COMMUNICATION 溝通
Xanthus, the philosopher, once told his servant that the next day he was going to have some friends for dinner and that he should get the best thing he could find in the market. The philosopher and his guests sat down the next day at the table. They had nothing but tongue—four or five courses of tongue—tongue cooked in this way, and tongue cooked in that way. The philosopher finally lost his patience and said to his servant, “Didn’t I tell you to get the best thing in the market?” The servant said, “I did get the best thing in the market. Isn’t the tongue the organ of sociability, the organ of eloquence, the organ of kindness, the organ of worship?” Then Xanthus the philosopher said, “Tomorrow I want you to get the worst thing in the market.” And on the morrow the philosopher sat at the table, and there was nothing there but tongue—four or five courses of tongue—tongue in this shape and tongue in that shape. The philosopher again lost his patience and said, “Didn’t I tell you to get the worst thing in the market?” The servant replied, “I did; for isn’t the tongue the organ of blasphemy, the organ of defamation, the organ of lying?” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 819)
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Once a young man came to that great philosopher Socrates to be instructed in oratory. The moment the young man was introduced he began to talk, and there was an incessant stream for some time. When Socrates could get in a word, he said, “Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee.” “A double fee, why is that?” The old sage replied, “I will have to teach you two lessons. First, how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it.” What an art for all of us to learn, especially for Christians. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 821)
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John Wesley’s preaching was marked by his constant use of the plainest, simplest words our language affords. Writing to one whose style was very high-sounding he said, “When I had been a member of the university about ten years I wrote and talked much as you do now, but when I talked to plain people, I observed that they gaped and stared. This quickly obliged me to alter my style and adopt the language of those I spoke to; and yet there is a dignity in this simplicity which is not disagreeable to those of the highest rank.” Another preacher said, “If you preach so that the simplest person in the audience can understand you, the most educated is also sure to get the message.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 534)
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A minister felt that the words he spoke from Sunday to Sunday were not bearing the fruit they should. One Saturday morning after he had finished writing his sermon, the thought occurred to him, “Perhaps I shoot too high. I will go down and see if Betty can understand it.” Betty was a trusted kitchen helper. He went to the kitchen and called her to come and hear his sermon. She hesitated but came when he insisted. After he had read a few sentences he asked, “Do you understand that?” “No,” she replied. He repeated the idea in simpler language and then asked her if she saw it. “I see it a little,” she said. Again he simplified it. She saw it more clearly and showed deep interest but said to him, “Plane it down a little more.” And once again he simplified it. Then she exclaimed with ecstasy, “Now I see it! Now I understand it!” He returned to his study and rewrote his sermon in the simple style that Betty could understand. On Sunday morning he went to church in fear and trembling lest his people should be contemptuous of his sermon but he fully resolved to try the experiment. To his surprise, he found he received better attention than ever before, and there were tears in the eyes of many of his congregation. From that time on, he changed his style of language and had no further cause to feel that his work was unsuccessful. Clarity of thought and expression do not rob our testimony of its depth and significance. A witness for Christ need never fear oversimplification. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 535)
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That forthright English clergyman, Dr. R. W. Dale, made this response to a young preacher who insisted that ministers must preach relevantly, to the times. “Young man, don’t preach to the times. Go and preach to broken hearts and you will preach relevantly.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 535)
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At the close of a service, a preacher was stopped by a gentleman who, after conceding that the sermon possessed certain commendable features, added, “But it had one noticeable defect!” The startled minister, on inquiring what this defect was, received the following reply: “I am a Jew. I have only recently been born again. Up to that time I attended the synagogue. But there was really nothing in your sermon that I could not have heard in the synagogue, nothing that a Jewish rabbi might not have preached.” “That,” said the preacher in later years, “was the greatest lesson in homiletics I was ever taught.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 538)
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Once that great Puritan preacher, Thomas Manton, had to speak before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London. He chose a subject in which he had an opportunity of displaying his learning and judgment. He was heard with admiration by the intelligent part of his audience, but as he was returning from dinner with the Lord Mayor, a poor man pulled him by the sleeve and asked if he were the gentleman that preached the sermon. He replied that he was. “Sir,” said the man, “I came with the hopes of getting some good to my soul, but I was greatly disappointed, for I could not get a great deal of what you said; you were quite above my understanding.” “Friend,” said Dr. Manton, “if I have not given you a sermon, you have given me one. By the grace of God, I will not play the fool in such a manner again.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 539)
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Someone told G. Campbell Morgan that the preacher must catch the spirit of the age. Immediately this great preacher answered, “God forgive the preacher who does that. The preacher’s business is to correct the spirit of the age.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 540)
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James Inglis was a graduate of Edinburgh University, learned and eloquent. He became the most popular preacher in Detroit, Michigan. Eager listeners filled his church to overflowing. One day, when he was preparing sermons for the following Sunday, it seemed as though a voice said to him, “James Inglis, whom are you preaching?” Startled, he answered, “I am preaching good theology.” “I did not ask what you are preaching, but whom you are preaching.” Inglis answered, “I am preaching the gospel.” Again the voice said, “I did not ask you what you are preaching; I asked whom you are preaching.” Silent, with bowed head, the preacher sat for a long time. Then rousing himself he cried, “O my God, I am preaching James Inglis, but henceforth I will preach Christ and Him crucified.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 541)
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“My dear boy,” said a father, “take a word of advice from an old man who loves peace. An insult is like mud; it will brush off much better when it is dry. Wait a little till you both are cool; then the broken relationship will be easily mended. If you go now, it will be only to quarrel.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 481)
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Some people are like the man who said he was afraid he was going to be of no use in the world because he had only one talent. “Oh, that need not discourage you,” said his pastor. “What is your talent?” “The talent of judging others, of criticism.” “Well, I advise you,” said his pastor, “to do with it what the man of one talent did with his, bury it. Criticism may be useful when mixed with other talents, but those whose only activity is to criticize the workers might as well be buried, talent and all.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 414)
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Let us not be like that man who is always quick to judge his fellowmen: If he is poor, he is a bad manager. If he is rich, he is dishonest. If he needs credit, he can’t get it. If he is prosperous, everyone wants a favor from him. If he’s in politics, it’s for pie. If he is out of politics, you can’t place him, and he’s no good for his country. If he doesn’t give to charity, he’s stingy. If he does, it’s for show. If he is actively religious, he is a hypocrite. If he takes no interest in religion, he’s a hardened sinner. If he shows affection, he’s a soft specimen. If he seems to care for no one, he’s cold-blooded. If he dies young, there was a great future ahead of him. If he lives to an old age, he has missed his calling. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 415)
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Many critical Christians are like that Persian youth who was very meticulous about his religious duties. He would rise up in the middle of the night to watch, pray, and read the Koran. One night as he was engaged in these exercises his father, a man of practical virtue, awoke while his son was reading. “Behold,” the religious youth said to his father, “thy other children are lost in irreligious slumber, while I alone wake to praise God.” “Son of my soul,” the wise father answered, “it is better to sleep than to awake to notice the faults of thy brothers!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 419)
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The story is told of a man and an angel who were walking along together. The man was complaining about his neighbors. “I never saw such a wretched set of people,” he said, “as are in this village. They are mean, greedy, selfish, and careless of the needs of others. Worst of all, they are forever speaking evil of one another.” “Is it really so?” asked the angel. “It is, indeed,” said the man. “Why, only look at this fellow coming toward us! I know his face, though I cannot remember his name. See his little shark-like, cruel eyes, darting here and there like a ferret's, and the lines of hardness about his mouth! The very droop of his shoulders is mean and cringing, and he slinks along instead of walking.” “It is very clever of you to see all this,” said the angel, “but there is one thing that you did not perceive—that is a mirror we are approaching.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 149)
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最近收到朋友的電郵，提到一個關於垃圾車的人生哲理，意譯如下。 一天我乘的士到機場，途中停在右邊泊車位的黑色車子突然駛出，幸而的士司機及時煞車，避過碰撞。黑色車的司機回頭向我們怒吼，而那位的士司機只是友善地對他笑了笑。我覺得奇怪，問的士司機為何那麼輕易放過那位司機，他便告訴我「垃圾車理論」：「世上很多人就像垃圾車一樣，心中充滿垃圾、挫折感和失望。當他們的垃圾愈積愈多而需要發泄時，就只會將這些垃圾倒向身邊的人。所以，不要將垃圾都扛到自己身上，當遇到這些事情時，嘗試微笑、揮揮手、祝他們一切安好，然後繼續走自己的路。請謹記，不要接收他們的垃圾，然後傳到工作、家庭或街上的人。」這個理論的重點是：生命苦短，不要讓垃圾充塞生活，令自己早上醒來時，總是充滿後悔。王維基, 站出來澄清的衝動 2009-01-09 http://www.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=68592§ion_name=wtt&kw=%B0%F2%AB%E4more%A4H%A1X%A1X%AF%B8%A5X%A8%D3%BC%E1%B2M%AA%BA%BD%C4%B0%CA
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William Lyon Phelps, professor of English Literature at Yale, declares he gets credit for only 25 per cent of the after-dinner speeches he actually makes. “Every time I accept an invitation to speak, I really make four addresses. First, is the speech I prepare in advance. That is pretty good. Second, is the speech I really make. Third, is the speech I make on the way home, which is the best of all; and fourth, is the speech the newspapers next morning say I made, which bears no relation to any of the others.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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“Sir,” screeched the wild-haired man, “are you opposed to free speech?”
“Not unless I am compelled to listen to it,” replied old Festus Pester.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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"I believe in free speech!” exclaimed the vociferous man.
“So do I,” rejoined Uncle Bill Bottletop; “so do I. But in one respect free speech reminds me of the free lunch in the old days. You hate to see a man making a pig of himself just because something’s free.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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有三位牧師前往牧師會議室，在那裡一起分享。第一位說：「讓我們彼此為個人隱私的惡習來認罪吧！我先開始：我隱私的惡習是沈溺賭博當中。當我出了城外，所有機器響起cha-ching cha-ching聲音來。」第二位說：「我個人隱藏的惡習是我耽溺飲酒。當我出到城外，」我喜歡拿起一小杯品嚐一番。」第三位說：「我隱藏的惡習是說閒話，我迫不及待離開這裡了！」
Three pastors went to the pastor’s convention and were all sharing one room.
The first pastor said, “Let’s confess our secret vices one to another. I’ll start - my secret vice is I just love to gamble. When I go out of town, it’s cha-ching cha-ching, let the machines ring.”
The second pastor said, “My secret vice is that I just love to drink. When I go out of town, I like to take a little nip of something.”
The third pastor said, “My secret vice is gossiping and I can’t wait to get out of this room!”
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有一次音樂老師問他班上學生「傾聽」和「聽見」有何差異。一開始鴉雀無聲，最後坐在後面的一位學生舉手給予聰明的定義：「傾聽就是正想要聽！」
A music teacher once asked her class what is the difference between listening and hearing. At first there was no response. Finally a hand went up at the back of the class and one of the young people offered this wise definition: “Listening is wanting to hear!”
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According to Albert Mehrabian, these three elements account differently for our liking for the person who puts forward the message: words account for 7%, tone of voice accounts for 38%, and body language accounts for 55% of the liking. They are often abbreviated as the “3 Vs” for Verbal, Vocal & Visual.
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Ability of speech in time and season is an especial gift of God, and that eminently with respect unto the spiritual things of the Gospel; but a profluency of speech, venting itself on all occasions and on no occasions, making men open their mouths wide when indeed they should shut them and open their ears, and to pour out all that they know and ... what they do not know, making them angry if they are not heard and impatient if they are contradicted, is an unconquerable fortification against all true spiritual wisdom. John Owen
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一個主日早上，牧師傳講了一篇有關屬靈恩賜的講章。散會後，一位姐妹在門口對他說：牧師，我想我有批評人的恩賜。牧師看著她，對她說：你是否還記得在耶穌的比喻中，那位只有一個恩賜的人？這位姐妹點點頭。你還記得他做了什麽嗎？記得，姐妹囘答說：他出去將它埋在土裏。牧師建議說：那你就去如此行吧！
One Sunday morning the minister preached a sermon on spiritual gifts. After the service, he was greeted at the door by a lady, who said, “Pastor, I believe I have the gift of criticism.” The pastor looked at her and asked, “Do you remember the person in Jesus’ parable who had one talent?” The woman nodded her head. “Do you recall what he did with it?” “Yes,” replied the lady, “he went out and buried it.” The pastor suggested, “Go, thou, and do likewise!”
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有一次，有一個國王夢見他的牙齒全掉了。他立刻把他其中一位 叫來為他解夢。用一個很悲哀的口吻告訴王，夢的意思是王所有的親戚都會同時去世，撇下他一個人。王聼了很生氣地把 趕走。另外一個 進來為王解夢。這位有智慧的 說：王啊！您當喜樂，夢的意思是您會再活很多年。其實，您會比您的親戚更長命。王聼了很高興，就厚厚地獎賞這位 。這兩個人用不同的方法詞句說了同樣的内容。
Once a king dreamed that all his teeth had fallen out. Immediately he sent for one of his soothsayers to interpret the meaning of his vision. With a sad countenance and mournful voice, the soothsayer told the monarch that the dream meant that all his relatives would die and that he would be left alone. This angered the king and he drove the servant from his presence.
Another was called and the king told him of the dream. At this, the wise man smiled, and replied, “Rejoice, O King; the dream means that you will live yet many years. In fact you will outlive all your relatives.” This pleased the king a great deal, and in his joy he gave the interpreter a rich reward. The two men had said, in different ways, the same thing - Clyde N. Parker (Tan #6334)
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An American Indian was in downtown New York, walking with his friend who lived in New York. Suddenly he said, “I hear a cricket.”
Oh, you’re crazy,” his friend replied.
“No, I hear a cricket. I do! I’m sure of it.”
“It’s the noon hour. There are people bustling around, cars honking, taxis squealing, noises from the city. I’m sure you can’t hear it.”
“I’m sure I do.” He listened attentively and then walked to the corner, across the street, and looked all around. Finally on the corner he found a shrub in a large cement planter. He dug beneath the leaves and found a cricket. His friend was astounded. But the Cherokee said, “No. My ears are no different from yours. It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here, let me show you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change- a few quarters, some dimes, nickels, and pennies. And he dropped it on the concrete. Every head within a block turned. You see what I mean?” he said as he began picking up his coins. “It all depends on what you are listening for.” (Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching: From Leadership Journal # 225 1993/Christianity Today/Baker Book House)
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在英文中，六個重要的字是：我承認我錯了！
在英文中，五個重要的字是：你做的很好。
在英文中，四個重要的字是：你的看法如何？
在英文中，三個重要的字是：麻煩你。
在英文中，兩個重要的字是：謝謝你。
在英文中，一個重要的字是：我們。
在英文中，最不重要的字是：我。
Important Words
The six most important words in the English language are:
“I admit I made a mistake.”
The five most important words in the English language are:
“You did a good job.”
The four most important words in the English language are:
“What is your opinion?”
The three most important words in the English language are:
“If you please.”
The two most important words in the English language are:
“Thank you.”
The one most important word in the English language is:
“We.”
The least important word in the English language is:
“I.”
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一位在婚姻上面臨挫折者向他的師傅請教。師傅說：你應該學習聼你太太所講的話。此人接受師傅的教導。一個月後他回來告訴師傅，他已經學會傾聽太太所講的每一句話。師傅笑笑地說：現在你回去注意聼她所沒說的每一句話。
When a man whose marriage was in trouble sought his advice, the Master said, “You must learn to listen to your wife.”
The man took his advice to heart and returned after a month to say that he had learned to listen to every word his wife was saying.
Said the Master with a smile, “Now go home and listen to every word she isn’t saying.” Anthony de Mello
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Charles Darwin was a chronic complainer who was happiest when he had something to gripe about.
One night, he and his wife were guests at a banquet at which everything went wrong. The speeches were dry; the champagne was hot; the food was inferior; the service even more so, and worst of all, the naturalist was given a seat in a draft, about which he had a phobia.
Throughout the meal, he grumbled and swore. Later, the sponsor of the affair came over to Mrs. Darwin and said apologetically: “I do hope your husband will forgive us. We wanted so much for him have a good time.’
“He had wonderful time,” she assured him. “He was able to find fault with everything.”
