词句时，曾向每个美国人许下了诺言，他们承诺给予所有人以生存、自由和追求幸福的不可剥夺的权利。
就有色公民而论，美国显然没有实践她的诺言。美国没有履行这项神圣义务，只是给黑人开了一张空头支票，支票上盖着“资金不足”的戳子后便被退了回来。但是，我们不相信正义的银行已经破产，我们不相信这个国家巨大的机会之库里已经没有足够的储备。因此，今天我们要求将支票兑现——这张支票将给予我们宝贵的自由和正义的保障。
我们来到这个圣地也是为了提醒美国，现在是非常急迫的时刻。现在绝不是侈谈冷静下来或服用渐进主义的镇静剂的时候。现在是实现民主的诺言的时候。现在是从种族隔离的荒凉阴暗的深谷攀登种族平等的光明大道的时候，现在是向上帝所有的儿女开放机会之门的时候，现在是把我们的国家从种族不平等的流沙中拯救出来，置于兄弟情谊的磐石上的时候。
如果美国忽视时间的迫切性和低估黑人的决心，那么，这对美国来说，将是致命伤。自由和平等的凉爽秋天如不到来，黑人义愤填膺的酷暑就不会过去。1963年并不意味着斗争的结束，而是开始。有人希望，黑人只要撒撒气就会满足；如果国家安之若素，毫无反应，这些人必会大失所望。黑人得不到公民的权利，美国就不可能有安宁或平静，正义的光明一天不到来，叛乱的旋风就会继续动摇这个国家的基础。
但对等候在正义之宫门口的心急如焚的人们，有些话我必须要说。在争取合法地位的过程中，我们不要采取错误的做法。我们不要为了满足对自由的渴望而抱着敌对和仇恨之杯痛饮。我们斗争时必须永远举止得体，纪律严明。我们不能允许我们的具有崭新内容的抗议蜕变为暴力行动。我们要不断升华到以精神力量对付物质力量的崇高境界中去。
现在黑人社会充满着了不起的新的战斗精神，但不能因此不信任所有的白人。因为我们的许多白人兄弟已经认识到，他们的命运与我们的命运紧密相连，他们今天参加游行集会就是明证。他们的自由与我们的自由是息息相关的。我们不能单独行动。
我们行动时，必须保证向前进，我们不能倒退。现在有人问热心民权运动的人：“你们什么时候才能满足？”
只要黑人仍遭受警察难以形容的野蛮迫害，我们就绝不会满足。
只要我们在外奔波而疲乏的身躯不能在公路旁的汽车旅馆和城里的旅馆找到住宿之所，我们就绝不会满足。
只要黑人的基本活动范围只是从少数民族聚居的小贫民区转移到大贫民区，我们就绝不会满足。
只要密西西比仍有一个黑人不能参加选举，只要纽约有一个黑人认为他投票无济于事，我们就绝不会满足。
不！我们现在并不满足，我们将来也不满足，除非正义和公正犹如江海波涛，汹涌澎湃，滚滚而来。
我并非没有注意到参加今天集会的人中，有些受尽苦难和折磨，有些刚刚走出窄小的牢房，有些因寻求自由曾在居住地惨遭疯狂迫害和打击，并在警察暴行的旋风中摇摇欲坠。你们是人为痛苦的长期受难者。坚持下去吧，要坚信，忍受不应得的痛苦是一种赎罪。
让我们回到密西西比去，回到亚拉巴马去，回到南卡罗来纳去，回到佐治亚去，回到路易斯安那去，回到我们北方城市中的贫民区和少数民族居住区去，要心中有数，这种状况是能够也必将改变的。我们不要陷入绝望而不可自拔。
朋友们，今天我对你们说，此时此刻，我们虽然遭受种种困难和挫折，我仍有一个梦想，这个梦想深深扎根于美国的梦想之中。
我梦想有一天，这个国家会站立起来，真正实现其信条的真谛：“我们认为这些真理不言而喻，人人生而平等。”
我梦想有一天，在佐治亚的红山上，从前奴隶的后嗣将能和奴隶主的后嗣坐在一起，共叙兄弟情谊。
我梦想有一天，甚至连密西西比州这个正义匿迹、压迫成风，如同沙漠般的地方，也将变成自由和正义的绿洲。
我梦想有一天，我的四个孩子将在一个不是以他们的肤色，而是以他们的品格优劣来评价他们的国度里生活。
我今天有一个梦想。我梦想有一天，亚拉巴马州能有所转变，尽管该州州长现在仍满口异议，反对联邦法令，但有朝一日，那里的黑人男孩和女孩将能与白人男孩和女孩情同骨肉，携手并进。
我今天有一个梦想。
我梦想有一天，幽谷上升，高山下降；坎坷曲折之路成坦途，圣光披露，满照人间。
这就是我们的希望。我怀着这种信念回到南方。有了这个信念，我们将能从绝望之岭劈出一块希望之石。有了这个信念，我们将能把这个国家刺耳的争吵声，改变成为一支洋溢手足之情的优美交响曲。
有了这个信念，我们将能一起工作，一起祈祷，一起斗争，一起坐牢，一起维护自由，因为我们知道，终有一天，我们会自由。
在自由到来的那一天，上帝的所有儿女们将以新的含义高唱这首歌：“我的祖国，美丽的自由之乡，我为您歌唱。您是父辈逝去的地方，您是最初移民的骄傲，让自由之声响彻每个山岗。”
如果美国要成为一个伟大的国家，这个梦想就必须实现。让自由之声从新罕布什尔州巍峨的崇山峻岭响起来！让自由之声从纽约州的崇山峻岭响起来！
让自由之声从科罗拉多州冰雪覆盖的落基山响起来！让自由之声从加利福尼亚州蜿蜒的群峰响起来！不仅如此，还要让自由之声从佐治亚州的石岭响起来！让自由之声从田纳西州的瞭望山响起来！
让自由之声从密西西比的每座丘陵响起来！让自由之声从每片山坡响起来。
