ABILITY 才幹
Ivy李先生是一位時間管理顧問 ，他應伯利恆鋼鐵公司的董事Charles Schwab查理士先生所召見，請教他如何更好的管理他的時間，李先生告訴他將明天要做的六樣最重要的事按優先次序排列寫下。
查理士先生問他要收多少費用。
李先生說「你按我的指示使用幾個月，然後按你認為所值的付費，後來李先生收到一張面額25000元的支票，在六年前是很不錯的收入總數。
Ivy Lee, a management consultant, was called in by Charles Schwab, chairman of Bethleham steel company, to give him advice on how to better manage his time.
Lee told him to write down every evening the 6 most important things he had to do the next day and to list them in the order of importance.
Schwab asked Lee how much he wanted for this advice and Lee said, Use the plan for several months and send me a check for how much you think it is worth.
Eventually Lee received a check for $ 25,000.00—not a bad sum sixty years ago.
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有一天福特汽車的工廠發生了一個問題，工廠的機器突然不會動了。工廠的老板就是亨利福特，馬上叫他的一個朋友，他是機械的專家，來工廠看一看到底出了什麼問題。結果他一來，打一打、敲一敲；在一個地方換了兩個螺絲，機器就馬上可以運作起來。亨利福特終於鬆了一口氣，就請朋友把帳單寄給他；對他而言，這是很客氣的說法，因為他們是很好的朋友；動一動手，換個螺絲應該不會跟他收錢。結果收到帳單時，竟然是美金一萬元。亨利福特嚇了一跳，馬上打電話問他的朋友，你用的是什麼螺絲，為什麼這麼貴呢？他的朋友說，螺絲價值三元；知道要在哪裡敲一敲，換上新的螺絲的知識，價值九千九百九十七元；你若嫌螺絲太貴，那就收取知識的費用就好了。亨利福特一句話沒說，馬上開給他朋友一萬元的支票。
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Quotes引證 :
I used to have a handle on life... then it broke. Anonymous
Always remembers you’re unique, just like everyone else. Anonymous
A talent is a terrible thing to waste. Stuart Briscoe
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ACTION 行動
一個貴格會教徒已經給自己惹來麻煩，司法官員來護送他到拘留所。
「你丈夫在家嗎？」 他問來應門的妻子。
她回答：「請進」 ，「我丈夫會見你」
司法官員進入後，感到賓至如歸的，並且被熱情款待半小時，但她的丈夫始終未出現。最後司法官員愈來愈不耐煩。
「你看」他說：「我以為妳剛才說你的丈夫會見我。
她平靜回答：「他己經見了你」，「但他不喜歡你的樣子，已經從別處走了。」
(更多的吐司，格杜達‧史丹)
A Quaker had gotten himself into trouble with the authorities and the sheriff called to escort him to the lock-up.
“Is your husband in?” he inquired of the good wife who came to the door.
“My husband will see thee,” she replied. “Come in.”
The sheriff entered, was bidden to make himself at home, and was hospitably entertained for half an hour, but no husband appeared. At last the sheriff grew impatient.
“Look here,” said he, “I thought you said your husband would see me.”
“He has seen thee,” was the calm reply, “but he did not like thy looks and has gone another way.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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南丁格爾伯爵講一位教授的故事，他要求一群學院教育老師以濃縮簡短語去表達書上的句子是怎樣激勵人。經過長時間的討論過，他們用下述的語句：你注意什麼思想，你就會考慮；你不注意的事情，它就會消失；你不斷注意的事，你就會相信；你思想相信什麼，它最後就會成為事實。
Earl Nightingale tells the story of a professor who asked a group of college educators to boil down into a brief statement of all the books every written on how to motivate people. After a long discussion they came up with the following statement which says it all:
What the mind attends to, it considers; what it does not attend to, it dismisses. What the mind attends to continually, it believes; and what the mind believes it eventually does.
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看是一回事，在你所看的事上有所看見又是一回事，但要瞭解所看見的事是第三件事。能從所瞭解的事中又有所學習的又是另一件事，然而最重要的是能將你所學的活化在你的行動之中。
To look is one thing, to see what you look at is another, to understand what you see is a third, to learn from what you understand is still something else, but to act on what you learn is all that really matters!