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有一位鞋店銷售員對顧客說：對不起，女士，你的腳太大了，容不下這雙鞋子。在相同的情況下，另一位銷售員卻對他的顧客說：對不起，女士，這雙鞋子太小了，容不下你的腳。這兩位銷售員用了幾乎相同的字句，然而，溝通的技巧使其中一位稍改字句，稍改重點，卻因而挽留了一位忠心滿意的顧客。
One shoe salesman said to his client, “I’m sorry, madam, but your foot is too large for this shoe।” The other salesman said to his client who was in a similar situation, “I’m sorry, madam, but this shoe is too small or your foot.” Each used almost the same words, but tact and diplomacy caused one to make a slightly different emphasis by a slight difference of phrasing, and secured a loyal and satisfied customer. (Oswald Sander, Leadership 105)
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有三個牧師一起參加一個聚會，幷且他們共同分享一個房間。第一個牧師說：“讓我們彼此坦誠我們隱藏的罪。就從我開始吧。我隱藏的罪是我就是喜歡賭博，每當我出城之後，我就喜歡那賭博機的聲音。”
第二個牧師坦白說：“我隱而未現的罪是我恨惡工作，你知道嗎？我所有的講章都是從別人那裏抄來的。”
第三個牧師接著說：“我隱藏的罪就是傳話，噢，太好了！現在我就忍不住沖到屋子外面去。”
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從前有一博士搭船過江，在船上和船夫閒談，他問船夫說，你懂得天文嗎？船夫答說不懂，博士又問，你懂得地理嗎？船夫答說也不懂。博士再問，那麼動物學，植物學？船夫仍然搖頭。博士說，你樣樣都不懂，真是個飯桶。不久天色大變，風浪大作，傳將翻覆，博士嚇得面如土色，船夫就問他說，你懂得游泳嗎？答說不會，船夫又問，你懂得游泳學嗎？答說樣樣都懂就是不懂得游泳。說著傳就翻了，博士大喚救命。船夫一把將他抓住，救他上岸，笑著對他說，你懂得我都不懂，你說我是飯桶，你樣樣都懂就是不懂游泳，要不是我，恐怕已經變成一個水桶。
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有這樣一古老的傳說：每一個人出世以後，都有兩個袋子在他的頸項，一個放在前面，裡面裝的是鄰人們的過失，而另一個袋子則放在背後，所裝的是自己的錯處。
因此，人們能很快的看清別人的過失，而對背後所揹自己的錯失，卻很難見到。
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曾有一個先生說了一件發生在他身上的個人糗事；他說：我懷疑我太太有耳聾的毛病，就決定考驗一下她的聽覺。
我輕手輕腳走到她身後的十米的地方。「太太！」我說：「你聽見我的聲音嗎？」
她沒有回答。於是我移前到太太身後六米的地方，「太太！」我重覆說：「你聽得見我的聲音嗎？」她依然沒有搭腔。
我又走前到離她三米的地方，問道：「太太！現在你能聽見我的聲音嗎？」，「聽見了！」她回答，「這是我第三次回答了！」
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丟格尼（Diogenes）是古希臘的偉大教師，他品德崇高，為人正直，只可惜性好批評，說話很刻薄。
他的一生大半住在雅典，但卻常喜歡批評雅典的墮落；歌頌斯巴達的質樸。當時雅典與斯巴達是古希臘兩個最著名的城邦，但是兩者截然不同。雅典崇尚民主自由，以航海經商為業，所以社會風氣浮華而驕奢；斯巴達則軍權專政，以農牧為業，民眾生活單純而樸實。
有一天他的朋友實在受不了了，就反駁他說：「你要是真的認為斯巴達那麼好，又這麼瞧不起雅典，那你為什麼不甘脆搬到斯巴達去呢？」 丟格尼回答說：「無論我真正希望的是什麼，我的責任是留在最需要我的地方。」從前有一博士搭船過江，在船上和船夫閒談，他問船夫說，你懂得天文嗎？船夫答說不懂，博士又問，你懂得地理嗎？船夫答說也不懂。博士再問，那麼動物學，植物學？船夫仍然搖頭。博士說，你樣樣都不懂，真是個飯桶。不久天色大變，風浪大作，傳將翻覆，博士嚇得面如土色，船夫就問他說，你懂得游泳嗎？答說不會，船夫又問，你懂得游泳學嗎？答說樣樣都懂就是不懂得游泳。說著傳就翻了，博士大喚救命。船夫一把將他抓住，救他上岸，笑著對他說，你懂得我都不懂，你說我是飯桶，你樣樣都懂就是不懂游泳，要不是我，恐怕已經變成一個水桶。-----有這樣一古老的傳說：每一個人出世以後，都有兩個袋子在他的頸項，一個放在前面，裡面裝的是鄰人們的過失，而另一個袋子則放在背後，所裝的是自己的錯處。因此，人們能很快的看清別人的過失，而對背後所揹自己的錯失，卻很難見到。-----曾有一個先生說了一件發生在他身上的個人糗事；他說：我懷疑我太太有耳聾的毛病，就決定考驗一下她的聽覺。我輕手輕腳走到她身後的十米的地方。「太太！」我說：「你聽見我的聲音嗎？」她沒有回答。於是我移前到太太身後六米的地方，「太太！」我重覆說：「你聽得見我的聲音嗎？」她依然沒有搭腔。我又走前到離她三米的地方，問道：「太太！現在你能聽見我的聲音嗎？」，「聽見了！」她回答，「這是我第三次回答了！」
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丟格尼（Diogenes）是古希臘的偉大教師，他品德崇高，為人正直，只可惜性好批評，說話很刻薄。他的一生大半住在雅典，但卻常喜歡批評雅典的墮落；歌頌斯巴達的質樸。當時雅典與斯巴達是古希臘兩個最著名的城邦，但是兩者截然不同。雅典崇尚民主自由，以航海經商為業，所以社會風氣浮華而驕奢；斯巴達則軍權專政，以農牧為業，民眾生活單純而樸實。有一天他的朋友實在受不了了，就反駁他說：「你要是真的認為斯巴達那麼好，又這麼瞧不起雅典，那你為什麼不甘脆搬到斯巴達去呢？」 丟格尼回答說：「無論我真正希望的是什麼，我的責任是留在最需要我的地方。」
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經歷了一個長而無趣的説教之後，教區會衆們走出教堂說講道者空洞無物。
在接近行列的結尾処是一位有思想的人，他總是稱讚說有的説教。
「牧師，今天你的説教讓我想起上帝的平安和愛。」
牧師激動得發抖：「在這之前，對我的講道，從沒有一個人說的象這樣。告訴我為什麼。」
「嗯，它讓我想起上帝的平安，是因爲它超越了所有的理解；它讓我想起上帝的愛，是因爲它持續到永遠。」
After a very long and boring sermon the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons.
“Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!” The pastor was thrilled. “No-one has ever said anything like that about my preaching before. Tell me why.” “Well - it reminded me of the Peace of God because it passed all understanding and the Love of God because it endured forever!”
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一位主日學老師交給學生們下一週的功課。她說：「下星期我們要談談撒謊，為了準備這堂課，我要大家回去讀馬可福音17章。」
下星期上課的一開始，老師說：「那些為了這堂課讀了馬可福音17章的人，請走到前面來。」班上有一半的學生站起來走到前面去。「其他人可以離開，」老師說道：「這些前來的學生是我要教的，馬可福音沒有17章。」
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一個很擔心的丈夫去向醫生講述關於他妻子的事，他說：「醫生，我想我妻子是耳聾，因為她不曾在第一囘叫她時就聽見，我經常需要重述事件。」
醫生回答說：「不如這樣，您回家，今晚站在離她15尺的地方向她說一些話。如果她沒有回應，您就走近5尺，然後再説一次。您就持續這樣做，如此我們就能對她耳聾的嚴重程度有一些了解。
如此肯定后，丈夫便回家並遵照所指示的做。他先從與他正在廚房裏切菜的妻子站離15尺開始， 便說：「甜心，晚餐吃什麽？「他沒有聽到回答。於是，他走近五尺，然後再問。沒有回應。他再走近五尺。還是沒有回應。他感到不耐煩地走到妻子身後，差不多有一寸的距離，再問：「甜心，晚餐吃什麽？」
她回答說：「這已經是第四次告訴您是菜羹！」
A concerned husband went to a doctor to talk about his wife. He says, “Doctor, I think my wife is deaf because she never hears me the first time and I’m always repeating things.”
“Well,” the doctor replied, “go home and tonight stand about 15 feet from her and say something to her. If she doesn’t reply move about 5 feet closer and say it again. Keep doing this so that we’ll get an idea about the severity of her deafness”.
Sure enough, the husband goes home and does exactly as instructed. He starts off about 15 feet from his wife in the kitchen as she is chopping some vegetables and says, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” He hears no response. He moves about 5 feet closer and asks again. No reply. He moves 5 feet closer. Still no reply. He gets fed up and moves right behind her, about an inch away, and asks again, “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
She replies, “For the fourth time, vegetable stew!”
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在網路上有一篇名為＜說話的藝術＞的文章：
少說抱怨的話，多說寬容的話；
抱怨帶來記恨，寬容乃是智者。
少說諷刺的話，多說尊重的話；
諷刺顯得輕視，尊重增加了解。
少說拒絕的話，多說關懷的話；
拒絕形成對立，關懷獲得友誼。
少說命令的話，多說商量的話；
命令只是接受，商量才是領導。
少說批評的話，多說鼓勵的話；
批評產生阻力，鼓勵發揮力量。
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Quotes引證 :
He who tells a lie is not sensible how great a task he undertakes, for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain one. Pope.
Sin has many tools but a lie is the handle that fits them all. O.W. Holmes.
Dean Jones of Yale is credited with this definition of freedom of speech: “The liberty to say what you think without thinking what you say.”
Melodious is the closed mouth. Irish
I am sick of opinions. Give me a humble, gentle lover of God and man – a man full or mercy and good fruits, without partiality or hypocrisy. Bigotry is too strong an attachment to our own creed of opinion. How unwilling men are to allow anything good in those who do not agree with them in all things. We must not narrow the cause of God to our own beliefs, but rejoice in goodness wherever it appears. John Wesley
The two words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through. Sydney J. Harris
There’s no sense in doing a lot of barking if you don’t really have much to say. Snoopy
Your temper is uneven; you lack love for your neighbors. You grow angry too easily; your tongue is too sharp- thus, the people will not hear you. John Wesley
Praise makes good men better, and bad men worse. Thomas Fuller.
There’s not a single new thought in Purpose-Driven Life that hasn’t been said in historic Christianity or Judaism. I’m just a communicator for the 21st century. Rick Warren
If your words are soft and sweet, they won’t be as hard to swallow if you have to eat them.
Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance. Robert Quillen
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain -- and most fools do.
Dale Carnegie
My preaching almost always displeases me. Augustine
You are entitled to your own opinion. You are not entitled to your own facts.
If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing. Zimbabwe proverb.
I tell my students to accept 51% of the responsibility of the outcome of the communication. Andrew D. Wolvin, University of Maryland
Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention. Still less can he afford to take all the consequences, including the vitiating of his temper and loss of self control. Yield larger things to which you can show no more than equal right; and yield lesser ones, though clearly your own. Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite. Abraham Lincoln
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. Mark Twain
It takes two years to learn to talk and seventy years to learn how to control your mouth.
I can live for two months on one good compliment. Mark Twain.
The reality is, if we tell the truth, we only have to tell the truth once. If you lie, you have to keep lying forever. Rabbi Wayne Dosick
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. Benjamin Franklin
Tart words make no friends; a spoonful or honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. Benjamin Franklin
Nobody ever got into trouble by keepin’ his mouth shut. The Wit and Wisdom of Forrest Gump
The hardest thing to keep to yourself is an opinion.
Every man needs a blind eye and a deaf ear, so when people applaud, you’ll only hear half of it, and when people salute, you’ll only see part of it. Believe only half the praise and half the criticism. Charles H. Spurgeon
Criticism is something you can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. Aristotle
Animals have long tongues but can’t speak; men have short tongues and shouldn’t speak.
Half an answer also says something.
Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. Plato
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject. Winston Churchill
If one man calls you a donkey, pay him no mind. If two men call you a donkey, get a saddle.
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CONDUCT 行為
有個鄉下牧師曾經說：「福音有兩部分。第一部分是相信它 (believing it)，第二部分是實行它 (behaving it)。」
An old country preacher used to say: “There are two parts to the Gospel. The first part is believing it, and the second part is behaving it.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 225)
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A soldier being dealt with by a Christian worker put it very well when he said, “I see it now! God does not expect me to live His life without first giving me His nature.”
(from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 227)
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It happened in the court-room during the trial of a husky young man who was charged with assault and battery. Throughout an especially severe cross-examination the defendant stoutly maintained that he had merely pushed the plaintiff “a little bit.”
“Well, about how hard?” queried the prosecutor.
“Oh, just a little bit,” responded the defendant.
“Now,” said the attorney, “for the benefit of the judge and the jury, you will please step down here and, with me for the subject, illustrate just how hard you mean.”
Owing to the unmerciful badgering which the witness had just been through, the prosecutor thought that the young man would perhaps overdo the matter to get back at him, and thus incriminate himself.
The defendant descended as per schedule, and approached the waiting attorney. When he reached him the spectators were astonished to see him slap the lawyer in the face, kick him in the shins, seize him bodily, and, finally, with a supreme effort, lift him from the floor and hurl him prostrate across a table.
Turning from the bewildered prosecutor, he faced the court and explained mildly:
“Your honor and gentlemen, about one-tenth that hard!”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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一個婦女向市政府官員請求釋放她的丈夫出獄。
「他為何入獄？」這官員問。
「因爲他偷了一個火腿」，她回答說。
「那聼起來並不算什麽。他是一個好的員工嗎？」
「不，我不想那麽說。他其實很懶。」
「嗯…他一定對你和孩子們很好，對嗎？」
「不，他不是這樣。說實話，他對我們很吝嗇。」
「那你爲什麽請求要這樣一個人出獄呢！？」 官員難以置信地問。
「官員，我們已經有一段時間沒有吃火腿了。」
A woman appealed to the state Governor about getting her husband out of the penitentiary.
“What is he in for?” asked the Governor.
“For stealing a ham,” she replied.
“That doesn’t sound too bad. Is he a good worker?”
“No, I wouldn’t say that. He’s pretty lazy.”
“Oh... well, he’s good to you and the children, isn’t he?”
“No, he’s not. Truth be told, he’s pretty mean to us.”
“Why would you want a man like that out of prison?!?” the governor asked in disbelief.
“Well, Governor, we’ve been out of ham quite a spell...”
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最低限度可以作一個壞人榜樣.
“Everybody in the world is good for something. At least they can be a bad example.” Cavett Robert
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童話裹有一個故事說:古時代在一大山上有一隻老虎，牠很喜歡喫人肉。天使告訴牠: 「你以後絕對不可喫人肉，若再喫，我馬上打死你。」虎答: 「好！ 」以後牠只咬死小動物來滿足肚子。過三年，天使再來時，老虎請求天使說「我三年之久沒喫過人肉，現在非常愛喫人肉，讓我喫吧！ 」天使說「好，但是基督徒你絕對不可喫。」虎回答說「好」後來虎很歡喜下了山，跑到一個禮拜堂前，看見一個人帶聖經，吟詩很快樂的樣子。老虎上前聞那個人，全身都沒有基督徒氣味，只有嘴有一點基督徒的氣味，所以留下嘴、全身的肉都喫掉了。天使又降臨來了，責備老虎怎樣喫那個人?老虎說「這個人只有嘴有基督徒的氣味，所以我留著嘴，其他的都份都喫掉了。」（楊信德，《新約聖經一般故事講道集》）
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有一位神學院的院長問學生說：「你今天都做了些什麼事呀？」
學生回答說：「我每天都忙死了，一直都在工作。我得管理兩隻鷲、兩隻豬’兩隻馬、一隻鹿，踩一條蛇、鬥一隻熊，另外還得照顧一個病人。」
神學院院長愈聽眼睛愈大。「我們院裡什麼時候成為動物園了？我怎麼都不知道呢？」院長回答。
那學生說：「兩隻鷲就是我兩隻情慾的眼睛，我常愛看那些不該看的東西，所以得好好的管理它。兩隻豬就是我愛偷懶的兩隻手，它們不喜歡做事，我得好好的鞭策它，好使它殷勤做工，多結果子。兩隻馬就是我的兩條腿，它們喜歡像野馬一樣亂跑，我得馴服它，才不會讓它走上邪惡的道路，要在真理的道上站穩腳步才行。一隻鹿就是我
不安定的心，它常像小鹿一樣亂竄，焦燥不安，我得好好的管束它，才不會使我的心迷失了。一條蛇就是我那喜歡道人是非的舌頭，我得勒住它，不要讓它信口雌黃才行。另一隻熊就是我那貪婪的惡念，我得克制它，好使它不會危害人群。至於那個病人，就是我整個肉體，我得讓它吃好的靈糧，讀神的話語，這樣我才能日益茁壯，真正長大成熟，滿有主基督的樣式。」
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曾有一位宣教士在傳福音時說到：「我曾旅行到一個地方，那裏有兩條分岔的路，當我在找路標時，發現了兩個人，一個已經死了，一個還活著，我該向那個人問路呢？是死的還是活的？」有人回答﹕「是活的。」宣教士繼續說﹔「那麼你們為何要跟隨那些已死的所謂聖人和宗教領袖，而不跟隨活著的基督呢？」
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福特於1893年發明汽車，1903年開始設廠大量生產，給人類帶來不少方便，但同時也造成許多車禍及人命的損傷。為了防止車禍的發生，福特汽車公司懸賞向全國徵求防止車禍發生的圖案及標語。結果入選的作品為大家耳熟能詳的「停、看、聽」，亦即車子開到十字路口或平交道時，必須先把車子停下來，再左右觀察看看，並傾聽一下有否來車。獲選者因而獲得一大筆獎金。可惜在幾年後，那位獲獎者開車到平交道時，因為沒有遵守自己所提出的標語，遂與火車相撞而車毀人亡。這樣的結果，好比『實行一兩，勝過一頓』，值得省思！
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Quotes引證 :
Good etiquette’s three simple phrases: “Please,” “Thank you,” and “May I.”