当我们让自由之声响起来，让自由之声从每个大小村庄、每个州和每个城市响起来时，我们将能加速这一天的到来，那时上帝的所有儿女，黑人和白人，犹太教徒和非犹太教徒，耶稣教徒和天主教徒，都将手携手，合唱一首古老的黑人灵歌：“终于自由啦！终于自由啦！感谢全能天父，我们终于自由啦！”
Waste not,Want not
Mr. Jones.Boys,if you have nothing to do,will you unpack these parcels for me?
The two parcels were exactly alike,both of them well tied up with good whipcord. Ben took his parcel to the table,and began to examine the knot,and then to untie it.
John took the other parcel,and tried first at one corner,and then at the other,to pull off the string. But the cord had been too well secured,and he only drew the knots tighter.
John. I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly,as if they were never to be undone.Why,Ben,how did you get yours undone?What is in your parcel?I wonder what is in mine！I wish I could get the string off.I will cut it.
Ben. Oh,no,do not cut it,John！Look,what a nice cord this is,and yours is the same.It is a pity to cut it.
John. Pooh！what signifies a bit of pack thread?
Ben. It is whipcord.
John. Well,whipcord then！what signifies a bit of whipcord?You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents；and who cares for three cents?Not I,for one.So,here it goes.
So he took out his knife,and cut it in several places.
Mr. Jones.Well,my boys,have you undone the parcels for me?
John. Yes,sir；here is the parcel.
Ben. And here is my parcel,father,and here is also the string.
Mr. Jones.You may keep the string,Ben.
Ben. Thank you,sir.What excellent whipcord it is！
Mr. Jones.And you,John,may keep your string,too,if it will be of any use to you.
John. It will be of no use to me,thank you,sir.
Mr. Jones.No,I am afraid not,if this is it.
A few weeks after this,Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top.
John. How is this,Ben?These tops have no strings.What shall we do for strings?
Ben. I have a string that will do very well for mine.And he pulled it out of his pocket.
John. Why,if that is not the whipcord！I wish I had saved mine.
A few days afterward,there was a shooting match,with bows and arrows,among the lads. The prize was a fine bow and arrows,to be given to the best marksman.“Come,come，”said Master Sharp，“I am within one inch of the mark.I should like to see who will go nearer.”