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有位賣牛奶的女孩，頂著一桶牛奶準備到街上去賣。走著，走著，忽然想到：「我這桶牛奶賣的錢，至少可以買300個雞蛋，而這些雞蛋至少可以孵出250隻小雞。等小雞長大了，價格高了，就可以賣掉這些雞，去買一件漂亮的新衣服。當聖誕夜的舞會時，必定會有許多男孩子追求我，但我會一一拒絕他們……」。想到這裡，這女孩陶醉地搖搖頭……。忽然間，頭上牛奶桶便掉在地上，牛奶倒了，她的夢也碎了！
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Quotes引證 :
記住，公雞只會啼叫，但真正會下蛋的是母雞。
Remember, the rooster only crows; it is the hen that delivers the egg. Texas saying
坐著抄筆記是容易的，困難的是要能起而行的真行動。
It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action.
如果你真想做一點事，你會找到出路的，但若你一點想做事的欲望都沒，你所有的就只有藉口。
If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way; if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. Unknown.
在決定的關鍵時刻，最好的事就是做對的事，第二好的就是做錯的事，最慘的是你什麼事都沒做。
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
當我年紀漸長時，我會較不在意人所說的，我只看他們所做的。
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. Andrew Carnegie
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ADVERSARY 敵人/反對
兩條蛇對話。
其中一條對另一條問；“我們有毒嗎？”
另一個回答：“是的，為什麼?..."
“我剛剛咬到我的嘴唇。”
Two snakes are talking.
One of them turns to the other and asks, “Are we venomous?”
The other replies, “Yes, why?...”
“I just bit my lip.”
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一個人買了一塊緊挨著一個農夫的田地，這個農夫已經長期與他的前業主爭論有關這田與他自己產業之間的確實界線。一日這新業主在圍欄附近看見這位農夫，他上前與這位農夫說：「我是你的新鄰居，我想與你談及我們之間的界線業權。」這農夫裝出一個敵對的態度回答說：「談什麼？」新業主說：「你覺得這田有幾多是屬你的？」談話的新業主他是一個基督徒。農夫回答說：「我覺得你的圍欄越過了我的產業兩呎之多。」基督徒回答說：「那好，那我重設後退四呎在我那邊。」這事件完全消除了農夫的敵對態度，並且開始了農夫的讓步精神。
(從聖經事實# 914的插圖)
A man bought a field next to a farmer who had been engaged in a longstanding dispute with the former owner about the exact boundary line between this field and his own property. When the new owner saw the farmer near the fence one day, he greeted him with the words, “I’m your new neighbor; and I would like to talk to you about the boundary line between our properties.” The farmer assumed a belligerent attitude and said, “What about it?” “How much of this field do you claim as belonging to you?” asked the new owner who was a Christian. “I claim that your fence is a good two feet over on my property,” replied the farmer. “Well, then, I want you to reset the fence four feet back on my side,” said the Christian. This completely took the fight out of the farmer and was the beginning of a new spirit of concession on his part also. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 914)
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一個女孩一個男孩兩個小孩玩在一起，他們一起接受救恩，生命並改變。有一天這男孩告訴他媽媽說:我知道艾媽她是基督徒。親愛的你從那裡知道的。因為她在遊戲時像個基督徒，假如你從她身上拿走任何的東西，她不會生氣，以前她很自私，如果你沒有照她的方式一起玩，她會說你是一個卑鄙的小孩，我不想跟你玩。
Two little children, a boy and a girl, who played together a great deal, received Christ and were converted. One day the boy came to his mother and said, “Mother, I know that Emma is a Christian.” “What makes you think so, dear?” “Because she plays like a Christian. If you take everything she’s got, she doesn’t get mad. Before, she was selfish, and if she didn’t have everything her own way she would say, ‘I won’t play with you; you are a mean little boy.’” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 916)
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很多基督徒看起來像個被狗咬過的婦女，被她的內科醫師告知寫最後遺囑，因為她看起來像似會死於狂犬病。她花了很長的時間在醫院寫遺囑，以致被醫師特別詢問關心，她擤擤鼻涕說，我現在正在寫我要去咬的人的名單。