The beauty of the house is order; the blessing of the house is contentment; the glory of the house is hospitality; the crown of the house is godliness. (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
Home The place where we are treated best and grumble most. (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
It is not the quantity of the meat but the cheerfulness of the guests which makes the feast. Clarendon
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CONTENTMENT 知足
D. L. Moody told of two merchants between whom there was great rivalry and bitter feeling. One of them was converted. He went to his minister and said, “I’m still jealous of that man, and I don’t know how to overcome it.” “Well,” said the minister, “if a man comes into your store to buy goods, and you cannot supply him, just send him over to your neighbor.” He said he wouldn’t like to do that. “Well,” said the minister, “you do it and you will kill jealousy.” Sure enough, when he began sending customers over to his rival for goods he himself could not supply, the rival began to send customers over to this man’s store, and the breach was healed. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 408)
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Those who study bees tell us when a honeybee drives its barbed stinger into flesh, it becomes so firmly imbedded that the only way the bee can escape is to leave the stinger behind. This, however, is sure to cause the death of the bee. It receives such a wound that it cannot possibly recover. So it is with us. Sometimes we sting others because they are a little better than we are. Being jealous of them, we not only leave the sting in those who happen to disagree with us, but the act brings about spiritual harm to ourselves. If our zeal embitters others, it will multiply bitterness within our own hearts. Thus, when others feel the bitterness of our zeal, they will surely come to the conclusion that we do not possess Jesus Christ who descended from heaven to give us new life. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 409)
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Dr. F. B. Meyer told the following experience to a few personal friends: “It was easy,” he said, “to pray for the success of Campbell Morgan when he was in America, but when he came back to England and took a church near to mine, it was somewhat different. The old Adam in me was inclined to jealousy, but I got my heel upon his head, and whether I felt right toward my friend or not, I determined to act right. “My church gave a reception for him, and I acknowledged if it was not necessary for me to preach Sunday evenings, I would dearly love to go and hear him myself. Well, that made me feel right toward him. Just see how the dear Lord helped me out of my difficulty. There was Charles Spurgeon preaching wonderfully on the other side of me. He and Mr. Morgan were so popular and drew such crowds that our church caught the overflow, and we had all we could accommodate.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 410)
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Many Christians are like that person who, one day, looked extremely sad. One who knew him well said, “Either some great evil has happened to him, or some great good to another.” It has been very aptly said, “The man who keeps busy helping the man below him will not have time to envy the man above him; and there may not be anyone above him.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 216)
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A story is told of a watch which became dissatisfied with its little sphere in a lady's pocket. It envied Big Ben, the great tower clock in London. One day, as it passed over Westminster Bridge with its mistress, the little watch was heard to say, “I wish I could be up there. I could then serve the multitude.”
"You shall have your opportunity, little watch,” said a voice. Magically the watch was drawn up to the tower by a slender thread. When it reached the top, its mistress said to it, “Where are you, little watch? I cannot see you.” Nor could anybody else. Its elevation became its annihilation. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 217)
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A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big, beautiful shell in which the lobster lived. “What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place,” whined the little snail. “Oh, wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell!”
In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster walk right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty lobster shell lay neglected on the beach the snail said, “Now I shall have my wish.” And he boasted to all his friends that he was going to take up residence in a grand palace.
The birds and the animals then watched the snail pull himself loose from his own little shell and proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell. He huffed, puffed, blew, and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the large, empty shell was so cold.
A wise old crow then said to the younger crows, “You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 218)
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The Boy And The Nuts One good, practical reason for controlling our cravings is that if we grasp for too much, we may end up getting nothing at all. A little boy once found a jar of nuts on the table. ‘I would like some of these nuts,” he thought. “I’m sure Mother would give them to me if she were here. I’ll take a big handful.” so he reached into the jar and grabbed as many as he could hold. But when he tried to pull his hand out, he found that the neck of the jar was too small. his hand was held fast, but he did not want to drop any of the nuts. He tried again and again, but he couldn’t get the whole handful out. At last he began to cry. Just then his mother came into the room. “What’s the matter?” she asked. I can’t take this handful of nuts out of the jar,” sobbed the boy. “Well, don’t be greedy,” his mother replied. “Just take two or three, and you’ll have no trouble getting your hand out.” “How easy that was,” said the boy as he left the table. “I should have thought of that myself.” Aesop
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Once upon a time there was a stone cutter. The stone cutter lived in a land where a life of privilege meant being powerful. Looking at his life he decided that he was unsatisfied with the way things were and so he set out to become the most powerful thing in the land. Looking around his land he wondered to himself what is it to be powerful. Looking up he saw the Sun shining down on all the land. “The Sun must be the most powerful thing that there is, for it shines down on all things, and all things grow from its touch.” So he became the Sun. Days later, as he shone his power down on the inhabitants of the land, there came a cloud which passed beneath him obstructing his brilliance. Frustrated he realized that the Sun was not the most powerful thing in the land, if a simple cloud could interrupt his greatness. So he became a cloud, in fact, he became the most powerful storm that the world had ever seen. And so he blew his rain and lightning, and resounded with thunder all over the land, demonstrating that he was the most powerful. Until one day he came across a boulder. Down and down he poured and his thunder roared, lightning flashed and filled the sky, striking the ground near the boulder. His winds blew and blew and blew, and yet, despite all his efforts, he could not budge the boulder. Frustrated again, he realized that the storm was not the most powerful thing in the land, rather it must be the boulder. So he became the boulder. For days he sat, unmovable, and impassive, demonstrating his power, until one day, a stone cutter came and chiseled him to bits.
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A young man was traveling in a far country. It was getting late in the day, and he knew that he needed to stop to rest. However, he was thirsty and needed to find water before he slept. He met a white haired old man sitting on a rock by the side of the road. The young man asked him if he knew of a place where he could find water to drink. The old man said that if the young man stayed on the path he would come to a small stream. However, it would be after dark before he would reach the stream. The old man told the traveler that he could safely drink there. The old man further said that if he would pick up a handful of pebbles from the stream bed, the young man would be both glad and sad. The young man thanked the old man and continued on his journey. Sure enough, even though it was quite dark, the young traveler found the stream. He took a drink. The young man thought it silly to pick up pebbles, but just for curiosity he picked up a handful and put them in his pocket. He then found a place to sleep a short distance away from the stream. When he woke up, the young man remembered the pebbles. He shoved his hand into his pocket and brought them out. As he looked at them in amazement, the young man simultaneously felt great sorrow and great happiness for there in his hand lay beautiful, sparkling jewels. Quickly he rushed back to the stream to get more. He frantically searched through many hands full of ordinary pebbles, but the opportunity was gone. As he looked at the beautiful jewels, the young traveler felt so sad that he did not pick up many more. At the same time he was happy that he had at least picked up those that he had.
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聽說年老的桂格刊登一則廣告，他想要把四十英畝富饒的土地給想得到完全知足的人。有一個尋覓者來見桂格，桂格問：「你對所擁有的感到完全知足嗎？」充滿期待的客人回說：「是的！」老桂格意味深長的說：「那為什麼你還想要這塊土地呢？」
We’ve heard of an old Quaker who advertised that he would give 40 acres of rich farm land to anyone who was perfectly satisfied with that which he had. One seeker came to see the Quaker.
“Are thee perfectly satisfied with what thee hast?”
“Yes,” answered the hopeful guest.
“Then why dost thee want this land?” was the old Quaker’s significant reply.
—Gospel Herald
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有人問希臘哲學家克利安第說「誰更富？」，他回答說「知足的人」，辛尼加常說「最大的財富，是在於無慾。改善我們物質狀況最好的方法，莫過於無需要。我們愈限制我們的需求，我們就愈自由。」
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Quotes引證 :
Contentment is merely the knack of not wanting the things we know we can’t have.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
Contentment consisteth not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire. Fuller.
To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches. Cicero.
When you can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment. Unknown.
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COURAGE 勇氣
A young soldier who was showing signs of panic on the eve of his first battle was chaffed by a veteran. “Why, sonny,” he said, “you’re shaking with fear. Don’t be such a coward.” “I’m not a coward,” hotly retorted the youth. “If you felt half as scared as I do, you’d run away!” He was right. That young man was not a coward because he felt fear, but he would have been a coward if he had allowed it to master him and drive him from his post of duty. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 711)
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One dark night outside a small town, a fire started inside the local chemical plant. Before long it exploded into flames and an alarm went out to fire departments from miles around. After fighting the fire for over an hour, the chemical company president approached the fire chief and said, “All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved! I will give 50,000 to the engine company that brings them out safely!”
As soon as the chief heard this, he ordered the firemen to strengthen their attack on the blaze. After two more hours of attacking the fire, president of the company offered $100,000 to the engine company that could bring out the company’s secret files. From the distance a long siren was heard and another fire truck came into sight. It was a local volunteer fire company composed entirely of men over 65. To everyone’s amazement the little fire engine raced through the chemical plant gates and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. In the distance the other firemen watched as the old timers hopped off of their rig and began to fight the fire with an effort that they had never seen before.
After an hour of intense fighting the volunteer company had extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. Joyous the chemical company president announced that he would double the reward to $200,000 and walked over to personally thank each of the volunteers.
After thanking each of the old men individually the president asked the group what they intended to do with the reward money. The fire truck driver looked him right in the eye and said, “The first thing we’re going to do is fix the brakes on that truck!”
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古印度的寓言中有一個關於老鼠的故事，話說這隻老鼠和其他的老鼠一樣，很怕貓。
有一個神仙很同情牠，願意提供幫助，解除牠恐懼，在這隻老鼠的同意下，神仙將牠變成一隻貓。然而這隻貓又怕狗，因此神仙又將牠變成一隻狗。可是這隻狗又怕老虎，這樣神仙就再使牠變成一隻老虎，當這神仙發現這隻老虎又怕獵人時，牠就很厭惡的叫了起來：「你真的是毫無希望，你所需要的是改變你的心！ 在這一點事實上，我可幫不了你！」
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Quotes引證 :
Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing it and conquering it. Richter.
Few persons have courage enough to appear as good as they really are. Hare.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Death 死亡，Decisions 決定，Diligence 殷勤，Discipline 紀律
DEATH 死亡
When Robert Owen, the notorious freethinker, visited Alexander Campbell to arrange the preliminaries for the great debate that was to follow, they walked about the farm till they came to the family burying ground. “There is one advantage I have over the Christian,” boasted Mr. Owen. “I am not afraid to die. Most Christians have fear in death, but, if some few items of my business were settled, I should be perfectly willing to die at any moment.” “Well,” replied Mr. Campbell, “you say you have no fear in death; have you any hope in death?” “No,” said Mr. Owen after a thoughtful pause. “Then,” said Mr. Campbell, pointing to an ox standing nearby, “you are on a level with that animal. He has eaten till he is satisfied, stands in the shade whisking off the flies, and has neither hope nor fear in death.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 854)
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Advances Elusive in the Drive to Cure Cancer
Published: April 23, 2009
In 1971, flush with the nation’s success in putting a man on the Moon, President Richard M. Nixon announced a new goal. Cancer would be cured by 1976, the bicentennial.
When 1976 came and went, the date for a cure, or at least substantial progress, kept being put off. It was going to happen by 2000, then by 2015.
Cancer has always been an expensive priority. Since the war on cancer began, the National Cancer Institute, the federal government’s main cancer research entity, with 4,000 employees, has alone spent $105 billion. And other government agencies, universities, drug companies and philanthropies have chipped in uncounted billions more.
Yet the death rate for cancer, adjusted for the size and age of the population, dropped only 5 percent from 1950 to 2005. In contrast, the death rate for heart disease dropped 64 percent in that time, and for flu and pneumonia, it fell 58 percent.
But difficulties arise when cancer spreads, and, often, it has by the time of diagnosis. That is true for the most common cancers as well as rarer ones.
With breast cancer, for example, only 20 percent with metastatic disease — cancer that has spread outside the breast, like to bones, brain, lungs or liver — live five years or more, barely changed since the war on cancer began.
With colorectal cancer, only 10 percent with metastatic disease survive five years. That number, too, has hardly changed over the past four decades. The number has long been about 30 percent for metastatic prostate cancer, and in the single digits for lung cancer.
A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found the public divided about progress. Older people, more likely to have friends or relatives who had died of cancer, were more dubious — just 26 percent said a lot of progress had been made. The figure was 40 percent for middle-aged people, who may be more likely to know people who, with increased screening, had received a cancer diagnosis and seemed fine.
Full text: Advances Elusive in the Drive to Cure Cancer
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你想一個人需要多少生命的保險金？「足夠讓他的家人生活得以供應，但不至于太多到叫他們過於高興，以致忘了悲傷。
“How much life insurance do you think a man ought to carry?”
“Enough to keep his family from want, but not so much as to make them utterly impervious to grief.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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那是一個瀕死的鏡頭，但導演不滿意演員英X的演出。「拜托」 導演大喊「多放些精力在你快死的邊緣上」
It was a death-bed scene, but the director was not satisfied with the hero’s acting.
“Come on!” he cried. “Put more life in your dying!”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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有一位老財主因為急性心臟病而逝世，當他來到耶穌前時就大發牢騷，埋怨說：「全能的主阿！今天你叫我回來，我一點也不埋怨你，我甘心順服；但有一件事，我無法諒解，為什麼叫我回來以前，不先給我一個通知？叫我好有心理準備，對後代也可以有個交待阿！」主溫柔回答他說：「我曾寫了三封信給你，提醒你預備好回天家阿！」財主很驚訝的回答說：「主，沒有阿！我絕對沒收到。」主說：「你注意聽，第一封信是我讓你腰酸背病；第二封信是你的頭髮開始斑白；第三封信是你的牙齒逐漸脫落。這些都是提醒你快回天家的信號阿！怎麼說我沒有通知你呢？」
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偉大的查理王︵Charlemagne，七匹二｜八一四︶統治大部份的歐洲，他吩咐部下當他死的時候，不要按照傳統，並要求他們為他穿戴王服，坐在王座去埋葬，他的部下照辦了，並在他的膝上放一本聖經，而他的指頭指在馬太福音十六章廿六節：一個人就是贏得了全世界，卻賠上自己的生命，有什麼益處呢？﹂他當然不能夠用世界上任何事物來換取自己的生命。
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Quotes引證 :
讓我們活得多彩多姿，好讓我們臨終時，照顧我們的人都覺得遺憾。（馬可吐溫）
Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the caretaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
當你沒有錢的時候，你為食物煩惱；當你有錢的時候，你為性而煩惱；當你兩者都有的時候，你為健康煩惱。如果什麼都很好的時候，那麼你只怕死。 (J. P. Donleavy)
When you don’t have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it’s sex. When you have both, it’s health. If everything is simply jake, then you’re frightened of death. J. P. Donleavy
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DECISIONS 決定
有個人他有四個兒子，他要他的孩子們學習，不可太快下結論。所以他就要求他的孩子們去遠方尋找一棵梨子樹。第一個兒子，出發時是冬天，第二個兒子去時是春天，第三個兒子去時是夏天，小兒子去時是秋天。當他們去了又回來後，他召集他們來形容他們所見到的。
第一個兒子說那是棵很醜，彎曲並扭轉的枝條。第二個兒子說：「哦， 不是的，那是棵長滿綠苞蕾，充滿希望的梨子樹。第三個兒子回答」 不對，那是棵開滿漂亮花朵，聞起來滿有香味，那是他所看過最美麗優雅的樹。小兒子不同意所有的說法。他說那棵是果子過熟的樹。之後，父親告訴他們每一個兒子所見的都是對的。每個人所見的是不同季節梨子樹所出現的樣式。所以在人生中，不要錯過每一個片段。不要只在一個時期，判斷一棵樹，一個人，人生的喜怒哀樂，只有蓋棺定論，即如你若在冬天放棄了盼望，你就看不到春天的新希望，夏天的美麗及秋天的豐收。
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and the man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life, drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.
