蔣連瓊

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.

小的時候，我自由自在，想象也沒有邊界，我夢想著改變世界。當我長大一些，更聰慧一些時，我發(fā)現(xiàn)世界不會改變。所以我稍微縮短了眼界，決定僅僅去改變我的國家。

But， it too， seemed immovable.

但是，它似乎也不可改變。

As I grew into my twilight years， in the last desperate attempt， I settled for （滿足于）changing only my family， those closest to me， but alas， they would have none of it.

當我到了薄暮之年，作為最后一次絕望的嘗試，我滿足于僅僅改變我的家人，那些和我最近的人。但是，唉，他們也不曾改變。

And now as I lie on my deathbed， I suddenly realize： If I had only changed myself first， then by example I would have changed my family.

現(xiàn)在，當我躺在床上，即將死去時，我突然意識到：假如我一開始僅僅改變我自己，然后照此我也許會改變我的家人。

From their inspiration and encouragement， I would then have been able to better my country and， who knows， I may even have changed the world.

由于他們給我的靈感和鼓勵，接下來我也許能夠使我的國家變得更好，并且，誰知道呢，我也許甚至能夠改變世界。

The above words are said to be written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey in London， England.

據說以上文字寫在英國倫敦威斯敏斯特大教堂地穴里一位英國國教主教的墓碑上。

摘自《哲理英文》