Many Christians are like the woman who had been bitten by a dog and was advised by her physician to write her last wishes, as she might succumb to hydrophobia. She spent so long with pencil and paper that the doctor finally remarked something about how long the will would be. “Will!” she snorted. “I’m writing a list of the people I’m going to bite!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 886)
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有一則古老的傳奇故事，希臘大力神海克力斯，在一條窄路上遇到一頭很奇怪的動物，他用棍棒攻擊牠且超越通過了。但不久這頭動物又跑到他的前面而且比先前大出三倍。海克力斯更猛烈更用力的擊打牠，但是當他擊打牠更猛烈更頻繁時，這頭野獸卻越變越大。這時候智慧女神出現，告訴海克力斯停止攻擊這怪物。她說:「這怪物的名叫爭鬥。你只要不理牠，牠就會變回原來的大小。」
這是一個很有價值的勸告，給那些一直忙於反擊的基督徒，思考一下唯有這樣停止攻擊才是唯一途徑。
There is an old legend that tells of Hercules encountering a strange animal on a narrow road. He struck it with his club and passed. Soon the animal overtook him, now three times as large as before. Hercules struck it fast and furiously, but the more he clubbed the beast, the larger it grew. Then Pallas appeared to Hercules and warned him to stop. “The monster’s name is Strife,” he said. “Let it alone and it will soon become as little as at first.” This is valuable advice for those of us Christians who engage in counterblows, thinking that only thus can we stop the blows. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 751)
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英國佈道家喬治‧懷腓特體驗到去討神的喜悅比去討人的喜悅更為重要。他領悟到去做榮耀主的事能夠在當他遭受敵人錯誤的指控時不至受挫。在他一次的服事中，懷特腓接到一封惡意中傷的的信，指控他所做錯的事。
然而他勇敢又簡潔的回覆是，「我由衷的感謝你的來信，有關於你和其他敵人所反對我的控言，我想我比你們任何人都瞭解我自己的短處與錯誤。
在基督的愛裡，喬治‧懷腓特」
他不是要為自己坦護些什麼，他是非常在乎要如何取悅於主。
English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) learned that it was more important to please God than to please men. Knowing that he was doing what was honoring to the Lord kept him from discouragement when he was falsely accused by his enemies. At one point in his ministry, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing.
His reply was brief and courteous: “I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield.”
He didn’t try to defend himself. He was much more concerned about pleasing the Lord.
Our Daily Bread, August 18, 1992
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When the kings of Siam wanted to ruin a man in their kingdom they would present him with a white elephant. The unfortunate man couldn’t get rid of the elephant for it was “sacred,” and it was a gift from the king- and then the expense of keeping the useless thing soon put him in the bread line. (7,700 Illustrations #7533)
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一位美國遊客在抵達愛爾蘭後漫步城市，享受景點和面帶微笑的漂亮女孩。突然，在一條僻靜的街道，一兇惡男子跳出黑暗的小巷，揮舞著一支槍。槍手問：」你是何宗教？」遊客想：「糟了！」「如果我說我是天主教的與他是新教的，他必會轟掉我的頭了！但是如果我說我天主教，那麼我也一樣死！ 」突然，他有靈感地答： 「我是猶太人！」槍手絕望地大聲說：「你不要說話！」感到驚訝的恐怖份子大叫道：「我一定是在全愛爾蘭最幸運的阿拉伯人了。 」
An American tourist arriving in Ireland took a stroll through the city, enjoying the sights and smiling at the pretty girls. Suddenly, on one the city’s less frequented streets, a fierce-looking man jumped out of a dark alley, brandishing a gun. “What’s your religion?” demanded the gunman. “Omigosh!” thought the tourist. “If I say I’m Catholic and he’s a Protestant, he’ll blow my head off! But if I say I’m Catholic, then I’m also as good as dead!” Suddenly he was seized with an inspired idea. “I’m Jewish!” he cried out in desperation. “You don’t say!” exclaimed the surprised terrorist. “I must be the luckiest Arab in all of Ireland.”
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Mahmoud Ahmedinijad, Iran’s latest President, called George W. Bush on the phone late one night.