John drew his bow,and shot. The arrow struck within a quarter of an inch of Master Sharp's.“Shoot away，”said Sharp；“but you must understand the rules.We settled them before you came.You are to have three shots with your own arrows.Nobody is to borrow or lend.So shoot away.”
John seized his second arrow；“If I have any luck，”said he；—but just as he pronounced the word“luck，”the string broke,and the arrow fell from his hands.
Master Sharp. There！It is all over with you.
Ben. Here is my bow for him,and welcome.
Master Sharp. No,no,sir；that is not fair.Did you not hear the rules?There is to be no lending.
It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His first arrow missed the mark；the second was exactly as near as John's first.Before venturing the last arrow,Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow；and,as he pulled it to try its strength,it snapped.
Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy. But his dancing suddenly ceased,when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent piece of cord,and began to tie it to the bow.
“The everlasting whipcord,I declare！”cried John.“Yes，”said Ben，“I put it in my pocket today,because I thought I might want it.”
Ben's last arrow won the prize；and when the bow and arrows were handed to him,John said，“How valuable that whipcord has been to you,Ben. I'll take care how I waste anything hereafter.”
俭以防匮
琼斯先生说：“孩子们，如果你们无事可做，能帮我打开这些包裹吗？”
这两个包裹从外面看一模一样，都是用上好的绳子系着的。本把他的包裹拿到桌子上，检查绳子上面的结，然后开始解绳子。
约翰拿了另一个包裹，他用了各种方法解绳子，但绳子系得太结实，他那样做只能让绳子勒得更紧。
约翰说：“我真希望这些人不要把绳子系得这么紧，好像这包裹再也不用打开似的。本，你是怎么把它解开的？你的包裹里面都有什么？我很好奇我的包裹里面装的是什么！我真希望我能把绳子解开，我还是把它剪掉算了。”
本说：“噢，不，别剪，约翰！看看这绳子多好啊，你的绳子也是一样的。就这么剪了，实在太可惜了。”
约翰说：“一根破绳子有什么可惜的？”
本说：“那可是鞭绳。”
约翰说：“好吧，鞭绳就鞭绳吧！谁会在乎三美分的鞭绳呢？至少我不会，所以我要剪了它。”
于是他拿起刀子，把鞭绳剪成了好几段。
琼斯先生说：“好了，孩子们，你们都帮我解开包裹了吗？”
约翰说：“是的，先生。在这儿呢。”
本说：“这是我解开的包裹，这是鞭绳。”
琼斯先生说：“你还留着鞭绳啊，本！”
本说：“是的，先生，你看这鞭绳多好啊！”
琼斯先生说：“约翰，你也留着鞭绳呢，对吧！这绳子或许有什么用处呢！”
约翰说：“那绳子对于我来说没什么用，先生。”
琼斯先生说：“如果剪成这样，恐怕是没什么用处了。”
在这之后的几个月，琼斯先生给他的两个儿子每人买了一个陀螺。”
约翰说：“这是怎么回事，本？这些陀螺没有鞭绳，该怎么玩啊？”
本说：“我有绳子，和我的陀螺正适合。”然后他从口袋里拿出了绳子。
约翰说：“为什么，如果当时那鞭绳我还留着，也有绳子用了。”
又过去几天，一群小伙子举行射箭比赛。冠军的奖品是一副质地精良的弓箭。夏普大师说：“看！我射的箭离靶心不到一英寸，看看谁射的箭离靶心更近。”
约翰拉开他的弓，把箭射出去，箭射在了离夏普大师四分之一英寸的地方。
“歪靶，”夏普说，“你要知道比赛的规则，这些规则在你来之前就已经定好了。你有三次射箭的机会，没有人会借给你箭。”
约翰拿起第二支箭，“但愿我好运。”他说。不过，就在他刚说到运气的时候，他弓上的绳子断了，箭从他手里掉了下去。
夏普说：“好啦！你的比赛结束了。”
本说：“我把我的弓借给他。”
夏普说：“不行，这样不公平，你不知道比赛规则吗？比赛中你不能把自己的弓或箭借给别的选手。”
现在轮到本了。他第一箭射偏了，第二箭又射到了约翰第一箭的位置附近。在本射出最后一箭之前，他仔细地检查了弓上的绳子。他拉了一下绳子，想看看那绳子的力道，结果绳子断了。
夏普大师拍起了手，并且欢快地跳起舞来。不过他很快就停了下来，因为本小心翼翼地从口袋里拿出了一条精致的绳子，然后把这段绳子绑在弓上。
“这不就是之前那条鞭绳吗！”约翰叫道，“是的，”本说，“我今天把它放在了口袋里，因为我觉得没准会用上。”
本正是通过这最后一箭拿到了奖品，当夏普把那副弓箭交到本手上的时候，约翰说：“那段鞭绳对你来说真是太有价值了，本。我从今以后再也不浪费了。”
Emulation
Frank's father was speaking to a friend,one day,on the subject of competition at school. He said that he could answer for it that envy is not always connected with it.
