Be the best of whatever you are做最好的自己

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill，

Be a scrub in the valley—but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush， be a bit of the grass，

And some highway happier make;

If you can't be a muskie， then just be a bass—

But the liveliest bass in the lake！

We can't all be captains， we've got to be crew，

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do， and there's lesser to do，

And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway， then just be a trail，

If you can't be the sun， be a star;

It isn't by size that you win or you fail—

Be the best of whatever you are！

如果你当不了山巅的一棵劲松，

就做山谷里的灌木——但一定

要做溪边最棒的一棵;

当一棵灌木，如果你成不了树。

如果你当不了灌木，就做一株小草，

给路边带去更多欢笑;

如果你当不了大梭鱼，就做一尾小鲈鱼

——但要做湖里最活泼的那条！

我们不能全当船长，总得有人做船员，

但我们每个人都有事可做，

有大事去做，有小事去做，

我们必须着眼于眼前。

如果你当不了大道，就做一条小径，

如果你当不了太阳，就做一颗星星;

胜负不在于大小——

不论做什么，一定要做到最好！

道格拉斯·马洛赫（Douglas Malloch，1877—1938），美国诗人、短篇小说家、散文家，其代表作有Its Fine Today、Echoes、The Road of Masonry等。