“I’ve had a remarkable dream, Mr. Bush”, he said, “and it’s something you should know about.”
“Well Mr. Mindinajar, what was your dream all about?”, queried the President.
“I dreamed that the USA had gone through an enlightening reformation”, he said, “and in front of every house was a huge banner.”
“That’s intriguing, Mr. Mindinajar. Tell me, what did it say on these banners?”, asked Bush.
“They all said the same thing: Allah is God, Allah is great”, stated Mahmoud, as if he could taste victory.
“It’s quite odd that you should call me about a dream, as I had one the other night as well”, said Bush.
“And what was your dream about, Mr Bush?
“I dreamed that Iran had gone through a reformation as well, and on every house was a flagpole.”
“So, what was on the flags?”, asked the Iranian.
“I have no idea”, said Bush, “I can’t read Hebrew.”
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阿拉法特，感覺到他的身體不舒服有異狀，他直覺到他漸漸邁向死亡。因此他去向一位巫師請教，請巫師預測他的死期。當這位巫師閉上眼睛，慢慢進入未來世界。巫師開口說她找到答案:「你將在猶太人的假日當天死亡。」阿拉法特很緊張的問:「是那一天。」巫師回答說:「這無關緊要，因為當你過世的那一天，那一天也將是猶太人的國定假日。」
Yasser Arafat, not feeling well and concerned about his mortality, goes to consult a Psychic about the date of his death.
Closing her eyes and silently reaching into the realm of the future she finds the answer: “You will die on a Jewish holiday.”
“Which one?’” Arafat asks nervously.
“It doesn’t matter,” replied the psychic. “Whenever you die, it’ll be a Jewish holiday.”
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一個騎士和他的隨從在一整天艱苦的戰鬥之後回到城堡。
「一切都好嗎？」國王問道。
「陛下，」騎士回答，「我用你的名義強取豪奪了一整天，燒掉了你在西邊的敵人的城市。」
「什麼？」國王喊道。「我在西邊沒有敵人！」
「噢，」騎士說。「你現在有了。」
A knight and his men return to their castle after a long hard day of fighting.
“How are we faring?” asks the king.
“Sire,” replies the knight, “I have been robbing and pillaging on your behalf all day, burning the towns of your enemies in the west.”
“What?!?” shrieks the king. “I don’t have any enemies to the west!”
“Oh,” says the knight. “Well, you do now.”
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蘇格拉底是希臘時代最有名的哲學家，有「西方的孔子」美譽。
他有一個最為人所熟知的美德，就是忍耐。不僅對他的悍妻百般忍耐，就是對不相識的人也重不與計較。
有一次他和朋友一起到街上散步。突然有個年輕人不知從哪裡冒出來，手中拿了一根棍棒，打了他後拔腿就跑。
他的朋友見狀立刻就追了出去，但卻被蘇格拉底給攔了下來。
「為什麼不讓我去抓他？難道你怕了他不成？」他的朋友不解的問。
此時蘇格拉底一邊揉著傷處，一邊笑笑的回答說：「老朋友，如果一頭驢踢了你，難道你要踢還牠嗎？何必跟驢一般見識呢？」
他的朋友點點頭，兩人相視大笑而去。
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有一個人打電話給他的律師。律師的秘書接到電話，解釋說律師已經死了。那個人就掛了電話。第二天，那一個人又打電話給他的律師。同樣，秘書解釋說律師已經死了。那個人就掛了電話。又一天，那一個人又打電話給他的律師。這一次，秘書很生氣，說，「嘿，我已經告訴你兩次了。你的律師已經死了。你為什麼還在打來？」「我喜歡聽到他死了，」那一個人回答。
A man calls his lawyer. The lawyer's secretary picks up the phone and explains that the lawyer is dead. The man hangs up. The next day, the man calls his lawyer again. Again the secretary explains that the lawyer is dead. The man hangs up. The following day, the man calls his lawyer yet again. This time the secretary gets angry and says, “Look, I've told you twice already. Your lawyer is dead. Why do you keep calling?” “I just like to hear it,” responded the caller.
