雙語(yǔ)智慧書·選擇一位英雄作為偶像

75．選擇一位英雄作為偶像
　　選擇一位英雄作為偶像，你要趕超他，而非一味模仿他。世上有很多種杰出人物，他們是榮耀的活教材。人們應(yīng)該在自己的領(lǐng)域中挑選一位頂級(jí)人物作為自己效法的對(duì)象。不是為了亦步亦趨地追隨，而是為了激勵(lì)自己做得更好。亞歷山大曾在阿基里斯墓前痛哭流涕，不是為這位英雄已逝而哭(1)，而是為了自己尚未能像阿基里斯一樣聞名于世而泣。世上最令人雄心勃發(fā)的，莫過(guò)于他人的盛名在心中吹起的號(hào)聲。它可以加劇一個(gè)人的妒忌，也可助長(zhǎng)一個(gè)人的大志。


75．Choose a heroic ideal
　Choose a heroic ideal; but rather to emulate than to imitate. There are exemplars of greatness, living texts of honour. Let everyone have before his mind the chief of his calling not so much to follow him as to spur himself on. Alexander wept not on account of Achilles dead and buried, but over himself, because his fame had not yet spread throughout the world. Nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another's fame. The same thing that sharpens envy, nourishes a generous spirit.
　　
(1) 阿基里斯為荷馬史詩(shī)《伊利亞特》中的英雄。據(jù)說(shuō)亞歷山大曾在阿基里斯墓前哭泣，因嫉妒其名垂千古。