约翰·G.李/John G.Lee

　　I think the most profound influence in my life was my father. He was an inventor and a scientist with a most inquisitive mind. He loved and was greatly stimulated by the beauty and the design he found in nature. He believed in people and was himself a completely honest person. His sense of humor was keen though kindly and his energy was inexhaustible. Once he was asked how he got the idea for the Maxim Silencer. He answered,“By watching the way water behaved when it went down a drain.”This simple statement opened up for me a whole realm of ideas which led to a firm belief that human intelligence need recognize no bounds;that through the use of our intelligence we will move progressively close to an understanding of man and of the universe around us;that this knowledge will bring a closer harmony between man and his surroundings;and that this way lies the chance to make the world a better place to live in.

　　Then I remember sitting with him on the desk of his boat one night in early September. We were anchored in a seclude cove. The breeze was light and very salty. We could hear across a little strip of land the pounding of the surf. The stars were brilliant and every now and them a shooting star would streak across the sky. He was deeply interested in astronomy and he led my mind into unforgettable speculation as we explored the grandeur of that night. I think from this I came to understand that there must be law and order in our universe. There is design. Man can observe, he can learn to understand, he can apply. The secret is to apply in the interests of the common good;not for one or for a few;not to destroy but to build for all peoples.

　　My mother and father each had an acute social conscience. They believed that because good fortune had endowed them with better than average opportunity, they had a duty to perform in their communities. From this no doubt came my own conviction that I must give more than I receive and that a satisfactory life must be measured by its usefulness to others.

　　I remember the excitement engendered by the conversation in our home. All kinds of ideas were explored;all sorts of prejudices were challenged;penetrating minds were brought to bear on every problem of the day. I learned that each one of us has a right to his own beliefs, that prejudice perverts truth and that violence in the long run gains us nothing. From this understanding I moved into the belief that people everywhere, must learn how to work together for the common purpose of the betterment of mankind.

　　I believe one of the greatest ideas of all times, one that is a compelling moral force, is the concept of the dignity and worth of the human individual. From this idea there develops a sense of devotion to the common good.

　　I believe that if we pull these rather simple but fundamental things together and tie them up with honesty and truth, there are no visible limits to the heights to which mankind can rise.

　　我认为，对我一生影响最大的人是父亲。父亲是一位极具好奇心的发明家与科学家。他热爱那些从自然中发现的美与图案，并从中受到了极大的启迪。父亲信任别人，而他自己也是一个非常诚实的人。虽然他的幽默偶尔会有些尖刻，但是充满了善意；他仿佛拥有无穷无尽的精力。一次，有人问父亲马克西姆消音器这个点子是怎么想到的。他回答：“通过观察水在排水管中的流动方式而想到的。”这个简单的道理开启了我的心智，让我坚信人类的智慧是无穷的。通过对我们智慧的运用，我们对人类以及周围宇宙的了解会更加深入。这种知识将会使人类与生活环境之间的关系更为融洽。这样，我们就有机会将世界建设得更美好。

　　记得9月初的一个晚上，我和父亲一起坐在小船的甲板上。我们的小船泊在一个僻静的小湾里。微风轻拂，带来丝丝咸味，我们还可以听到一片狭小陆地那边传来的海浪声。繁星点点，不时会有一颗流星划过天际。父亲对天文学有着浓厚的兴趣，当我们探讨那晚的壮丽星空时，他引导着我进行思索，那思索令我终生难忘。我认为，正是从那刻起，我开始明白必定有法则与秩序存在于我们的宇宙之中。一切都已安排就绪。人类之所以能够观察、学习理解事物，并运用其学到的知识，关键就在于知识的运用是为了大家共同的利益，而非为一个人或少数人，是为所有人建造而非毁灭的。

　　我的父母都拥有强烈的社会责任感。他们相信，好运将更多的机会赋予了自己，因此他们有责任为社会造福。毋庸置疑，这也正是我信仰的来源。我必须付出而非接受更多，你对他人是否有用就是衡量你的人生是否令人满意的标准。

　　我还记得在家中谈话带给我的兴奋与激动。我们探讨所有的思想，质疑所有的偏见，借深邃的思想解读当代的所有问题。我了解到，我们每个人都有信仰的权利，真理会因偏见而扭曲，而且从长远来看，暴力会让我们一无所获。在这样的认识中，我逐渐相信，世界各地的人们都必须学会团结起来，共同为人类更美好的明天而奋斗。

　　每个人的自尊与价值就是最具影响力的道德力量，我相信这是所有时代中最伟大的思想之一。而为共同利益所作出的奉献精神，正是源于这种思想。

　　我相信，如果我们能将那些看似简单实则重要的思想凝聚在一起，并用诚实与真理串联起来，那么人类的攀登将没有极限。

　　心灵小语

　　让每天都意义非凡，珍惜每一刻，并充分感受它带来的一切。因为每一刻不会重复拥有。

　　词汇笔记

　　inexhaustible[,inig'z?:st?bl]adj.用不完的；无穷的；不知疲倦的

　　I shall die again and again to know that life is inexhaustible.

　　我将死了又死，以明白生是无穷无尽的。

　　harmony['hɑ:m?ni]n.协调；和睦；调和

　　This step is in harmony with our policy.

　　这一步骤与我们的策略是一致的。

　　speculation[,spekju'lei??n]n.沉思；推测；投机

　　She lose all her money in stock exchange speculation.

　　她将所有的钱赔进了股票投机生意。

　　fundamental[,f?nd?'mentl]adj.基本的；根本的

　　There are fundamental differences between your religious beliefs

　　and mine.

　　你我的宗教信仰根本不同。

　　小试身手

　　父亲是一位极具好奇心的发明家与科学家。

　　译________________________________________

　　我开始明白必定有法则与秩序存在于我们的宇宙之中。

　　译________________________________________

　　我还记得在家中的谈话带给我的兴奋与激动。

　　译________________________________________

　　短语家族

　　All kinds of ideas were explored……

　　all kinds of：一种；某种；各种各样的

　　造________________________________________

　　……things together and tie them up with honesty and truth……

　　tie up：包扎；束紧；缚牢；捆绑；用来捆束的东西

　　造________________________________________