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Quotes引證 :
I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I have ever met! Dwight L. Moody
The mark of community--true biblical unity--is not the absence of conflict but the presence of a reconciling spirit. Bill Hybels
An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry. Thomas Jefferson
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
You get more bees with honey.
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ADVERSITY 患難
The (chronic) pain affected the quality of sleep of respondents, with 40 percent giving a six, meaning they have difficulty falling asleep, while 3 percent said they could not sleep at all.
Around 40 percent said the pain has persisted for 10 years or more, with 10 percent suffering for 20 years. The longest is 50 years. Over a third said their social life and daily activities have been intensely affected, while a few reported being put off daily activities by the pain.
Twenty-four percent said they have lost or changed jobs, while an overwhelming 60 percent said they are depressed and distressed by their situation. But 41 percent said they do not go for regular medical consultations while 56 percent said they do so only in public hospitals.
http://thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=88759&sid=25604559&con_type=1
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Americans appear to actually thrive on adversity, according to a study published this week that reached the conclusion after researching the nation's biggest economic downturn. This sculpture at the FDR Memorial in Washington depicts men waiting in a Great Depression bread line. Life expectancy during the peak years of the Great Depression increased 6.2 years -- from 57.1 years in 1929 to 63.3 years in 1933 -- according to University of Michigan researchers Jose A. Tapia Granados and Ana Diez Roux. The increase applied to men and women, whites and non-whites. "Study points to benefits from Great Depression"
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It is widely accepted that approximately 5.7 million of Europe's 7.3 million Jews perished during the war. In total, historians say, between 11 million and 17 million people were killed by the Nazi regime, including religious and political opponents, ethnic Poles, Romani, Jehovah's Witnesses, Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, homosexuals and people with disabilities. Harvard Crimson says Holocaust denial ad published by accident
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一位女孩在尋求什麼是寬恕的真諦。她找到了一個非常美好的答案:當鮮花被踐踏時，才能釋放出它的花香來。
A girl was asked what forgiveness is. She gave the following beautiful answer: “It is the odor the flowers give off when they are trampled upon.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 253)
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傳教士協會對在非洲獨自英勇奉獻，宣教傳福音的傳教士大衛、利文斯通非常的推崇尊敬。傳教士協會寫了一封信給大衛，信中說:你是否找到了一條服事的捷徑在你所服事的地方。如果是這樣我們將要派遣另一位宣教士加入你的工場。利文斯通回答說:如果你們所派遣的人是因為看見那順境才來，我寧可不要他來，我需要的是一位縱然前面困難重重他仍願意來的人。
A missionary society was deeply impressed by the courageous devotion of David Livingstone who worked single-handedly for God in Africa. The society wrote to Livingstone: “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you.” Livingstone replied, “If you have men who will come only if there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 116)
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British soldier Phil Packer was told a year ago that he would never walk again. His lower spine was badly injured in the aftermath of a rocket attack on his base in Basra , Iraq , in February 2008. The attack sent a vehicle rolling down a sand bank, striking Packer "head on" and dragging him under it. The 36-year-old was left with no feeling or motor control in his legs, and no bladder or bowel control. Packer was in hospital for more than four months and it was then he decided to complete three challenges to help raise £1 million ($1.5 million) for Help for Heroes, a British charity supporting wounded veterans.
A year later, he rowed the English Channel.15 months later, Maj. Phil Packer finished the London Marathon, completing the race 13 days after it started, walking on crutches for two miles a day -- the most his doctor would allow -- in order to raise money for charity.
Next month he plans to climb El Capitan -- one of America 's iconic mountaineering sites -- a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation in California .
“Man who wouldn't walk again finishes marathon,” CNN May 9, 2009
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洛杉磯時報ㄧ個調查顯示，當發生火災時許多人逃生第一個想到要帶的東西是相片。
當你的住宅發生火災時，如果你只能帶一樣東西離開，請問你會帶什麼?
一個由邱伯保險公司所作的調查顯示，半數的人會帶有紀念性的家庭相片，百分之二十的人會帶錢。
另一個經由電話抽樣1000個美國公民的調查發現，百分之十三的人會帶個人電腦，百分之七的人會搶救他們的寵物，還有百分之二的人會帶他們的珠寶。
Many people fleeing fire would save photos first, poll finds
Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2009
If your house were burning down and you could take only one thing with you, what would it be?