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「我從不會忘記當我第一次在醫院工作時的經驗。」舊金山中心緊急醫院主治外科醫生Millar如此說。「當時有個還是大學生的實習護士在隔離病房工作。那是一個有暴力的事件，一個病人正處在最糟糕好似醉酒妄想的狀態中，我在半夜被護士長叫醒，要我立刻趕到病房，當我去到那病房時，病人正在發瘋，而且有暴力傾向，而那新護士是嚇壞了，我趕快問護士，」為什么會到如此情況呢？我不是告訴你當病人有幻想癥兆時，趕緊給他吃藥，「是的醫生」那護士如此說，「但你是說當他看到蛇時，才給他吃藥，而他卻是看到藍色的狗帶著粉紅色的尾巴。」
“I will never forget my first experience in hospital work,” said Chief Surgeon Millar of the Central Emergency Hospital in San Francisco. “There was an undergraduate nurse in the detention ward, and we had a very violent case—a man in the worst stage of delirium tremens. I was awakened in the middle of the night by the head nurse who requested me to come at once to the patient. When I got there I found him raving and very violent, with the new nurse scared out of her wits.” Then the doctor said, “Why did you let him go so far? I left you some medicine to give him as soon as he got delirious.” “Yes, doctor,” the nurse replied, “but you told me to give that to him if he saw any more snakes, but this time he was seeing blue dogs with pink tails.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 874)
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有個人有一小塊的土地，他找個土地代理人要他作廣告賣地。當廣告做好了，土地代理人念給他聽，「 再念一遍」，土地代理人又念一遍，「 我想我是不會賣掉這塊地，因為這土地你所形容的，正是我長久以來所尋找的。」
A man who owned a small estate sent for an agent and asked him to write an advertisement offering it for sale. When the advertisement was ready, the agent read it to him. “Read that again,” said the owner. The agent read it once more. “I don’t think I will sell after all,” said the man. “I have been looking for an estate like that all my life and did not know that I owned it.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 876)
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一位年輕律師在撰寫一份合約，他很滿意的帶給一位年長並有智慧的參謀者檢驗。他很驚訝參謀者慢慢的唸，並且搖頭的說「這是一份很好的合約，john，寫得太棒了」，年長參謀檢驗者把合約交回年輕律師的當時說「John，你忘記對方了，一份好的合約一定要包含與對方相等的權利。「我們不會是公正的，如果我們只想到自己的好處，卻忽略對方的益處。」
A young lawyer negotiated a contract of which he was rather proud and took it to an old and wise counselor for his examination. To his surprise the old man, as he read it slowly, shook his head. “That is a great contract, John. It is most skillfully drawn,” he remarked as he handed it back. “But, John, you have forgotten the other fellow. No contract is sound which neglects the rights or the equities of any party to it.” We are not righteous if we think only of our own rights and neglect the rights of others. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 701)
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倆位牧者在討論何為信心的議題，那是很火熱的辯論，「那是很好的」一位牧者鎮定的說道「 我們都同意不同意的論調，是在成全神的工作---- 你是走你的道路，而我是走神的道路。」
Two ministers, given to arguing about their respective faiths, were in a very heated discussion. “That’s all right,” said one calmly. “We’ll just agree to disagree. After all, we’re both doing the Lord’s work— you in your way and I in His.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 521)
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北宣因為搬到康澤大廈的事開過多次會議，其中一次僅僅為了討論講台應該如何設計，就開會至凌晨 一時三刻，足足 九個小時！講台應該有多高、多長、多寬，什麼裝，講台與會眾座位之間的距離，鉅細無遺！蕭壽華 (滕近輝，都是恩典，236頁)
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你不會懷疑少數服從多數的智慧吧 ？「哦」參議員Sorghum在深思熟慮後如此反應」 什么是多數，在許多的例子中就是大多數的人已煩得不想再麻煩自己去思考，因而去接受他人的意見」。
“You don’t mean to tell me you ever doubt the wisdom of the majority?”
“Well,” responded Senator Sorghum with deliberation, “what is a majority? In many instances it is only a large number of people who have got tired out trying to think for themselves and have decided to accept somebody else’s opinion.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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有一天，警察攔下了一位衝過「四方停止」的指示牌的摩托騎士，剛要開罰單給他時，他開口了，
摩托騎士：「警察先生，你不能開罰單，因為我雖然沒有停下但我慢下來了，兩個是差不多的意思」
警察回答說：「你沒有停下來啊！」
摩托騎士回答：「路上車輛不多，很安全啊！」警察此時拿起警棍打那騎士，
他很驚訝的叫起來：「你在幹甚麼？」
警察回答說：「你要我慢下來還是停下來呢？」
One day a policeman stopped a motorist who had just gone through a four way stop sign and was about to give him a ticket when the motorist said. “Officer you can't give me a ticket for that!' “Why not” said the officer. “Because although I did not stop I slowed right down and its almost the same.” “But you did not stop” replied the officer, “and the sign says "STOP." “But the way was clear and it was safe” replied the motorist. The officer then pulls out his baton and starts hitting the motorist. “What are you doing!” yells the motorist in surprise. “Do you want me to slow down or stop” says the officer.
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有一個魚商放了一個招牌，上面寫著：「新鮮的魚在此賣掉」(“Fresh fish sold here.”)。有一個顧客很訝異地進前來問：「為什麼你在招版上寫『新鮮』兩個字？大家都知道你的魚是新鮮的，或者你的魚有腥味嗎？」「當然不會！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「新鮮」兩字給塗掉。過了不久，又來了另一個顧客說：「為什麼你要在招牌上寫『在此』兩個字？難道你還會在其他地方賣你的魚嗎？」「你說得有道理！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「在此」兩字給塗掉。後來又有一個顧客抱怨：「『賣掉』什麼叫『賣掉』？你一定不致於把所有的魚賣到一條不剩吧！」「當然不致於！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「賣掉」兩字給塗掉。最後，一個老婦人蹣跚地走來看到這招牌的時候，用低沈沙啞的聲音說：「『魚』？你根本不必做什麼廣告，相信我，大老遠就可以聞到這些魚的味道。」魚商就把招牌給舉起來，拿起刷子把『魚』字也給塗掉了。
A fish dealer put on a sign reading: “Fresh fish sold here.” A customer came in and asked in surprise, “Why did you put the word “fresh” on your sign? It’s understood your fish are fresh - or do they stink?” “Of course not!” agreed the fish dealer, and hurriedly paint out the word “fresh.” A little while later another customer came in and commented, “Why do you need the word ‘here’ on your sign? Where else could you be selling your fish?” “You’re right!” agreed the fish dealer, and he painted out the word “here.” Later, another customer complained, “Sold! What do you mean, ‘sold’? Surely you’re not giving away any of your fish!” “Indeed not!” agreed the fish dealer, and he painted out the word “sold.” Finally, an old lady hobbled in. She saw the sign, and croaked in a thin voice, “Fish?” You don’t need to advertise your fish! Believe me, you can smell them a mile away.” The fish dealer heaved a deep sigh, picked up his brush and painted out the word “fish.”
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A wealthy eccentric died and left a million dollars to his nephew, John. When the will was read at the lawyer’s office, the lawyer said to John, “According to your uncle’s instructions, payment of your inheritance will depend on choices that you must make.” The lawyer held his two fists out in front of him and asked, “Do you choose what is in my right hand or in my left hand?”
John decided to take what was in the attorney’s right hand. The lawyer opened his left hand to reveal a gold coin and a silver coin. “Had you chosen this hand,” he said, “you would have received a substantial share in a gold mine or a silver mine in Chile.” Then he opened his right hand to reveal a nut and a coffee bean. “These represent a million dollars’ worth of nuts or coffee from Brazil,” said the attorney. “Which do you choose?” John decided on the nuts.
A week went by before John arrived in Brazil to take charge of his holdings. In the interim, fire destroyed a huge warehouse where the nuts that John had inherited were stored and coffee prices doubled. Since John hadn’t gotten around to insuring his holdings, he soon was bankrupt.
He barely had enough for his airfare home to New York or Los Angeles, where he could stay with a friend. He chose Los Angeles.
Just before he took off, the New York plane came out on the runway—it was a brand-new super jet. For the connecting flight to Los Angeles, the plane was a 1928 Ford trimotor with a sway back that took half a day to get off the ground. It was filled with crying children and tethered goats. Over the Andes one engine fell off. Our man crawled up to the cockpit and said, “Let me out if you want to save your lives. Give me a parachute.”
The pilot agreed but said, “On this airline, anybody who bails out must wear two chutes.”
John jumped from the plane and as he fell he tried to make up his mind which rip cord to pull. Finally he chose the one on the left. It was rusty, and the wire pulled loose. He pulled the other handle. The chute opened, but its shroud lines snapped. In desperation the poor fellow cried out, “St. Francis save me!”
Suddenly a great hand reached down from Heaven, seized the poor man’s wrist and let him dangle in midair. Then a gentle voice asked, “St. Francis Xavier or St. Francis of Assisi?”
Bits & Pieces, May 25, 1995, pp. 6-8
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一個年輕的大學生為了隔天的動物學考試整晚熬夜。當他走進教室，他看見十個架子上有十隻鳥站在上面，每隻鳥用一個罩子罩著頭，只有腳露出來。他正襟危坐在最前排，因為希望能儘所能地考試，教授宣布考題是觀察每隻鳥的腳，然後寫出牠們的名稱、習性、屬種。
那位學生看了每隻鳥的腳，但是每隻腳看起來都一樣，於是他開始生氣，因為他熬夜了一整個晚上，但是現在卻必須分辨鳥的腳 他愈想愈是生氣。最後，他再也不能忍受，他站起來走到教授的桌子說，真是愚蠢的考試，誰能憑著鳥的腳看出他們的不同來，說完把考卷往桌上一丟就向門口走去。
那個教授非常地驚訝，因為斑級太大他無法記得每個人的名字，因此當那位學生走到門口的時候，那位教授喊著：「先生，你叫什麼名字?」那位憤怒的學生拉起他的褲管說：「你告訴我啊! 你告訴我啊!」
A young college student had stayed up all night studying for his zoology test the next day. As he entered the classroom, he saw ten stands with ten birds on them. Each bird had a sack over its head; only the legs were showing. He sat straight in the front row because he wanted to do the best job possible. The professor announced that the test would be to look at each of the birds’ legs and give the common name, habitat, genus and species.
The student looked at each of the birds’ legs. They all looked the same to him. He began to get upset. He had stayed up all night studying and now had to identify birds by their legs. The more he thought about it the madder he got. Finally he could stand it no longer. He went up to the professor’s desk and said, “What a stupid test! How could anyone tell the difference between birds by looking at their legs?”
With that the student threw his test on the professor’s desk and walked to the door. The professor was surprised. The class was so big that he didn’t know every student’s name so as the student reached the door the professor called, “Mister, what’s your name?” The enraged student pulled up his pant legs and said, “You tell me buddy! You tell me!”
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有一個人從寵物店買了一隻金絲雀。
『你確定這隻鳥會唱歌嗎？』他帶著懷疑的語氣問道。
『他是一位非常出色的演唱家啊！』
於是客人便離開了。一星期後他又出現了。
『嘿！你賣給我的這隻鳥是瘸的。』
『什麼阿，那你想要的到底是一個歌唱家還是一位舞蹈家呢？』
A man bought a canary from a pet store.
“You’re sure this bird can sing ?” he said suspiciously.
“He’s a grand singer.”
The customer left. A week later he reappeared.
“Say! This bird you sold me is lame!”
“What, what did you want a singer or a dancer?”
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「這裏真冷，」那位有錢客人吸著鼻子說，「請你去把冷氣機關小一點，可以嗎？」，侍應生說：「可以，先生。」
過了幾分鐘，那男士又把侍應生召來，「我現在又覺得太熱了。」侍應生說：「沒有問題，我可以把冷氣機開大一點。」可是，過不久那個客人又說太冷了。
有個坐在附近的老主顧低聲跟侍應生說：「你這麼好耐性，我很佩服。那個傢伙一定把你給煩死了。」侍應生聳聳肩說：「一點也不，我們這裏根本沒有冷氣機。」
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四個傳道人在辯論著一連串的神學問題， 三個一直跟其中一個意見不一樣而對立。 一天這個傳道人決定要向至高者呼求和上訴。
「神啊，在我心裡我確知我是對的， 而他們的觀點是錯的， 求祢賜我一個徵兆， 以致他們可以知道我明白祢的律法。」
就在那一個美麗而陽光普照天空中， 一片黑雲飄來在四個傳道人頭上， 隆隆一聱而立刻消散。
「這是一個從神而來的徵兆， 我知道我是對的。」
但其他三個不同意， 指出這只是在一酷熱天氣中的一個雷雨雲吧。
傳道人再祈禱: 「神啊， 我需要一個更大的徵兆去証明我是對的， 而他們是錯的， 更大的徵兆吧！！！」
這次， 四朵黑雲從四方出現， 直飛碰撞在一起， 一道雷電把這四個傳道人所站之處十呎以外的一棵樹擊倒， 這片雲便立刻消失。
「我說我是對的」那孤獨的傳道人說。
但其他三個說: 「沒有一件事是不可以用大自然來解釋的。」
那個堅持己見的傳道人再求: 「神啊…」
天空立時變得漆黑的， 地在震， 而天上有一個深沉的聲音說，
「他…是…對…的。」
傳道人就义著腰說: 「怎麼樣?」
「怎樣? 現在是三比二！」
Four preachers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always in accord against the fourth. One day, the odd man out decided to appeal to a higher authority.
“Oh, God!” he cried. “I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong! Please show me a sign, so they too will know that I understand Your laws.”
It was a beautiful, sunny day. As soon as the preacher finished his plea, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four. It rumbled once and dissolved. “A sign from God! See, I’m right, I knew it!” But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds form on hot days.
So he asked again: “Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong. So please, God, a bigger sign.”
This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning knocked down a tree ten feet away from the preachers. The cloud dispersed at once. “I told you I was right!” insisted the loner, but the others insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes.
The insisting preacher started to ask again; just as he said, “Oh God...” the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice intoned,
“HEEEEEEEE’S RIIIIIIIGHT!”
The sky returned to normal. The one preacher put his hands on his hips and said, “Well?”
“So?” replied another. “Now it’s three to two!”
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Quotes引證 :
The greatest gift which humanity has received is free choice. It is true that we are limited in our use of free choice. But the little free choice we have is such a great gift and is potentially worth so much that for this itself, life is worthwhile living. Isaac Bashevis Singer
You can make your choices but you cannot choose the consequences
Question: There were once three frogs on a log and on of them made a decision to jump in. How many were left? Answer: There are still three frogs on a log, he only made a decision, he took no action!
One is the “70 percent solution” that the military teaches... if you have 70% of the information, have done 70% of the analysis, and feel 70% confident, then move.
When any young student asks me, “Do you think I should be a dancer?” I always
say, “If you have to ask, then the answer is no.” Martha Graham
Freedom is not the right to do as you please but the liberty to do as we ought.
Making a decision is 5%; 95% is following through. Dawson Trotman
I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what to do about it. Andy Rooney
Your decisions determine your direction, and your direction determines your destiny.
