After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance, curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.
Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) count for much more than ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, "Why? Why? Why?"
Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don't have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them.
"The great man," said Mencius (孟子), "is he who does not lose his child's heart. "Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires only the calm and restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied.
Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.
How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn't arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it. Now she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.
One way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven't any special ability? Most people don't; there are only a few geniuses. You haven't any time? That's good, because it's always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts of Uncle Tom's Cabin while cooking. You're too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.
However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you'll never be more alive than you are at this moment.
HOW TO READ A POEM
There's really only one reason why poetry has gotten a reputation for being so "difficult": It demands your full attention.
Follow Your Ears.
It's okay to ask "What does it mean？" when you are reading a poem. But it's even better to ask "How does it sound？" Even if you can't understand a single thing about a poem's "subject" or "theme", you can always say something—anything—about the sound of the words.
OK, we're not saying you have to shout it from the rooftops. If you're embarrassed and want to lock yourself in the attic (阁楼) and read the poem in the quietest whisper, go ahead. But reading aloud is really an effective way to understand a poem, because reading even part of it aloud can totally change your perspective on how it works.
Read In Different Places.
Just like music, the experience of poetry changes depending on your mood and the environment. Read in as many different places as possible: at the beach, on a mountain, in the subway.
Think Like A Poet.
Here's a fun exercise. Go through the poem one line at a time, covering up the next line with your hand so you can't see it. Put yourself in the poet's shoes: If you start to think like this, you'll be able to appreciate all the different choices that go into making a poem.
A. Be Patient.
B. Read It Aloud.
C. If all else fails, treat it like a song.
D. If I had to write a line to come after this line, what would I put?
E. So if you don't get it, set the poem aside and come back to it later.
F. Here is a short list of tips that will make poems reading more enjoyable.
G. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for a poem to really come alive.
In 1994, the Brazilian photographer Salgado went back to his homeland in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was1to see the land run by his family. The thick forest there was once a paradise (乐园) for him and his friends, bringing them 2 memories.
To his horror, he saw a totally different 3. Only 0. 5% of the land was covered with trees. "The land was as sick as a serious patient—everything was 4 due to deforestation (砍伐森林)," Salgado said 5 during a meeting on climate change in Paris.
Salgado 6 that he should do something about it. Then he 7 the bold idea of replanting trees on the land, which beyond his expectations, received 8 from his wife and relatives. Soon the whole family 9 and the results are remarkable. 10, the land is changing: It is carpeted with green trees again and some of the insects, birds and animals living in the land before 11. The land has been brought back to life. The 12 family's hard work also impressed people around them. They 13 cutting down trees and began to protect the environment.
"The work over the years is quite difficult but well worth the 14 and I think every little bit of work 15," said Salgado. Therefore, everyone should play a part in protecting the environment.
How would you feel if you woke up and found your entire computer—including your photos, your recent documents—no longer (access)? What if you found out that they had been wiped from your computer, (leave) you with nothing but heartache?
Guess what? It happens to people every single day. Every day, people across the country head into their local Apple store in (tear), broken computer in hand, praying as they wait in line an expensive repair might, just might, recover the priceless, irreplaceable files. A few get lucky. for the rest, there's nothing anyone can do (help).
Hasn't it happened to you? If your computer remains unprotected, it will, and it's only matter of time. But thanks to recent breakthroughs in computer backup (备份) technology, you now have a number of options to prepare, and if you're smart, when your computer (crash), you shouldn't have any trouble (get) 100% of your files back that same day. I'm not talking about an external hard drive. I'm talking about an online backup solution that runs 1 (quiet) in the background on your computer. If you have one installed (安装), when your computer crashes, you'll be just one click away from bringing your files back to life.
Last Saturday, David was taking a walk in the park near his home when he noticed a woman with a boy of about eight years old. When David passed them, he heard the woman yell, "How stupid you are! You're good at nothing." David stopped and looked at the little boy. The boy said nothing. He just stood there, looking upset.
David was reminded of his English teacher Mrs Brown in middle school. After he entered a middle school, David lacked self－confidence because he was often made fun of by others. He was often told that he was good at nothing, which David believed. But one day it all changed.
One day, in an English writing class, Mrs Brown asked them to read a novel. They were asked to write a new chapter of the novel after they finished reading it. A few days later, David handed in his story. He didn't give it much thought. But the next day to his surprise, the comment "well done" from Mrs Brown came into view the moment he turned to the page where the story was written. When David read that, he almost burst into tears. He never expected to be praised one day. He suddenly gained some self－confidence.
That day after he returned home, he wrote a short story and gave it to Mrs Brown the next morning. And again he was praised. David became very interested in writing. He often wrote short stories and asked Mrs Brown to read them and correct them for him. Mrs Brown always corrected the mistakes he had made and gave him good advice to improve writing skills. One year later, David joined the school newspaper and became an editor of it. He was no longer that boy who lacked self－confidence. He gained his confidence and was hopeful about his future
He succeeded in entering a college and kept writing. Several years after graduating from college, he had his first book published. With some more books coming out, he became famous as a writer in his country. And he owed his success to Mrs Brown's encouragement. Without her encouragement, his life might be very different now.
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Inspired by his own life story, David decided to do something for that boy.
……
The mother was ashamed when she heard that.