A poll commissioned by insurer Chubb Corp. found that nearly half would grab a family photo album, while a fifth would reach for money. The phone survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted by Opinion Research Corp., found that 13% would take a laptop, 7% would bring their pet and 2% would pack their jewelry.
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Seadog back from dead
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
獨自在一個孤島上四個月後，在澳洲海邊有一隻從船上落水在風浪中的寵物狗已經歸回牠的主人。，當十一月珍格里菲斯和她的家人在昆士蘭州附近波濤洶湧的水域航行時，索菲塔克，以美國藝人的名字命名的狗，被扔到海裡。這隻狗當時被認為是淹死了，而格里菲斯家庭身心交瘁。
但事實上，這隻澳大利亞家畜狗游泳到八公里外的聖蜜蜂島，在那裡牠吃山羊維生。
牠被遣送回到家是因為當格里菲斯帶著微弱的希望連絡巡警隊告知他們，他們捕獲的狗可能是他們的寵物狗。
A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months.
Sophie Tucker, named after a US entertainer, was thrown overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off Queensland in November.
The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.
In fact, the Australian cattle dog was swimming doggedly and made it to St Bees Island, eight kilometers away, where she survived by eating goats.
She was returned to her family when Griffith contacted rangers in the faint hope a dog they had captured might be their pet. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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便雅憫、法蘭克福曾說過:生命中影響我最深的一句話是「有些人會發牢騷說，上帝為何將荊棘放置在玫瑰花中，為何不換另一個角度說:感謝神祂將玫瑰花放置在荊棘裡。」
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The sentence which has most influenced my life is, 'Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because He placed roses among thorns?' (from Illustrations of Bible Truths)
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一個廣為人知的在高原畜牧的人賣了一匹馬給一個英國人。
幾天後，買方回到他那裡。
“你說，那隻馬沒有缺陷。”
“哦，他沒有。”
“他幾乎失明！” 憤怒的英國人說。
“為什麼，那不是牠的缺陷，那是他的不幸。”
A widely known Highland drover sold a horse to an Englishman.
A few days afterward the buyer returned to him.
“You said that horse had no faults.”
“Well, no mair had he.”
“He’s nearly blind!” said the indignant Englishman.
“Why, mon, that’s no’ his fau’t that’s his misfortune.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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Various behaviors increase the risk of a driver being in a crash or near-crash:
Activity/Times it increases risk
Reaching for a moving object, such as an item falling - 9
Looking at an external object, other than roadway - 3.7
Reading - 3.4
Applying makeup - 3
Dialing a handheld cellphone - 2.8
The report by the NHTSA and Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute said nearly 80% of crashes and near-crashes involve driver inattention up to three seconds before the incident.
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
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一位很有智慧的女人有一次被問道：「在你的生命中，是什麼幫助你勝過大困難? 」這女人回答說，「是其它的困難。」
A wise woman was once asked, “What has helped you overcome the great obstacles of life?”
“The other obstacles,” she replied. Bits and Pieces 3/27/97
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一個窮人逐家逐戶去乞討麵包皮，但卻沒有人向他施以憐憫。他受盡侮辱，使他越覺沮喪。
一個寒冷的冬天，他走過濕滑的街道時不慎跌倒，摔斷了腿。於是，他們把他帶到醫院。
當小鎮的人聽說這個貧困的陌生人因腿部骨折而送往醫院，他們開始感到對不起他。有些人去安慰他，有些人買些好東西給他吃。當他出院後，他們提供禦寒的衣服，並給了他一筆錢。
在窮人離開這城市之前，他寫信給他的太太，「讚美神，親愛的太太！一個奇蹟發生了：我摔壞了一條腿！」
No one showed any compassion for the poor man as he went from house to house begging for a crust of bread. Many a door was slammed in his face and he was turned away with insults. Therefore he grew despondent.
One wintry day, as he was trudging through the slippery streets, he fell and broke his leg. Thereupon they took him to a hospital.