When you’re 100% certain, you’re too late. Charles W. Robinson
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DILIGENCE/LAZINESS 殷勤懶惰
Robert Browning 告訴一個出名音樂家的事跡。，這音樂家在經濟的壓力下和通俗的要求中，做了一些不適合的表演，為了賺取現款和速成的名利。有個夜晚，當這音樂家站在表演臺，欣賞觀眾的給他熱烈的鼓掌，他瞄眼看到在私人包廂中的大師名人Rossini。這時他禁不住的眼睛下垂，臉色漲紅。觀眾還是不斷熱烈的鼓掌著，但他知道大師名人Rossini是在譴責他的低廉和沒價值的演出。
Robert Browning tells of a famous musician who, under financial pressure and the influence of popular demand, lowered his standards and produced some inferior works that brought in ready cash and a measure of success. One evening as he stood on the platform enjoying the applause of the audience, he happened to glance at a private box and see the master, Rossini. His eyes fell and his color rose. The mob applauded, but he knew that the master condemned the cheap and unworthy work. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 584)
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A householder left a patch of land completely unattended. On returning from a journey he found it full of stones, old bottles, and other rubbish. Though he had never attempted to garden before, he took a spade and began to dig up the ground and clear away the debris. Then he sowed a few seeds. With tremendous excitement he watched his garden patch. When at last he saw little shoots pushing up through the ground he was almost in ecstasy. Gradually the plants grew and at last the flowers appeared. To him it looked beautiful. One day his pastor stopped by. He couldn’t get the pastor excited about his garden. Finally the pastor said, “Yes, it is wonderful what Almighty God does with a patch of ground like that.” “Oh, it is,” said the man, “but I wish you had seen this place when the Almighty had it all to Himself!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 567)
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有一個人告訴醫生說他再也無法做他平常做的家事了。當所有的檢查都完畢後，他說：「醫生，現在請你簡單告訴我，我的問題到底是什麼？你說什麼，我都能夠接受。」
醫生回答說：「簡單地說，你只是懶惰而已。」
這人說：「好，那麼請給我一個醫學名詞，我好告訴太太。」
A man told his doctor that he wasn’t able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination was complete, he said, “Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me.”
“Well, in plain English,” the doctor replied, “you’re just lazy.”
“OK,” said the man. “Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife.”
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有一隻袋鼠想要從動物園逃出去。動物園的管理員知道牠會掉很高，所以就設了10尺高的柵欄。然而，隔天早晨，這隻袋鼠還是又跑了出來，在動物園裡散步。
於是管理員又把柵欄加高到20尺，可是，隔天早晨，這隻袋鼠一樣又跑了出來，在動物園裡散步。
就這樣，一晚又一晚，直到柵欄加高到60尺。最後，隔壁籠子的駱駝問袋鼠：「你覺得柵欄還會做到多高？」
袋鼠回答說：「大概會到100尺吧！除非晚上有人把柵欄的門給栓起來！」
A kangaroo kept getting out of his enclosure at the zoo. Knowing that he could hop pretty high, the zoo officials put up a ten-foot fence. However, the next morning the kangaroo was out again, just roaming around the zoo.
The zoo officials raised the height of the fence to twenty feet. Again, however, the next morning the kangaroo was again roaming around the zoo.
This kept on, night after night, until the fence was sixty feet high. Finally, the camel in the next enclosure asked the kangaroo, “How high do you think they’ll go?”
The kangaroo replied, “Probably a hundred feet, unless somebody starts locking the gate at night!”
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奧運選手的智慧
前任/現任奧運選手給有志向之運動員的忠告：
努力練習 -36%
享受運動的樂趣 -18%
設定目標 –18%
相信自己 –17%
不怕失敗 –10%
不斷求進步 –10%
因為渴望，所以運動 –10%
備註：有志者可以有多於一項以上的選擇
來源：McDonald’s Guest Breaks (USA Today 3/4/96)
Olympian Wisdom
Former/current Olympians advice for aspiring athletes:
Work hard -36%
Have fun in sport -18%
Set a goal – 18%
Believe in self – 17%
Don’t fear failure – 10%
Always improve – 10%
Play because you want to – 10%
Note: Respondents could choose more than one
Source: McDonald’s Guest Breaks (USA Today 3/4/96)
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有一名士兵想開一個玩笑，在他回到營房的時候，他大聲說：「我手裡有十塊錢，我要把它送給我們這裡最懶的人！」他的話剛說完，大夥都跑到他面前說他們是怎樣懶─只剩下一個士兵在床上躺著一動也不動，他說：「快把十塊錢拿來放在我的口袋裡！」聽完這個故事使我們會心一笑，但這並不值得我們鼓勵。
法國人伏爾泰說：「一切工作，最後總會變成無限的快樂，並且代替了生活的各種幻想。」他十分果決地指出：如果不打算自殺，便要常常找些事做，沒有事做和死亡是一樣的。這位鼓吹自由精神的鬥士，為法國大革命的先驅，伏爾泰最厭惡懶蟲，他甚至斷定：除了懶惰者以外，世界上其餘的人都是好人。
第二次世界大戰最激烈的時候，英國首相邱吉爾每天工作十八小時，有人問他：「是否為你的鉅大責任憂慮呢？」邱吉爾淡然地回答：「我太忙了，沒有時間憂慮。」的確，忙碌的人沒有時間憂慮，他的時間放在思考，放在工作，工作使他把憂慮拋得遠遠的。
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Quotes引證 :
我們需要六個 up：醒來、起來、站起來、活絡起來、振作起來以及奮發圖強。
We need six ups: Wake up, get up, stand up, warm up, cheer up and speed up.
If a man lacks enthusiasm it takes him twice as long to accomplish a task.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
對於你有能力賺取的東西，絕不彎腰乞討。（塞萬提斯Miguel de Cervantes）
Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn. Miguel de Cervantes
神賞賜每隻鳥都有食物，但祂絕不把食物直接丟掉鳥巢裡。(J. G. Holland)
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest. J. G. Holland
只要盡心竭力工作，你便可以在各階層擊敗50%的人。當你誠實、正直、又站穩某種立場時，你便可擊敗另外40%的人。而要戰勝另外10%的人，就靠嘗試而且了解：即使是失敗也不能擊垮你。
You beat 50 percent of people at any level by working hard. You beat another 40 percent by being a person of honesty and integrity and standing for something. The last ten percent is beat out by simply trying and realizing failure is not defeat.
努力工作才有奇蹟。(Kevin Johnson)
Miracles are the result of hard work. Kevin Johnson
你越力工作，你就會越幸運。(Gary Player)
The harder you work, the luckier you get. Gary Player
努力工作只不過是當我應該做的時候，把一些我以前不做的易事積聚在一起。
Hard work is simply the accumulation of easy things I didn’t do when I should have done them.
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DISCIPLINE 紀律
Quotes引證 :
Discipline is not making people do things; it’s getting them to do things. Burn Philips
One ought to hold on to one’s heart; for if one lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too. Friedrich Nietzsche
The soul and the body make a man; the spirit and the discipline make a Christian. John Wesley
Learn to say ‘No’; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Discipline: something I do to accomplish what I cannot do by effort
The self-controlled person says “no” to sin as it tempts his appetites. He says “yes” to righteousness and “I will” to obedience. Jerry White
Discipline is the ability to say “no” to what is sin, to say “yes” to what is right, and to say “I will” to what ought to be done. Jerry White
Commitment without discipline is like a luxury car without gas: It looks great, but it’s going nowhere. Jerry White
When Robert Owen, the notorious freethinker, visited Alexander Campbell to arrange the preliminaries for the great debate that was to follow, they walked about the farm till they came to the family burying ground. “There is one advantage I have over the Christian,” boasted Mr. Owen. “I am not afraid to die. Most Christians have fear in death, but, if some few items of my business were settled, I should be perfectly willing to die at any moment.” “Well,” replied Mr. Campbell, “you say you have no fear in death; have you any hope in death?” “No,” said Mr. Owen after a thoughtful pause. “Then,” said Mr. Campbell, pointing to an ox standing nearby, “you are on a level with that animal. He has eaten till he is satisfied, stands in the shade whisking off the flies, and has neither hope nor fear in death.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 854)
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Advances Elusive in the Drive to Cure Cancer
Published: April 23, 2009
In 1971, flush with the nation’s success in putting a man on the Moon, President Richard M. Nixon announced a new goal. Cancer would be cured by 1976, the bicentennial.
When 1976 came and went, the date for a cure, or at least substantial progress, kept being put off. It was going to happen by 2000, then by 2015.
Cancer has always been an expensive priority. Since the war on cancer began, the National Cancer Institute, the federal government’s main cancer research entity, with 4,000 employees, has alone spent $105 billion. And other government agencies, universities, drug companies and philanthropies have chipped in uncounted billions more.
Yet the death rate for cancer, adjusted for the size and age of the population, dropped only 5 percent from 1950 to 2005. In contrast, the death rate for heart disease dropped 64 percent in that time, and for flu and pneumonia, it fell 58 percent.
But difficulties arise when cancer spreads, and, often, it has by the time of diagnosis. That is true for the most common cancers as well as rarer ones.
With breast cancer, for example, only 20 percent with metastatic disease — cancer that has spread outside the breast, like to bones, brain, lungs or liver — live five years or more, barely changed since the war on cancer began.
With colorectal cancer, only 10 percent with metastatic disease survive five years. That number, too, has hardly changed over the past four decades. The number has long been about 30 percent for metastatic prostate cancer, and in the single digits for lung cancer.
A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found the public divided about progress. Older people, more likely to have friends or relatives who had died of cancer, were more dubious — just 26 percent said a lot of progress had been made. The figure was 40 percent for middle-aged people, who may be more likely to know people who, with increased screening, had received a cancer diagnosis and seemed fine.
Full text: Advances Elusive in the Drive to Cure Cancer
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你想一個人需要多少生命的保險金？「足夠讓他的家人生活得以供應，但不至于太多到叫他們過於高興，以致忘了悲傷。
“How much life insurance do you think a man ought to carry?”
“Enough to keep his family from want, but not so much as to make them utterly impervious to grief.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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那是一個瀕死的鏡頭，但導演不滿意演員英X的演出。「拜托」 導演大喊「多放些精力在你快死的邊緣上」
It was a death-bed scene, but the director was not satisfied with the hero’s acting.
“Come on!” he cried. “Put more life in your dying!”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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有一位老財主因為急性心臟病而逝世，當他來到耶穌前時就大發牢騷，埋怨說：「全能的主阿！今天你叫我回來，我一點也不埋怨你，我甘心順服；但有一件事，我無法諒解，為什麼叫我回來以前，不先給我一個通知？叫我好有心理準備，對後代也可以有個交待阿！」主溫柔回答他說：「我曾寫了三封信給你，提醒你預備好回天家阿！」財主很驚訝的回答說：「主，沒有阿！我絕對沒收到。」主說：「你注意聽，第一封信是我讓你腰酸背病；第二封信是你的頭髮開始斑白；第三封信是你的牙齒逐漸脫落。這些都是提醒你快回天家的信號阿！怎麼說我沒有通知你呢？」
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偉大的查理王︵Charlemagne，七匹二｜八一四︶統治大部份的歐洲，他吩咐部下當他死的時候，不要按照傳統，並要求他們為他穿戴王服，坐在王座去埋葬，他的部下照辦了，並在他的膝上放一本聖經，而他的指頭指在馬太福音十六章廿六節：一個人就是贏得了全世界，卻賠上自己的生命，有什麼益處呢？﹂他當然不能夠用世界上任何事物來換取自己的生命。
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Quotes引證 :
讓我們活得多彩多姿，好讓我們臨終時，照顧我們的人都覺得遺憾。（馬可吐溫）
Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the caretaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
當你沒有錢的時候，你為食物煩惱；當你有錢的時候，你為性而煩惱；當你兩者都有的時候，你為健康煩惱。如果什麼都很好的時候，那麼你只怕死。 (J. P. Donleavy)
When you don’t have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it’s sex. When you have both, it’s health. If everything is simply jake, then you’re frightened of death. J. P. Donleavy
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DECISIONS 決定
有個人他有四個兒子，他要他的孩子們學習，不可太快下結論。所以他就要求他的孩子們去遠方尋找一棵梨子樹。第一個兒子，出發時是冬天，第二個兒子去時是春天，第三個兒子去時是夏天，小兒子去時是秋天。當他們去了又回來後，他召集他們來形容他們所見到的。
第一個兒子說那是棵很醜，彎曲並扭轉的枝條。第二個兒子說：「哦， 不是的，那是棵長滿綠苞蕾，充滿希望的梨子樹。第三個兒子回答」 不對，那是棵開滿漂亮花朵，聞起來滿有香味，那是他所看過最美麗優雅的樹。小兒子不同意所有的說法。他說那棵是果子過熟的樹。之後，父親告訴他們每一個兒子所見的都是對的。每個人所見的是不同季節梨子樹所出現的樣式。所以在人生中，不要錯過每一個片段。不要只在一個時期，判斷一棵樹，一個人，人生的喜怒哀樂，只有蓋棺定論，即如你若在冬天放棄了盼望，你就看不到春天的新希望，夏天的美麗及秋天的豐收。
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and the man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life, drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.
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「我從不會忘記當我第一次在醫院工作時的經驗。」舊金山中心緊急醫院主治外科醫生Millar如此說。「當時有個還是大學生的實習護士在隔離病房工作。那是一個有暴力的事件，一個病人正處在最糟糕好似醉酒妄想的狀態中，我在半夜被護士長叫醒，要我立刻趕到病房，當我去到那病房時，病人正在發瘋，而且有暴力傾向，而那新護士是嚇壞了，我趕快問護士，」為什么會到如此情況呢？我不是告訴你當病人有幻想癥兆時，趕緊給他吃藥，「是的醫生」那護士如此說，「但你是說當他看到蛇時，才給他吃藥，而他卻是看到藍色的狗帶著粉紅色的尾巴。」
“I will never forget my first experience in hospital work,” said Chief Surgeon Millar of the Central Emergency Hospital in San Francisco. “There was an undergraduate nurse in the detention ward, and we had a very violent case—a man in the worst stage of delirium tremens. I was awakened in the middle of the night by the head nurse who requested me to come at once to the patient. When I got there I found him raving and very violent, with the new nurse scared out of her wits.” Then the doctor said, “Why did you let him go so far? I left you some medicine to give him as soon as he got delirious.” “Yes, doctor,” the nurse replied, “but you told me to give that to him if he saw any more snakes, but this time he was seeing blue dogs with pink tails.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 874)
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有個人有一小塊的土地，他找個土地代理人要他作廣告賣地。當廣告做好了，土地代理人念給他聽，「 再念一遍」，土地代理人又念一遍，「 我想我是不會賣掉這塊地，因為這土地你所形容的，正是我長久以來所尋找的。」
A man who owned a small estate sent for an agent and asked him to write an advertisement offering it for sale. When the advertisement was ready, the agent read it to him. “Read that again,” said the owner. The agent read it once more. “I don’t think I will sell after all,” said the man. “I have been looking for an estate like that all my life and did not know that I owned it.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 876)
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一位年輕律師在撰寫一份合約，他很滿意的帶給一位年長並有智慧的參謀者檢驗。他很驚訝參謀者慢慢的唸，並且搖頭的說「這是一份很好的合約，john，寫得太棒了」，年長參謀檢驗者把合約交回年輕律師的當時說「John，你忘記對方了，一份好的合約一定要包含與對方相等的權利。「我們不會是公正的，如果我們只想到自己的好處，卻忽略對方的益處。」
A young lawyer negotiated a contract of which he was rather proud and took it to an old and wise counselor for his examination. To his surprise the old man, as he read it slowly, shook his head. “That is a great contract, John. It is most skillfully drawn,” he remarked as he handed it back. “But, John, you have forgotten the other fellow. No contract is sound which neglects the rights or the equities of any party to it.” We are not righteous if we think only of our own rights and neglect the rights of others. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 701)
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倆位牧者在討論何為信心的議題，那是很火熱的辯論，「那是很好的」一位牧者鎮定的說道「 我們都同意不同意的論調，是在成全神的工作---- 你是走你的道路，而我是走神的道路。」
Two ministers, given to arguing about their respective faiths, were in a very heated discussion. “That’s all right,” said one calmly. “We’ll just agree to disagree. After all, we’re both doing the Lord’s work— you in your way and I in His.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 521)
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北宣因為搬到康澤大廈的事開過多次會議，其中一次僅僅為了討論講台應該如何設計，就開會至凌晨 一時三刻，足足 九個小時！講台應該有多高、多長、多寬，什麼裝，講台與會眾座位之間的距離，鉅細無遺！蕭壽華 (滕近輝，都是恩典，236頁)
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你不會懷疑少數服從多數的智慧吧 ？「哦」參議員Sorghum在深思熟慮後如此反應」 什么是多數，在許多的例子中就是大多數的人已煩得不想再麻煩自己去思考，因而去接受他人的意見」。
“You don’t mean to tell me you ever doubt the wisdom of the majority?”
