美文欣赏

Extend the Miracle

my skills, my mind, my heart, and my body will stagnate, rot, and die lest I put them to good use. I have unlimited potential. Only a small portion of my brain do I employ; only a paltry amount of my muscles do I flex. A hundredfold or more can I increase my accomplishments of yesterday and this I will do, beginning today.

Nevermore will I be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments nor will I indulge, anymore, in self-praise for deeds which in reality are too small to even acknowledge. I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will, for why should the miracle which produced me end with my birth? Why can I not extend that miracle to my deeds of today?

And I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.

I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret of life for I perceive, at last, that all my problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise. I will no longer be fooled by the garments they wear for mine eyes are open. I will look beyond the cloth and I will not be deceived.

参考译文

我的技艺，我的头脑，我的心灵，我的身体，若不善加利用，都将随着时间的流逝而迟钝，腐朽,甚至死亡．我的潜力无穷无尽，脑力、体能稍加开发，就能超过以往的任何成就。从今天开始。我就要开发潜力。

我不再因昨日的成绩沾沾自喜，不再为微不足道的成绩目吹自擂。我能做的比已经完成的更好。我的出生并非最后一样奇迹，为什么自己不能再创奇迹呢？

我不是随意来到这个世上的.我生来应为高山。而非草芥。从今往后，我要竭尽全力成为群峰之巅．将我的潜能发挥到最大限度.

我有双眼，可以观察；我有头脑，可以思考。现在我已洞悉了一个人生中伟大的奥秘．我发现，一切问题、沮丧、悲伤，都是乔装打扮的机遇之神．我不再被他们的外表所蒙骗，我已睁开双眼，看破了他们的伪装．

词汇释义

1.stagnate v. 淤塞, 停滞, 变萧条

例句：

I reiterate that we sincerely hope Sino-U.S. relations will not stagnate, but will continue to develop.
我重复说，我们真诚地希望中美关系不但不要停滞，而且要发展。

2.paltry adj.没有价值的; 微不足道的; 渺小的

例句：

His influence on this matter is paltry.
他对这件事的影响是微不足道的。

3.disguise [dis'gaiz] v. 假装

例句：

She could not disguise her amusement at his mistake.
她对他的错误忍俊不禁.