When the people of the town heard that a poor stranger had been taken to the hospital suffering from a broken leg, they began to feel very sorry for him. Some went to comfort him, others brought him good things to eat. When he left the hospital they furnished him with warm clothes and gave him a tidy sum of money.
Before the poor man left town he wrote to his wife, “Praise God, dear wife! A miracle happened: I broke a leg!”
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從前有一位富翁請了一個管家， 這管家每天要為主人到屋外很遠的地方去打井水。管家用的是兩只水桶， 其中一只水桶完美無缺，另一只水桶則有一條小裂縫， 因此每次即使管家把兩個水桶盛滿，回到主人家也只得到一桶半的水。
那有缺陷的水桶過了一段時間，悶悶不樂， 於是對管家說：「我感到非常不快樂，因為每天你打的水都是從我身上漏掉一半，要不是你遭主人責備，便是要你多走幾趟，我這樣無用，為什麼你還要用我？」
管家於是在下次去挑水時請有缺陷的水桶看看，原來在路邊長滿漂亮的鮮花，許多時候， 管家都會采擷這些鮮花去點綴一下主人的房間令主人高興。
管家告訴水桶，就是因為見到它的問題，於是在路旁撒下些花種， 以後路旁便長滿漂亮的鮮花。
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一個船難的生還者正在一個無人居住的小島上洗澡。他竭心禱告神來拯救他，而每一天他為了尋得幫助，總會掃視遠處，但卻沒有看到任何前來的船隻。
感到疲倦，但他始終盡量用漂木建了一個小茅廬來保護他並儲藏屬於他的一些物件。但是有一天，在他四處尋找食物后回到家時，發現他的小茅廬著火了，煙滾滾上雲霄。最糟的事情發生了，什麽東西都沒有了。他在既憂傷又憤怒中愣住了。
他哭着說：「神啊！您怎麽可以對我這樣做？」
不過，隔天很早的時候，他卻被一陣不斷靠近小島的輪船氣笛聲弄醒。它是來拯救他的。
那疲乏的人對拯救他的人說：「您怎麽知道我在這裡？」
他們回答說：「因為我們看到您煙的訊號。」
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island। He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.
“God, how could you do this to me!” he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.
“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
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有一個人夜裡夢見他和耶穌在海邊散步，而生平的往事都一一的浮現，他注意到沙灘上的腳印，大多是兩行，但有時卻只有一行，而且多半是在他最不得意的時候出現，因此他就問主說：「為甚麼每次在我最需要你的時候，你卻總是不與我在一起呢？」耶穌慈聲的回答他說：「孩子！你再詳細的看一看，你所見到只有一行的腳印時，那是我抱著你走啊！」
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一個十歲的猶太人男孩數學很不好，他的父母試了很多方法，從為他請家庭教師到催眠，無所不用其極，但都無法使他的數學好起來。最後在一個朋友的堅持下，他們決定將他轉學到一個私立的天主教學校。
第一天上課回家，那男孩帶著非常嚴肅和專注的表情直奔他的房間，安靜地關上門，將近兩個小時，他在房間裡非常用功，書桌上和地上滿是數學書本，很久之後才出來。匆匆忙忙吃完飯，又馬上回到房間，關上門繼續用功直到睡覺時間。這樣的模式一直持續，直到第一學季的成績單出來，男孩把打開的成績單，放在餐桌上，又馬上衝進房間。他的母親小心翼翼地打開成績單，竟然看到男孩的數學成績得到一個大紅色的A。
他母親和他父親狂喜地進入男孩的房間，為他顯著的進步非常興奮。他父親問道：「是不是因為修女的關係？」男孩搖搖頭說不是。「那是不是因為一對一的家教」男孩說：「也不是。」那是課本的關係，還是老師的緣故？還是因為課程改變？男孩都說不是。最後，男孩說：「當我第一天走進前門，看到一個人被釘在加號上面，我就知道他們是玩真的了。」
A ten-year-old Jewish boy was failing math. His parents tried everything from tutors to hypnosis; but to no avail. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a private Catholic school.
After the first day, the boy’s parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face. He went straight past them, right to his room and quietly closed the door. For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime. This pattern of behavior continued until it was time for the first quarter’s report card.
