西敏寺大教堂-无名墓碑
西明寺大教堂唐无名墓碑(图)
曾经当年轻的曼德拉看到震撼世界的一块墓碑上这篇碑文时,顿然有醍醐灌顶之感,声称自己从中找到了改变南非甚至整个世界的金钥匙。回到南非后,这个志向远大、原本赞同以暴治暴填平种族歧视鸿沟的黑人青年,一下子改变了自己的思想和处世风格,他从改变自己、改变自己的家庭和亲朋好友著手,经历了几十年,终于改变了他的国家。
西明寺无名墓碑
在威斯特敏斯特大教堂地下室的墓碑林中,有一块世界闻名的墓碑。一个无名氏的墓碑,没有姓名,没有生殁年月,连墓主的身世都没有。墓碑上刻著如下文字:
当我年轻的时候,我的想象力从没有受过限制,我梦想改变这个世界。
当我成熟以后,我发现我不能够改变这个世界,我将目光缩短了些,决定只改变我的国家。
当我进入暮年以后,我发现我不能够改变我的国家,我的最后愿望仅仅是改变一下我的家庭。但是,这也不可能。
当我现在躺在床上,行将就木时,我突然意识到:
如果一开始我仅仅去改变我自己,然后作爲一个榜样,我可能改变我的家庭;在家人的帮助和鼓励下,我可能爲国家做一些事情。
然而,谁知道呢?我甚至可能改变这个世界。
英文原文:
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.
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