人生哲理美文07:Choice of Companions 擇友
擇友
A good companion is better than a fortune, for afortune cannot purchase those elements of character which make companionship a blessing. The best companion is one who is wiser and better than ourselves, for we are inspired by his wisdom and virtue to nobler deeds. Greater wisdom and goodness than we possess lifts us higher mentally and morally.
一位好友勝于一筆財(cái)富，因?yàn)樨?cái)富買不來朋友身上的珍貴品德，而正是這些品德使人 們之間的交往成為一件幸事。最好的朋友就是比我們更睿智、更出色的人，我們可以被他 的智慧和美德所激勵(lì),從而使我們的行為更加高尚。他們有著比我們更多的智慧和更高 尚的情操，從而促使我們不斷提高自己的精神境界和道德水平。
It is true that we cannot always choose all of our companions. Some are thrust upon us by business and the social relations of life. We do not choose the, we do not enjoy them, and yet we have to associate with them more or less. The experience is not altogether without compensation. If there be principle enough in us to bear the strain. Still, in the man, choice of companions can be made, and must be made. It is not best or necessary for a young person to associate with “Tome, Dick and Henry” without forethought or purpose. Some fixed rules about the company he or she keeps should be observed. The subject should be uppermost in the thoughts, and canvassed often.
不可否認(rèn)的是，有些朋友總是我們無法選擇的。有些人是由于生意和各種社會關(guān)系 的緣故被硬塞給我們的。我們沒有選擇他們，我們也不喜歡他們，但是我們必須或多或少 地跟他們交往。如果我們堅(jiān)守內(nèi)心的原則，承受一些壓力，這樣的經(jīng)歷并非完全沒有補(bǔ) 償。但總的來說,朋友可以選擇,也必須選擇。如果沒有事先的掂量或明確的目的，一個(gè) 年輕人就隨便與張三、李四或王五交往，那是不妥當(dāng)，也是不必要的。需要注意的是，結(jié)交 朋友是必須確立一些原則。這一點(diǎn)務(wù)必在思想上引起重視,并時(shí)時(shí)自查。
Companionship is education, good or bad; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low, it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half way work about its influence. If it ennobles, it does it grandly. If it demoralizes, it does it devilishly, it saves or destroyslustily. Nothing it the world is surer than this. Sow virtue, and the harvest will be virtue. Sow vice, and the harvest will be vice. Good companions help us to sow virtue; evil companions help us to sowvice.
無論益友還是損友,都會使我們得到教育。無論對男對女，它都可以滋養(yǎng)高尚或卑微 的人格，它可以使靈魂升華，也可以使之墮落。它可以滋生美德，也可以催生邪惡。它的 影響沒有折中之道。友誼，如果使人高尚，就會使人如天使般莊重。如果使人墮落，就會 使人如魔鬼般邪惡。它可以有力地括救一個(gè)人,也可以輕易地毀掉一個(gè)人。世上沒有什 么事比這更確定無疑了。播種美德，收獲的就是美德，播種邪惡，收獲的就是邪惡。好的 朋友可以幫助我們播種美德，壞的朋友促使我們播種邪惡。