The boy walked in with it unopened - laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it and, to her amazement, she saw a large red ‘A’ under the subject of Math.
Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son’s room, thrilled at his remarkable progress. “Was it the nuns that did it?” the father asked. The boy shook his head and said “No.” “Was it the one-to-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?” “No.” “The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?” “No”, said the son. “On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I KNEW they meant business!”
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某種程度的反對力量，對一個人而言，是很大的幫助。風箏是逆風，而非順風而上。
A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a person. Kites rise against, not with the wind.
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日本年輕作家乙武洋匡(1999)來台，為其著作《五體不滿足》作宣傳，這是一本有關他如何成長的自傳。當他在1976年出生時，可謂驚天動地，因為從沒見過這樣的嬰兒，在醫生的說法稱為「不明原因的先天性四肢切斷」。就是一個沒手沒腳，只有身體和頭的孩子。
雖然天生殘缺，但長大後乙武洋匡告訴自己，也告訴別人：「既然有殘障者做不到的事，應該也有只有殘障者才能做到的事。上天是為了叫我達成這個使命，才賜給我這樣的身體。」「殘障只是我身體的特徵，沒有必要為身體上的特徵而苦惱。」
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希臘的亞歷山大大帝於主前336年即位後即率兵攻佔敘利亞、埃及、巴比倫、以色列諸國，不久更成為波斯帝國的統治者，名震世界。
當他凱旋回國時，請一個畫家替他畫像，亞歷山大站好了姿勢，畫家立刻動筆。當他畫完頭部時，突然停了下來，對這位百勝將軍說：「將軍，請讓我拿一條白色絲巾，把你頸部圍起來，因為你頸部有一個很明顯的刀疤。」亞歷山大聽後大聲回答說：「請照我原本的樣子畫！因為刀疤是我的榮譽，不是什麼可羞恥的事。」
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Quotes引證 :
很多人，當然包括我自己，在事情順利如意時，表現出令人震驚出人意外的智慧。但當世界陷入混亂時，你會發現這些所謂的智慧百分之七十五是假的，是騙人的。
A lot of people, certainly myself included, show shocking intelligence when things are going well. Then you discover that intelligence was 75 per cent phoney when the world goes to hell. Tom Peters, scmp.com 5/2/09
煩惱像嬰兒,只有在你呵護他們時才會成長。
Troubles are like babies. They grow only when you nurse them.
別打擾煩惱直到煩惱打擾你。
Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.
When the tide goes out we get to see who is not wearing a bathing suit. Warren Buffet
You cannot always control what happens to you, but you can control what
happens in you.
What happens to you speaks of your circumstances.
What happens in you speaks of your character.
What happens through you speaks of your charisma.
Falling is easier than rising. Irish
My worst day in office was better than my father’s best day. Alberto Gonzales
If you want a rainbow you have to put up with the rain.
There are two times I feel stress--day and night. Anonymous
The light at the end of a tunnel may be an oncoming train. Anonymous
The block of granite that is an obstacle in the path of the weak becomes a stepping stone in the path of the strong. Thomas Carlyle
God promises a safe passage, not a clam passage.
Wise are they who have learned these truths - Trouble is Temporary, Time is a Tonic, Tribulation is a Test Tube. W.A.Ward
Some people change their ways when they see the light; others when they feel the heat. Caroline Schoeder
Never attempt to bear more than one kind of trouble at once. Some people bear three kinds - all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.
Life is the only school where you take the test first, then learn the lesson.
We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. Dwight L. Moody
Strength and courage aren’t always measured in medals and victories. They are measured in the struggles we overcome. The strongest people aren’t always the people who win but the people who don’t give up when they lose.
Be thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have you job.
All the world will beat the man whom fortune buffets. Portuguese proverb
It is easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble. Live and Learn
The worst pain is watching someone else in pain. Live and Learn
A diamond is just a piece of coal that made good under pressure.
Name one commodity where supply always exceeds demand. Trouble (Betsy Devine and Joel E. Cohen) Bits and Pieces 3/27/97
Adversity is often the mother of invention.
Winners are like tea bags. You never see their true strength until they’re in hot water.
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