Start with Yourself 从自己开始

蒋连琼

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.

小的时候，我自由自在，想象也没有边界，我梦想着改变世界。当我长大一些，更聪慧一些时，我发现世界不会改变。所以我稍微缩短了眼界，决定仅仅去改变我的国家。

But， it too， seemed immovable.

但是，它似乎也不可改变。

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

当我到了薄暮之年，作为最后一次绝望的尝试，我满足于仅仅改变我的家人，那些和我最近的人。但是，唉，他们也不曾改变。

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.

现在，当我躺在床上，即将死去时，我突然意识到：假如我一开始仅仅改变我自己，然后照此我也许会改变我的家人。

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.

由于他们给我的灵感和鼓励，接下来我也许能够使我的国家变得更好，并且，谁知道呢，我也许甚至能够改变世界。

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

据说以上文字写在英国伦敦威斯敏斯特大教堂地穴里一位英国国教主教的墓碑上。

摘自《哲理英文》