“Well,” responded Senator Sorghum with deliberation, “what is a majority? In many instances it is only a large number of people who have got tired out trying to think for themselves and have decided to accept somebody else’s opinion.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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有一天，警察攔下了一位衝過「四方停止」的指示牌的摩托騎士，剛要開罰單給他時，他開口了，
摩托騎士：「警察先生，你不能開罰單，因為我雖然沒有停下但我慢下來了，兩個是差不多的意思」
警察回答說：「你沒有停下來啊！」
摩托騎士回答：「路上車輛不多，很安全啊！」警察此時拿起警棍打那騎士，
他很驚訝的叫起來：「你在幹甚麼？」
警察回答說：「你要我慢下來還是停下來呢？」
One day a policeman stopped a motorist who had just gone through a four way stop sign and was about to give him a ticket when the motorist said. “Officer you can't give me a ticket for that!' “Why not” said the officer. “Because although I did not stop I slowed right down and its almost the same.” “But you did not stop” replied the officer, “and the sign says "STOP." “But the way was clear and it was safe” replied the motorist. The officer then pulls out his baton and starts hitting the motorist. “What are you doing!” yells the motorist in surprise. “Do you want me to slow down or stop” says the officer.
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有一個魚商放了一個招牌，上面寫著：「新鮮的魚在此賣掉」(“Fresh fish sold here.”)。有一個顧客很訝異地進前來問：「為什麼你在招版上寫『新鮮』兩個字？大家都知道你的魚是新鮮的，或者你的魚有腥味嗎？」「當然不會！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「新鮮」兩字給塗掉。過了不久，又來了另一個顧客說：「為什麼你要在招牌上寫『在此』兩個字？難道你還會在其他地方賣你的魚嗎？」「你說得有道理！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「在此」兩字給塗掉。後來又有一個顧客抱怨：「『賣掉』什麼叫『賣掉』？你一定不致於把所有的魚賣到一條不剩吧！」「當然不致於！」魚商十分同意便趕快把「賣掉」兩字給塗掉。最後，一個老婦人蹣跚地走來看到這招牌的時候，用低沈沙啞的聲音說：「『魚』？你根本不必做什麼廣告，相信我，大老遠就可以聞到這些魚的味道。」魚商就把招牌給舉起來，拿起刷子把『魚』字也給塗掉了。
A fish dealer put on a sign reading: “Fresh fish sold here.” A customer came in and asked in surprise, “Why did you put the word “fresh” on your sign? It’s understood your fish are fresh - or do they stink?” “Of course not!” agreed the fish dealer, and hurriedly paint out the word “fresh.” A little while later another customer came in and commented, “Why do you need the word ‘here’ on your sign? Where else could you be selling your fish?” “You’re right!” agreed the fish dealer, and he painted out the word “here.” Later, another customer complained, “Sold! What do you mean, ‘sold’? Surely you’re not giving away any of your fish!” “Indeed not!” agreed the fish dealer, and he painted out the word “sold.” Finally, an old lady hobbled in. She saw the sign, and croaked in a thin voice, “Fish?” You don’t need to advertise your fish! Believe me, you can smell them a mile away.” The fish dealer heaved a deep sigh, picked up his brush and painted out the word “fish.”
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A wealthy eccentric died and left a million dollars to his nephew, John. When the will was read at the lawyer’s office, the lawyer said to John, “According to your uncle’s instructions, payment of your inheritance will depend on choices that you must make.” The lawyer held his two fists out in front of him and asked, “Do you choose what is in my right hand or in my left hand?”
John decided to take what was in the attorney’s right hand. The lawyer opened his left hand to reveal a gold coin and a silver coin. “Had you chosen this hand,” he said, “you would have received a substantial share in a gold mine or a silver mine in Chile.” Then he opened his right hand to reveal a nut and a coffee bean. “These represent a million dollars’ worth of nuts or coffee from Brazil,” said the attorney. “Which do you choose?” John decided on the nuts.
A week went by before John arrived in Brazil to take charge of his holdings. In the interim, fire destroyed a huge warehouse where the nuts that John had inherited were stored and coffee prices doubled. Since John hadn’t gotten around to insuring his holdings, he soon was bankrupt.
He barely had enough for his airfare home to New York or Los Angeles, where he could stay with a friend. He chose Los Angeles.
Just before he took off, the New York plane came out on the runway—it was a brand-new super jet. For the connecting flight to Los Angeles, the plane was a 1928 Ford trimotor with a sway back that took half a day to get off the ground. It was filled with crying children and tethered goats. Over the Andes one engine fell off. Our man crawled up to the cockpit and said, “Let me out if you want to save your lives. Give me a parachute.”
The pilot agreed but said, “On this airline, anybody who bails out must wear two chutes.”
John jumped from the plane and as he fell he tried to make up his mind which rip cord to pull. Finally he chose the one on the left. It was rusty, and the wire pulled loose. He pulled the other handle. The chute opened, but its shroud lines snapped. In desperation the poor fellow cried out, “St. Francis save me!”
Suddenly a great hand reached down from Heaven, seized the poor man’s wrist and let him dangle in midair. Then a gentle voice asked, “St. Francis Xavier or St. Francis of Assisi?”
Bits & Pieces, May 25, 1995, pp. 6-8
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一個年輕的大學生為了隔天的動物學考試整晚熬夜。當他走進教室，他看見十個架子上有十隻鳥站在上面，每隻鳥用一個罩子罩著頭，只有腳露出來。他正襟危坐在最前排，因為希望能儘所能地考試，教授宣布考題是觀察每隻鳥的腳，然後寫出牠們的名稱、習性、屬種。
那位學生看了每隻鳥的腳，但是每隻腳看起來都一樣，於是他開始生氣，因為他熬夜了一整個晚上，但是現在卻必須分辨鳥的腳 他愈想愈是生氣。最後，他再也不能忍受，他站起來走到教授的桌子說，真是愚蠢的考試，誰能憑著鳥的腳看出他們的不同來，說完把考卷往桌上一丟就向門口走去。
那個教授非常地驚訝，因為斑級太大他無法記得每個人的名字，因此當那位學生走到門口的時候，那位教授喊著：「先生，你叫什麼名字?」那位憤怒的學生拉起他的褲管說：「你告訴我啊! 你告訴我啊!」
A young college student had stayed up all night studying for his zoology test the next day. As he entered the classroom, he saw ten stands with ten birds on them. Each bird had a sack over its head; only the legs were showing. He sat straight in the front row because he wanted to do the best job possible. The professor announced that the test would be to look at each of the birds’ legs and give the common name, habitat, genus and species.
The student looked at each of the birds’ legs. They all looked the same to him. He began to get upset. He had stayed up all night studying and now had to identify birds by their legs. The more he thought about it the madder he got. Finally he could stand it no longer. He went up to the professor’s desk and said, “What a stupid test! How could anyone tell the difference between birds by looking at their legs?”
With that the student threw his test on the professor’s desk and walked to the door. The professor was surprised. The class was so big that he didn’t know every student’s name so as the student reached the door the professor called, “Mister, what’s your name?” The enraged student pulled up his pant legs and said, “You tell me buddy! You tell me!”
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有一個人從寵物店買了一隻金絲雀。
『你確定這隻鳥會唱歌嗎？』他帶著懷疑的語氣問道。
『他是一位非常出色的演唱家啊！』
於是客人便離開了。一星期後他又出現了。
『嘿！你賣給我的這隻鳥是瘸的。』
『什麼阿，那你想要的到底是一個歌唱家還是一位舞蹈家呢？』
A man bought a canary from a pet store.
“You’re sure this bird can sing ?” he said suspiciously.
“He’s a grand singer.”
The customer left. A week later he reappeared.
“Say! This bird you sold me is lame!”
“What, what did you want a singer or a dancer?”
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「這裏真冷，」那位有錢客人吸著鼻子說，「請你去把冷氣機關小一點，可以嗎？」，侍應生說：「可以，先生。」
過了幾分鐘，那男士又把侍應生召來，「我現在又覺得太熱了。」侍應生說：「沒有問題，我可以把冷氣機開大一點。」可是，過不久那個客人又說太冷了。
有個坐在附近的老主顧低聲跟侍應生說：「你這麼好耐性，我很佩服。那個傢伙一定把你給煩死了。」侍應生聳聳肩說：「一點也不，我們這裏根本沒有冷氣機。」
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四個傳道人在辯論著一連串的神學問題， 三個一直跟其中一個意見不一樣而對立。 一天這個傳道人決定要向至高者呼求和上訴。
「神啊，在我心裡我確知我是對的， 而他們的觀點是錯的， 求祢賜我一個徵兆， 以致他們可以知道我明白祢的律法。」
就在那一個美麗而陽光普照天空中， 一片黑雲飄來在四個傳道人頭上， 隆隆一聱而立刻消散。
「這是一個從神而來的徵兆， 我知道我是對的。」
但其他三個不同意， 指出這只是在一酷熱天氣中的一個雷雨雲吧。
傳道人再祈禱: 「神啊， 我需要一個更大的徵兆去証明我是對的， 而他們是錯的， 更大的徵兆吧！！！」
這次， 四朵黑雲從四方出現， 直飛碰撞在一起， 一道雷電把這四個傳道人所站之處十呎以外的一棵樹擊倒， 這片雲便立刻消失。
「我說我是對的」那孤獨的傳道人說。
但其他三個說: 「沒有一件事是不可以用大自然來解釋的。」
那個堅持己見的傳道人再求: 「神啊…」
天空立時變得漆黑的， 地在震， 而天上有一個深沉的聲音說，
「他…是…對…的。」
傳道人就义著腰說: 「怎麼樣?」
「怎樣? 現在是三比二！」
Four preachers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always in accord against the fourth. One day, the odd man out decided to appeal to a higher authority.
“Oh, God!” he cried. “I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong! Please show me a sign, so they too will know that I understand Your laws.”
It was a beautiful, sunny day. As soon as the preacher finished his plea, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four. It rumbled once and dissolved. “A sign from God! See, I’m right, I knew it!” But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds form on hot days.
So he asked again: “Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong. So please, God, a bigger sign.”
This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning knocked down a tree ten feet away from the preachers. The cloud dispersed at once. “I told you I was right!” insisted the loner, but the others insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes.
The insisting preacher started to ask again; just as he said, “Oh God...” the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice intoned,
“HEEEEEEEE’S RIIIIIIIGHT!”
The sky returned to normal. The one preacher put his hands on his hips and said, “Well?”
“So?” replied another. “Now it’s three to two!”
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Quotes引證 :
The greatest gift which humanity has received is free choice. It is true that we are limited in our use of free choice. But the little free choice we have is such a great gift and is potentially worth so much that for this itself, life is worthwhile living. Isaac Bashevis Singer
You can make your choices but you cannot choose the consequences
Question: There were once three frogs on a log and on of them made a decision to jump in. How many were left? Answer: There are still three frogs on a log, he only made a decision, he took no action!
One is the “70 percent solution” that the military teaches... if you have 70% of the information, have done 70% of the analysis, and feel 70% confident, then move.
When any young student asks me, “Do you think I should be a dancer?” I always
say, “If you have to ask, then the answer is no.” Martha Graham
Freedom is not the right to do as you please but the liberty to do as we ought.
Making a decision is 5%; 95% is following through. Dawson Trotman
I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what to do about it. Andy Rooney
Your decisions determine your direction, and your direction determines your destiny.
When you’re 100% certain, you’re too late. Charles W. Robinson
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DILIGENCE/LAZINESS 殷勤懶惰
Robert Browning 告訴一個出名音樂家的事跡。，這音樂家在經濟的壓力下和通俗的要求中，做了一些不適合的表演，為了賺取現款和速成的名利。有個夜晚，當這音樂家站在表演臺，欣賞觀眾的給他熱烈的鼓掌，他瞄眼看到在私人包廂中的大師名人Rossini。這時他禁不住的眼睛下垂，臉色漲紅。觀眾還是不斷熱烈的鼓掌著，但他知道大師名人Rossini是在譴責他的低廉和沒價值的演出。
Robert Browning tells of a famous musician who, under financial pressure and the influence of popular demand, lowered his standards and produced some inferior works that brought in ready cash and a measure of success. One evening as he stood on the platform enjoying the applause of the audience, he happened to glance at a private box and see the master, Rossini. His eyes fell and his color rose. The mob applauded, but he knew that the master condemned the cheap and unworthy work. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 584)
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A householder left a patch of land completely unattended. On returning from a journey he found it full of stones, old bottles, and other rubbish. Though he had never attempted to garden before, he took a spade and began to dig up the ground and clear away the debris. Then he sowed a few seeds. With tremendous excitement he watched his garden patch. When at last he saw little shoots pushing up through the ground he was almost in ecstasy. Gradually the plants grew and at last the flowers appeared. To him it looked beautiful. One day his pastor stopped by. He couldn’t get the pastor excited about his garden. Finally the pastor said, “Yes, it is wonderful what Almighty God does with a patch of ground like that.” “Oh, it is,” said the man, “but I wish you had seen this place when the Almighty had it all to Himself!” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 567)
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有一個人告訴醫生說他再也無法做他平常做的家事了。當所有的檢查都完畢後，他說：「醫生，現在請你簡單告訴我，我的問題到底是什麼？你說什麼，我都能夠接受。」
醫生回答說：「簡單地說，你只是懶惰而已。」
這人說：「好，那麼請給我一個醫學名詞，我好告訴太太。」
A man told his doctor that he wasn’t able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination was complete, he said, “Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me.”
“Well, in plain English,” the doctor replied, “you’re just lazy.”
“OK,” said the man. “Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife.”
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有一隻袋鼠想要從動物園逃出去。動物園的管理員知道牠會掉很高，所以就設了10尺高的柵欄。然而，隔天早晨，這隻袋鼠還是又跑了出來，在動物園裡散步。
於是管理員又把柵欄加高到20尺，可是，隔天早晨，這隻袋鼠一樣又跑了出來，在動物園裡散步。
就這樣，一晚又一晚，直到柵欄加高到60尺。最後，隔壁籠子的駱駝問袋鼠：「你覺得柵欄還會做到多高？」
袋鼠回答說：「大概會到100尺吧！除非晚上有人把柵欄的門給栓起來！」
A kangaroo kept getting out of his enclosure at the zoo. Knowing that he could hop pretty high, the zoo officials put up a ten-foot fence. However, the next morning the kangaroo was out again, just roaming around the zoo.
The zoo officials raised the height of the fence to twenty feet. Again, however, the next morning the kangaroo was again roaming around the zoo.
This kept on, night after night, until the fence was sixty feet high. Finally, the camel in the next enclosure asked the kangaroo, “How high do you think they’ll go?”
The kangaroo replied, “Probably a hundred feet, unless somebody starts locking the gate at night!”
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奧運選手的智慧
前任/現任奧運選手給有志向之運動員的忠告：
努力練習 -36%
享受運動的樂趣 -18%
設定目標 –18%
相信自己 –17%
不怕失敗 –10%
不斷求進步 –10%
因為渴望，所以運動 –10%
備註：有志者可以有多於一項以上的選擇
來源：McDonald’s Guest Breaks (USA Today 3/4/96)
Olympian Wisdom
Former/current Olympians advice for aspiring athletes:
Work hard -36%
Have fun in sport -18%
Set a goal – 18%
Believe in self – 17%
Don’t fear failure – 10%
Always improve – 10%
Play because you want to – 10%
Note: Respondents could choose more than one
Source: McDonald’s Guest Breaks (USA Today 3/4/96)
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有一名士兵想開一個玩笑，在他回到營房的時候，他大聲說：「我手裡有十塊錢，我要把它送給我們這裡最懶的人！」他的話剛說完，大夥都跑到他面前說他們是怎樣懶─只剩下一個士兵在床上躺著一動也不動，他說：「快把十塊錢拿來放在我的口袋裡！」聽完這個故事使我們會心一笑，但這並不值得我們鼓勵。
法國人伏爾泰說：「一切工作，最後總會變成無限的快樂，並且代替了生活的各種幻想。」他十分果決地指出：如果不打算自殺，便要常常找些事做，沒有事做和死亡是一樣的。這位鼓吹自由精神的鬥士，為法國大革命的先驅，伏爾泰最厭惡懶蟲，他甚至斷定：除了懶惰者以外，世界上其餘的人都是好人。
第二次世界大戰最激烈的時候，英國首相邱吉爾每天工作十八小時，有人問他：「是否為你的鉅大責任憂慮呢？」邱吉爾淡然地回答：「我太忙了，沒有時間憂慮。」的確，忙碌的人沒有時間憂慮，他的時間放在思考，放在工作，工作使他把憂慮拋得遠遠的。
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Quotes引證 :
我們需要六個 up：醒來、起來、站起來、活絡起來、振作起來以及奮發圖強。
We need six ups: Wake up, get up, stand up, warm up, cheer up and speed up.