He had been excelled by many,but did not recollect ever having felt envious of his successful rivals；“nor did my winning many a prize from my friend Birch，”said he，“ever lessen his friendship for me.”
In support of the truth of this,a friend who was present related an anecdote which had fallen under his own notice in a school in his neighborhood.
At this school the sons of several wealthy farmers,and others,who were poorer,received instruction. Frank listened with great attention while the gentleman gave the following account of the two rivals：
It happened that the son of a rich farmer and the son of a poor widow came in competition for the head of their class. They were so nearly equal that the teacher could scarcely decide between them；some days one,and some days the other,gained the head of the class.It was determined by seeing who should be at the head of the class for the greater number of days in the week.
The widow's son,by the last day's trial,gained the victory,and kept his place the following week,till the school was dismissed for the holidays.
When they met again the widow's son did not appear,and the farmer's son,being next to him,might now have been at the head of his class. Instead of seizing the vacant place,however,he went to the widow's house to inquire what could be the cause of her son's absence.
Poverty was the cause；the poor woman found that she was not able,with her utmost efforts,to continue to pay for the tuition and books of her son,and so he,poor fellow！had been compelled to give up his schooling,and to return to labor for her support.
The farmer's son,out of the allowance of pocket money which his father gave him,bought all the necessary books and paid for the tuition of his rival. He also permitted him to be brought back again to the head of his class,where he continued for some time,at the expense of his generous rival.
竞争
一天，弗兰克的父亲正在和一位朋友谈论在学校里竞争的话题，他说他敢负责任地说，嫉妒并不总是和竞争联系在一起的。
他曾经被很多人超越过，但是他不记得自己嫉妒过竞争对手。“即使我和我的朋友博奇竞争，并且我获胜，”他说，“也不会破坏我们之间的友谊。”
他的朋友也支持他的观点，并且讲了一个故事，这是发生在他家社区学校里的故事。
在这所学校里，有一些学生来自富裕家庭，其他人则来自贫穷家庭，他们一同接受教育。这位绅士讲这个故事的时候，弗兰克非常认真地听着。
“事情是这样的，一个有钱人家的孩子和一个穷寡妇的儿子为了争夺班里的头名而展开激烈的竞争。他们的成绩相当，就连老师也无法判断谁的成绩更好。有时候有钱人家的孩子拿第一，有时候穷寡妇的儿子拿第一。于是，大家只能通过一周内谁得第一的次数最多来决定谁是班里的头名。
“最后，寡妇的儿子获得了胜利，并且在接下来的一周保住了第一的位置，直到学校开始放假。
“但是，开学之后，那个寡妇的孩子没来上学，这回有钱人家的孩子可以拿第一了。然而，他并没有占这个便宜，而是来到寡妇家，问她为什么她的儿子没有来上学。
“那个寡妇说，因为她家太穷，而且她发现自己无法再继续支付儿子的学费和书费，因此，儿子只好辍学在家，通过干活挣钱，来照料母亲。
“于是，有钱人家的孩子拿出父亲给他的零花钱，用这笔钱把对手的学费和书费都交了，而且他还允许对手回去之后继续当班长。寡妇的儿子继续坐回班长的位置，而学费却是他慷慨大方的对手支付的。”