If a man lacks enthusiasm it takes him twice as long to accomplish a task.
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
對於你有能力賺取的東西，絕不彎腰乞討。（塞萬提斯Miguel de Cervantes）
Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn. Miguel de Cervantes
神賞賜每隻鳥都有食物，但祂絕不把食物直接丟掉鳥巢裡。(J. G. Holland)
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest. J. G. Holland
只要盡心竭力工作，你便可以在各階層擊敗50%的人。當你誠實、正直、又站穩某種立場時，你便可擊敗另外40%的人。而要戰勝另外10%的人，就靠嘗試而且了解：即使是失敗也不能擊垮你。
You beat 50 percent of people at any level by working hard. You beat another 40 percent by being a person of honesty and integrity and standing for something. The last ten percent is beat out by simply trying and realizing failure is not defeat.
努力工作才有奇蹟。(Kevin Johnson)
Miracles are the result of hard work. Kevin Johnson
你越力工作，你就會越幸運。(Gary Player)
The harder you work, the luckier you get. Gary Player
努力工作只不過是當我應該做的時候，把一些我以前不做的易事積聚在一起。
Hard work is simply the accumulation of easy things I didn’t do when I should have done them.
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DISCIPLINE 紀律
Quotes引證 :
Discipline is not making people do things; it’s getting them to do things. Burn Philips
One ought to hold on to one’s heart; for if one lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too. Friedrich Nietzsche
The soul and the body make a man; the spirit and the discipline make a Christian. John Wesley
Learn to say ‘No’; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Discipline: something I do to accomplish what I cannot do by effort
The self-controlled person says “no” to sin as it tempts his appetites. He says “yes” to righteousness and “I will” to obedience. Jerry White
Discipline is the ability to say “no” to what is sin, to say “yes” to what is right, and to say “I will” to what ought to be done. Jerry White
Commitment without discipline is like a luxury car without gas: It looks great, but it’s going nowhere. Jerry White
Education教育，Elderly 長輩，Eschatology末世，Excellence 優等
EDUCATION 教育
老師正以低沉單調的聲音在教室上課，當他注意到一個坐在後排的學生睡著了，
老師就向坐在那位睡覺學生旁邊的同學喊叫說，「嘿！把他叫醒！」
旁邊的同學喊叫回去，「你讓他睡著，你來叫醒他！」
The teacher is droning away in the classroom when he notices a student sleeping way up in the back row. The teacher shouts to the sleeping student's neighbor, “Hey wake that student up!”
The neighbor yells back, “You put him to sleep, you wake him up!”
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老師：約瑟，你為什麼遲到？
約瑟：因為路上的一個標誌。
老師：這標誌和你的遲到有什麼關係？
約瑟：該標誌說，「學校就在前面，慢慢走！ 」
Teacher: Why are you late, Joseph?
Joseph: Because of a sign down the road.
Teacher: What does a sign have to do with your being late?
Joseph: The sign said, “School Ahead, Go Slow!”
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我聽了會忘記。I hear and I forget.
我看了會了解。I see and I understand.
我做就會記住。I do and I remember.
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戴爾的知識圓錐論（由個人體驗而來的知識）戴爾認為：人通常的記憶有：他們所讀的能記憶的佔百分之十他們所聽的能記憶的佔百分之二十他們所看的能記憶的佔百分之三十他們看電視所能記憶的佔百分之五十他們所說或所寫的能記憶的佔百分之七十他們在做某件事所說的能記憶的佔百分之九十
Dale’s Cone of Experiences Cone of Experience
Edgar Dale:
People generally remember:
10% of what they read
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what they hear and see – video
70% of what they say or write
90% of what they say as they do something
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有一天，一個父親和他的兒子去釣魚。在船上大約一個小時之後，男孩突然對他周圍的世界變得很好奇，於是他問父親：「這船如何能漂浮？」他的父親想了一下，就回答他：「兒子，我不太知道！」於是，男孩又再進到沉思中。然後，他再問父親：「魚如何能在水中呼吸？」父親再一次回答他：「兒子，我不太知道！」一會兒後，男孩再問父親：「天為甚麼是藍色？」同樣的，父親回答：「兒子，我不太知道！」男孩深恐打擾了父親，於是他說：「爸爸，你會介意我問你這些問題嗎？」「當然不會，兒子。若你不會發問，你將不會學到東西！」
A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple hours in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, “How does this boat float?” The father thought for a moment, then replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.” The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, “How do fish breathe underwater?” Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.” A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?” Again, the father replied. “Don’t rightly know, son.” Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?” “Of course not, son. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!”
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ㄧ個成功的商業顧問，他所處理的事情，通常是公司規模比較小的領導階層問題。ㄧ個管理者他問：「你能敎我如何賺大錢嗎？」顧問回答說：「當然可以。」管理者接著問：「那我需要付多少代價呢？」顧問回答：「那是我的商業機密，我是依問題來收費的。」管理者問：「你是怎麼收費？」顧問回答：「ㄧ個問題ㄧ百美元。」管理者問：「那你提供的諮詢答案，如何向我證明這是有用的呢？」顧問回答：「當然，當你問第五個問題時你就能瞭解了。」
A prospering business consultant was approached by a downsized executive.
“Can you teach me how to make big money in consulting?” asked the executive.
“Absolutely,” said the consultant.
“How much will it cost me?”
“That’s my trade secret,” said the consultant, “I charge by the question.”
“How much do you charge?”
“One hundred dollars per question.”
“Can you prove to me that charging by the question works?”
“Sure, but you realize that will be your fifth question” (Bits and Pieces 4/24/97)
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兩個哈佛大學的學生剛從學校畢業，他們在波士頓的城裏攔了一部計程車，一邊談一邊進到車裏去。聽了他們交談了幾分鐘後，計程車司機就問他們：「你們是哈佛大學的畢業生嗎？」
這兩個畢業生很驕傲的說：「是的，我們是 ‘94’年那屆的。」
計程車司機馬上伸手過去跟他們握手說：「 ‘58’年那屆的。」
Two young men who had just graduated from Harvard were all excited and talking effusively as they got into a taxi in downtown Boston. After hearing them for a couple of minutes the cab driver asked, “You men Harvard graduates?”
“Yes Sir! Class of ‘94!” they answered proudly.
The cab driver extended his hand back to shake their hand, saying, “Class of ‘58.”
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一個年輕人第一天到超級市場上班，市場經理微笑地歡迎他，並熱烈的和他握手。之後，經理交給他一把掃帚，說：「你的第一個工作是打掃店內的裏外。」
這個年輕人很不高興的說：「你不知道我是一個大學畢業生嗎？」
「喔！對不起，我不知道你是大學畢業生。」經理說：「把掃帚給我，我教你怎麼掃。」
A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”
“But I’m a college graduate,” the young man replied indignantly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said the manager. “Here, give me the broom -- I’ll show you how.”
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羅斯福說：「未曾受過教育的惡人，只從鐵路的貨車裡偷一些貨物，受了教育的惡人，若他的心沒有改變，你給他的教育，會助他偷竊整條鐵路。」
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Quotes引證 :
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. John wooden sign
除非他從痛苦經歷中學習要不然他仍是一個愚昧人。(義大利諺語)
He who cannot learn except through bitter experiences remains a fool forever. Italian
平凡的老師只講述，好的老師會解釋，優秀的老師則親自示範，最棒的老師乃會啟發學生。(William Arthur Ward)
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward
訓練十個人比做十個人的工作好，但它是辛苦的。(Moody)
It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder. Moody.
心靈狹隘是一件可怕的事情。
A narrow mind is a terrible thing to use. Marshall Shelly
顧問是 「能掌握資訊的頭腦，有傾聽的耳，幫助人往對的方向前進。」
A mentor is “a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” The Uncommon Individual Foundation
教育是能永遠觸摸到人的生命。
To teach is to touch a life forever.
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ELDERLY 長輩
一對老夫妻發現他們開始忘記在屋子裡的一些細小東西。他們擔心這種情況可能會有危險，因為其中一人可能會忘記關爐子而引起火災。因此，他們決定去看醫生得到一些幫助。他們的醫生告訴他們，許多在他們這個年齡的人發現把事情寫在小紙條上來作為提醒還滿有用的。
老夫婦認為這個建議聽起來很好，他們便很滿意地離開醫生的辦公室。當他們回到家裡，妻子說：「親愛的，請你去廚房給我拿一盤冰淇淋？為什麼你不寫下來，以免你忘記？」丈夫說「胡說！」，「我還記得一盤冰淇淋！」妻子說 「哦！」，「我還想加些草莓在上面。你最好寫下來，因為我知道你會忘記。」 丈夫回答 「不要愚蠢了」。「一盤冰淇淋和一些草莓。我可以記住的！」。「好吧，親愛的，但我希望你拌些奶油在上面。」現在你最好把它寫下來，要不然你會忘記「，妻子說。」得啦，我的記憶沒有那麼糟」，丈夫回答說。「沒問題 -- 一盤冰淇淋加草莓和拌些奶油。」於是，丈夫關上在他身後的廚房門。
妻子聽見她丈夫失控著處理鍋碗瓢盆，以及不是準備一盤冰淇淋，草莓和加奶油該有的聲音。約15分鐘後他從廚房出現，走到妻子面前，他拿給她一盤培根和雞蛋。妻子看著盤子，瞥一眼她的丈夫說：「嘿，吐司在哪裡？」
回覆問題，「何時表示一個女人老了？」一個著名的悲劇女演員寫著：「從不逞能，別不高興的太快，在適當的時候當智者。」
An elderly husband and wife noticed that they were beginning to forget many little things around the house. They were afraid that this could be dangerous, as one of them may accidentally forget to turn off the stove and thus cause a fire. So, they decided to go see their physician to get some help. Their physician told them that many people their age find it useful to write themselves little notes as reminders.
The elderly couple thought this sounded wonderful, and left the doctor's office very pleased with the advice. When they got home, the wife said, "Dear, will you please go to the kitchen and get me a dish of ice cream? And why don't you write that down so you won't forget?" "Nonsense," said the husband, "I can remember a dish of ice cream!" "Well," said the wife, "I'd also like some strawberries on it. You better write that down, because I know you'll forget." "Don't be silly," replied the husband. "A dish of ice cream and some strawberries. I can remember that!" "OK, dear, but I'd like you to put some whipped cream on top. Now you'd really better write it down now. You'll forget," said the wife. "Come now, my memory's not all that bad," said the husband. "No problem--a dish of ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream." With that, the husband shut the kitchen door behind him.
The wife could hear him getting out pots and pans, and making some noise inconsistent with his preparing a dish of ice cream, strawberries, and whipped cream. He emerged from the kitchen about 15 minutes later. Walking over to his wife, he presented her with a plate of bacon and eggs. The wife took one look at the plate, glanced up at her husband and said, "Hey, where's the toast?"
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Answering the question, “When is a woman old?” a famous tragedienne wrote: “The conceited never; the unhappy too soon, and the wise at the right time.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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一位老人聽到有一些藥丸能使他恢復年青。於是他買了一盒子，本來他應該每一天服用一粒，後來在睡覺前他一次把整盒藥丸都全部服用。第二天早上，他的家人花了九牛二虎之力把老人喚醒。最後，他搓著眼睛，抱怨地說「好吧，好吧，我會起床，但我不會上學去。 」
An old man heard about some pill that would restore his youth. He bought a box, but instead of taking one every day he swallowed the whole boxful one night before going to bed. The next morning his family had difficulty waking the old man. At last he rubbed his eyes. “All right, all right,” he grumbled, “I’ll get up, but I won’t go to school.”
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Golf
Golf is the midlife sport of choice for very different reasons......
First of all, it’s esier to reach your goals. In midlife, after all, it’s a snap to have a handicap below your age and a score below your weight. And getting easier all the time.
Golf is like midlife because only now do you realize that the course you have set upon is governed by rules so vast, so arcane, and so arbitrary that the average person -- you -- will never figure it all out.
Golf is like midlife because it is absolutely unfair. As a young person, you carry the illusion that, if you do your homework, study, and work overtime you’ll get it all right. By middle age, you know that every time you’ve got it all together -- work, family, putt, pitch -- some piece is about to unravel. I promise you.
Golf, like midlife, is played against only one opponent: yourself. By the time you reach 50, ou’d better figure out that doing well doesn’t depend on others doing badly. You don’t have to wish them ill. They’re not the reason you are shanking the ball.
Golf is like middle age, because -- ah, you knew this was coming -- in these years you really do have to play it as it lays. You don’t get to start everything all over again. The most you get is a mulligan. If it’s an unplayable lie, everybody sympathizes, but you still have to take a penalty. On the other hand, golf, like midlife, also offers another chance. No matter how badly you hit one ball, you can still recover on the next. Of course, no matter how well you hit one ball, you can always screw up on the next.
Finally, golf is like midlife because at some time on a beautiful October day, when you are searching for a ball, or for that matter your swing, you look around and realize for the first or 50th time that in this game, you’re the one keeping your own score.
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有一位長者徹底檢查身體後，返去覆診，醫生告訴他:「我有一個好消息和一個壞消息，你會喜歡先聽哪一個？」病人：嗯，先給我壞消息。 醫生：你得了癌症，我估計你會活兩年左右。 病人：這實在太可怕！兩年後我的生命將會消逝！你可還有比這更好消息可以訴我嗎？ 醫生：你也患上了老年癡呆症。大約3個月後，你將會忘記一切我告訴你的事。
This old man visits his doctor and after a thorough examination, the doctor tells him, “I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?”
Patient: Well, give me the bad news first.
Doctor: You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left.
Patient: That’s terrible! In two years, my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this?
Doctor: You also have Alzheimer’s. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you.
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有分別是九十二歲、九十四歲和九十五歲的三姊妹同住在一起。一天晚上，年紀最大的姊姊上樓洗澡。 當她的一隻腳踏進浴缸，而另一隻腳在浴缸外時，她對樓下的妹妹喊叫說，「我是要進浴缸去，還是要從浴缸中出來？」 九十四歲的妹妹決定上去了解一下她的情形，看看能否幫上忙。當她來到第三級樓梯時，她停下來，然後大聲喊叫，「我是要下樓，還是要上樓？」 九十二歲的妹妹正坐在廚房桌子前，她敲了桌子一下，心裡想：希望這樣倒霉的事不會發生在自己的身上，然後她說：「我希望不會跟我的姐組們一樣糟。剛才敲門的人是在正門，還是在後門敲？」
有分別是九十二歲、九十四歲和九十五歲的三姊妹同住在一起。一天晚上，年紀最大的姊姊上樓洗澡。 當她的一隻腳踏進浴缸，而另一隻腳在浴缸外時，她對樓下的妹妹喊叫說，「我是要進浴缸去，還是要從浴缸中出來？」 九十四歲的妹妹決定上去了解一下她的情形，看看能否幫上忙。當她來到第三級樓梯時，她停下來，然後大聲喊叫，「我是要下樓，還是要上樓？」 九十二歲的妹妹正坐在廚房桌子前，她敲了桌子一下，心裡想：希望這樣倒霉的事不會發生在自己的身上，然後她說：「我希望不會跟我的姐組們一樣糟。剛才敲門的人是在正門，還是在後門敲？」
There were 3 sisters living together 92, 94 and 95 yrs. old. The oldest went upstairs one evening to take a bath. As she was getting in the tub with one foot in and one foot out, she called down to her sisters, “Am I getting in the tub or am I getting out of the tub?” The 94 yr. old decided to go upstairs to see if she could help figure out the situation. She got to the 3rd step and stopped - then called out, “Was I going up the stairs or was I coming down the stairs?” The 92 yr. old, sitting at the kitchen table, thought she better knock on wood and as she knocked on the kitchen table she said, “I hope I never get as bad as my sisters. Now was that the front door or the back door?”
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瓊斯太太多年以來一直是當地教會的主要會友，這是為什麼最近大家留意到她的缺席。牧師決定在主日禮拜後順道拜訪她家去看一下是否有什麼狀況。他敲她的門，因她年近85歲，她花了一點到才來應門。「請位是誰？」她問道。「我是史密斯牧師」，她回答。「喔！ 請進，請進，主日禮拜如何？」她問。「很好，我只是想確定你禱告需求事項是否已被應允。」「哦！ 親愛的，我最近是不太舒服，但我變得越來越好了。」
就在這時，電話鈴響了，她致歉的接電話。牧師坐在附近的一張桌子，上面有一本舊的讀者文摘和一碗花生。經過 15分鐘，然後 20分鐘，他聽到他的胃嗥嗥叫，開始浮躁不安。他開始吃碗上的花生，並開始閱讀。45分鐘後，他突然意識到，他吃完了所有的花生。那時瓊斯太太回來，說：「哦，我很抱歉，那通電話是我妹妹從匹茲堡打來。她一個月打一次，所以每當她打來，我們都天南地北的聊一切事。」牧師有點不好意思地說：「我必須道歉，因為當你走後，我餓了，就吃完你小碗裡的所有花生。請原諒我。」
瓊斯太太回答說：「噢，那沒關係，沒有我的牙齒，我唯一能吃的就是吸吮其中的巧克力！」她說。
Mrs. Jones had been a staple of her local congregation for many years and that is why her absence was noticed lately. The pastor decided to drop by her house to check up on her after the Sunday service. He knocked on her door and being that she’s nearly 85 it took her a bit to get to the door. “Hello, who is it?” she asked.
“It’s Pastor Smith”, he answered.”OH Hi-Come in, Come in, how’s the ministry doing?” She said. “Very well, I just wanted to make sure your prayer needs are being met.” “Oh honey, I haven’t felt well lately but I’m getting better”
Just then the phone rang and she excused herself to get it. The pastor sat near a table with an old reader’s digest and a bowl of peanuts. After 15 minutes, then 20, he heard his stomach growl and began to get restless. He started in on the bowl of peanuts and began reading. After 45 minutes, he suddenly realized that he had eaten all of the peanuts. Right then Mrs. Jones returned and said, “Oh I sure am sorry, that was my sister from Pittsburgh. She only calls once per month so when she does we have to catch up on everything.” The pastor feeling a little embarrassed said “I must also apologize, for while you were gone I got hungry and ate all the peanuts in your little bowl there. Please, forgive me” he said.
Mrs. Jones replied, “Oh that’s ok, without my teeth, all I can do is just suck the chocolate off of them!” she says.
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一個八十歲的老人在高爾夫球場練球，可是被他那糟透的視力所影響。 他的擊球很好，但是他看不到球被打到甚麼地方去。 因此，他的醫生為他找來一個九十歲，但視力很好的老人陪伴他打球，好讓他沿途觀察球被打到哪裡去。 八十歲的老人擊中第一球時，便問他的同伴是否看到球落到甚麼地方去。「是……」九十歲的老人說。「它到底落到哪裡去了？」八十歲的老人追問。然後， 九十歲的老人回答說：「我忘記了！」
An eighty-year-old man’s golf game was hampered by poor eyesight. He could hit the ball well but he couldn’t see where it went. So his doctor teamed him up with a ninety-year-old man who had perfect eyesight and was willing to go along to serve as a spotter. The eighty-year-old man hit the first ball and asked his companion if he saw where it landed. “Yep,” said the ninety-year-old. “Where did it go?” the eighty-year-old demanded. The ninety-year old replied, “I don’t remember.”
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有一對年長的夫妻，她的太太要求他先生說：「親愛的，我想要吃ㄧ點甜的東西，能不能麻煩你到街角的商店幫我買一個甜筒冰淇淋，好嗎？我要阿月渾子果實口味的冰淇淋，而且上面要灑些巧克力碎片。」，她的丈夫就喃喃自語的重複說：「冰淇淋圓筒，阿月渾子果實口味的，還有巧克力碎片。」，就出門去商店買了，幾分鐘之後，他帶了一隻熱狗回來，她的太太就很不高興的瞪著他說：「那是什麼？」她先生就回答說：「怎麼了？有什麼問題嗎？」，他太太接著說：「我告訴你！我要的是上面灑著有芥茉碎片的冰淇淋！（氣呼呼地）」
There was an elderly couple, and the wife asked her husband, “Darling, I feel like having something really sweet. Could you please go to the corner store and bring me an icecream cone? I would like pistachio icecream, with a chocolate chip topping.” The husband repeated, mumbling to himself, “Icecream cone, pistachio, chocolate chips” and went off to the store. After a few minutes, he returned with a hot dog. The wife looked at him, upset, and asked “What’s that?!” The husband asked, “Why, is there anything wrong?” The wife said, “I told you, I wanted mustard on top!”
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4歲時，成功是不尿濕褲子。
12歲時，成功是擁有朋友。
16歲時，成功是考取駕駛執照。
20歲時，成功是獲得性經驗。
35歲時，成功是能賺錢。
40歲時，成功是找到生活的意義與目的。
45歲時，成功是找到生活的意義與目的。
50歲時，成功是能賺錢。
60歲時，成功是重享性生活。
70歲時，成功是再考取駕駛執照。
75歲時，成功是擁有朋友。
80歲時，成功是不尿濕褲子。
At age 4, success is…not peeing in your pants.
At age 12, success is…having friends.
At age 16, success is…having a driver’s license.
At age 20, success is…having sex.
At age 35, success is…having money.
At age 40, success is…finding meaning & purpose to life.
At age 45, success is…finding meaning & purpose to life.
At age 50, success is…having money.
At age 60, success is…having sex.
At age 70, success is…having a driver’s license.
At age 75, success is…having friends.
At age 80, success is…not peeing in your pants.
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一個年長，並患有嚴重風濕性關節炎的女士，正使用拐杖痛苦地、蹣跚地上教堂去。對她來說，這是一個痛苦、嚴酷的考驗；有人問她：在這種情況之下，她為何仍要參與各種事奉。 她答案是「我的心首先到達那裡，而我的腿卻是緊緊的跟隨在後。」
An elderly lady, dreadfully crippled with arthritis, used to hobble painfully to church on two crutches. It was an agonizing ordeal for her, and someone asked her how she managed to be at every service. Her answer was, “My heart gets there first, and my legs just follow after.”
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恩典性的衰老米奇老鼠的太太買了一套可以是她年輕的新系列昂貴化妝品。在梳妝臺面前使用這富奇跡性的化妝品一段很長的時間后，她問：「達玲，老實說，您認爲我是什麽嵗數？」仔細地看着她后，米奇老鼠答道：「從您皮膚的判斷是二十嵗；從您的頭髮是十八嵗，而從您的身材看是二十五嵗。」「噢，您是奉承我！」她不由而說出。「嘿，等等！」米奇老鼠打斷她的話説：「我還沒有把這些嵗數加起來。」
Mickey’s wife bought a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to make her look years younger. After a lengthy sitting before the mirror applying the “miracle” products, she asked, “Darling, honestly, what age would you say I am?” Looking over her carefully, Mickey replied, “Judging from your skin, twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty five.” “Oh, you flatterer!” she gushed. “Hey, wait a minute!” Mickey interrupted. “I haven’t added them up yet.”
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一位老太太走進家庭醫生的辦公室，坦承一件令她尷尬的事：「我常常放屁，約翰孫醫生，既沒有聲音也沒有氣味。實際上就在進來你辦公室的這麽一會兒，我大約放了二十幾個屁。我該怎麽辦呢？」
「這是處方，貝克女士，服這些藥丸每日三次每次一粒七天后再來找我。」
過了一個星期，貝克女士有點生氣地問醫生：「醫生，這是什麽葯？，我的問題越來越嚴重了！我還像以前一樣放屁，還是沒聲，但現在是臭極了。這算怎麽囘事？」
「別緊張，貝克女士，」醫生平靜地說，「現在你的嗅覺治好了，下來我們來治你的聽覺。」
An old lady came into her doctor’s office and confessed to an embarrassing problem: “I pass gas all the time, Doctor Johnson, but it’s soundless, and without odor. In fact, since I’ve been here, I’ve passed gas no less than twenty times. What can I do?”
“Here’s a prescription, Mrs. Barker. Take these pills three times a day for seven days and come back and see me in a week.”
The next week, an upset Mrs. Barker marched into Dr. Johnson’s office: “Doc, I don’t know what was in those pills, but the problem is worse! I’m passing gas just as much, and they’re still soundless, but now they smell terrible! What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Calm down, Mrs. Barker,” said the doctor soothingly. “Now that we’ve fixed your sinuses, we’ll work on your hearing.”
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一群住在弗羅里達的老年居民，一起圍坐著談論他們的疾病：『我的手臂非常虛弱，讓我很難拿好這杯咖啡』
其中一個說著，『對阿，我可以瞭解，我的白內障很嚴重，我甚至不能看到我的咖啡』
另一個回答說，『我不能轉動我的頭，因為我的脖子有關節炎』
第三個說著，其他 人虛弱點著頭表示同意，『我的高血壓藥片要使我頭昏眼花』
另一個繼續說……，『我想這就是我們的年紀漸長的代價』一個老人臉部抽蓄地搖著頭。
然後，一片短暫的寧靜……『恩，事情沒那麼糟啦！』一個婦人笑笑地說……『感謝神，我們都還可以開車』
A group of Florida senior citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:
“My arms are so weak I can hardly hold this cup of coffee,” said one.
“Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” replied another.
“I can’t turn my head because of the art hritis in my neck,” said a third to which several nodded weakly in agreement.
“My blood pressure pills make my dizzy,” ...another went on...”I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he shook his head.
Then there was a short moment of silence...
“Well, it’s not that bad,” said one woman cheerfully ---
“Thank God we can still drive!”
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有個法國人，在五十歲生日那一天，覺得自己就將老去，心裏極為消沉。有人就請雨果去安慰安慰他。雨果對他說：「我的朋友，你該高興，你已經活過四十歲了，那是青年時期中的老年。現在你活到了五十歲，那是老年時期的青年。」 韓愈說：「吾年未四十而髮蒼蒼，齒牙搖動。」
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當神創造驢子的時候，神告訴驢子：「你得勞碌終日，你要馱負重物、吃草得活，你智商不高但可以活到五十歲」 o驢子回答說：「我願意做一隻驢子，但活五十年對我而言是太長了一些，我只要二十年」，結果神就照他的要求應許他o神又創造了狗並且對牠說：「你要替人類看守房舍，你並要做他們最好的朋友。不論人類給你什麼，你都吃的津津有味，你可以活到二十五歲」 o狗回答說：「二十五年的壽命太長了，我只要活十年」o神也答應了他。神也創造了猴子並告訴他說：「你要從這棵樹盪到那棵樹，你要做些滑稽的動作討人的歡笑，你可以活到二十歲」。猴子回答神說：「二十年太多了，我只要十年」o神也同意了。最後神創造了人類並對他說：「你是人，是這地球上唯一有理性的動物，你有智慧管理其他動物你要掌管全地並且活到二十年」。結果人回答說：「我既然是人，二十年是不夠的。好不好你將驢子所不要的三十年、狗不要的十五年，以及猴子不要的十年都給我？」神說：「好啊！就這樣辦！你的前二十年活得人模人樣，但成年之後接下來的三十年會累的像驢子一樣，肩上常有一大堆工作的壓力。再下來的十五年你的孩子長大離家，你要像狗一樣地看守房子，有什麼吃什麼。然後你年屆退休，最後有十年的時間像猴子從一樹盪到另一樹一樣，你要輪流在你孩子的家裡作客，做些滑稽的事討你孫兒的歡心」。
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澳大利亞一家療養院貼有一張健康提示：「如果不注意鍛鍊身體,那麼人一旦過了50 歲,身體就一年不如一年；過了60歲,則是一個月不如一個月；過了70 歲,則是一周不如一周；到了80歲,是一天不如一天；上了90歲的人可能就會一小時不如一小時。
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Quotes引證 :
我說我到了五十個年就退休，但現在我不相信我必須退休除非必要的。我從來未曾想過我可以活著沒有它，但我知道有一天我將會有不同的工作。
I said I'd stop at 50 but now I don't believe in retiring unless you have to. I never have days where I think I can live without it. But I know some day I will do something different. Arsene Wenger
其餘的動物退休後如何？假如一隻獅子今天退休，明天牠將成為其它獅子的早餐。
What other animal retires? If a lion retires today, tomorrow morning he becomes his brother's breakfast. Michael Roberts
May God bless you with many more of these 3-years to come! Or 5-years, or longer. But we just have a small number of years to play with. Michael
年老猶如一艘遇難船。
Old age is a shipwreck. Charles de Gaulle
人生像一個羅網，你完全無意識的往裡面遊走。
Old age is like a trap that you wander into completely unaware. Francois De La Rochefoucauld
人生四種過程：奶水瓶，可樂瓶，啤酒瓶和點滴瓶。
4 stages of life: baby bottle, coke bottle, beer bottle and sodium chloride intravenous liquid
二十歲意志佔優勢，三十歲是智慧，四十歲則是判斷力。
At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment. Benjamin Franklin
進展。他從辦公室事務的手續退休下來，轉而在家做健康事務的手續。
Progress. He retired from doing business paperwork at the office to doing health paperwork at home. Cecil Baxter.
當你失掉對事情的好奇心時，代表你知道你已經老了。
You know you’re old when you’ve lost all your marvels.
年齡意識是超越物質的。若你不介意，根本無關痛癢。
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
They say I’m too old. I’m old, but I’m not cold. Linford Christie, 100m gold medalist.
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ESCHATOLOGY 末世論
當聖方濟在花園裡鋤草，有人問他說：「在日落前，如果你死了，你會做什麼 ？」「我會完成鋤我的花園，」 他回答：「我會鋤完我花園裡的草」。
St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden when someone asked what would he do if he were to learn that he would die before sunset. “I would finish hoeing my garden,” he replied. (Bits and Pieces, 9/11/97)
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Quotes引證 :
生命是不確定的，先吃甜點吧。
Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.
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EXCELLENCE 優等
父親不太滿意撒母耳從學校帶回來的成績單，父親就問：「你是怎麼ㄧ回事，你一月的成績比去年十二月的成績還要差」，撒母耳臨到這樣窘況，以一種很受委屈的口吻對父親說：「為什麼？爸爸，你難道不知道，每ㄧ件事情在假期過後，效果總是會降低嗎？」。
Dad was not greatly pleased by the school report brought to him by his hopeful.
“How is it?” he demanded, “that you stand so much lower in your studies for the month of January than for December?”
Samuel was equal to the emergency. “Why, dad,” said he, in an injured tone, “don’t you know that everything is marked down after the holidays?” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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在一個完美的世界，人將會感覺五士歲和十七歲的年齡狀況ㄧ樣好，實際上五十歲會被認為像十七歲一樣的靈活。在一個完美的世界，你沒有懷孕，你就不能得到免費的嬰兒床。在一個完美的世界，職業棒球選手會向百萬合約的教練抱怨。在一個完美的世界，郵件總是會提早到，支票總是可以放在郵件裡面，郵件總是會比你所期待的更多。在一個完美的世界，洋竽片或許有卡路里，但是你用手掐起來吃卡路里就可以抵消。在一個完美的世界，至少對每ㄧ個人來說，一個輕輕關門的孩子總是會被告誡地說，「走回去，用力把門關上」。
In a Perfect World a person should feel as good at 50 as he did at 17, and he would actually be as smart at 50 as he thought he was at 17.
In a Perfect World you could give away a baby bed without getting pregnant.
In a Perfect World pro baseball players would complain about teachers being paid contracts worth millions of dollars.
In a Perfect World the mail would always be early, the check would always be in the mail, and it would be written for more than you expected.
In a Perfect World potato chips might have calories, but if you ate them with dip, the calories would be neutralized.
In a Perfect World every once in a while at least, a kid who always closed the door softly would be told, “Go back and slam the door.”
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一位大師想從兩位徒弟中選擇一個做衣缽傳人。一天，大師吩咐徒弟說你們出去給我撿一片最完美的樹葉回來。兩個徒弟遵命而去，不久，大徒弟回來了，遞給師傅一片看來並不太漂亮的樹葉，他對師傅說：這片樹葉雖然不完美，但他是我看到最完整的樹葉。第二個徒弟在外面轉了半天，最終卻空手而歸，他對師傅說：我見到了很多很多的樹葉，但怎樣挑也挑不出一片最完美的。最後大師把衣缽傳給了大徒弟，因為他懂得做人的道理，每一個人都不完美，可是該有優點、有缺點，才是一個完整的人。
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艾森豪總統曾向 National Press俱樂部的聽眾說他不是一個偉大的演說家.他曾說：「我記得作孩童時在堪薩斯州農場發生的事，一位老農夫有一頭牛我們想向他購買，我們去探訪這個農夫問他關於這頭牛的生產能力。這農夫不知道何謂生產力，所以我們改問他關於這頭牛的牛油產量，他也不知所云，最後我們問他這牛每一年能產生若干磅牛奶。
農夫說:「我不知道產重，但牠是一頭誠實的牛，牠會將所有的全部牛奶給你，
總統說:「我像這頭牛我會付出一切所有的給你。
President Eisenhower once admitted to the National Press Club audience that he was not a great speaker.
He once said: It reminds me of my boyhood days on a Kansas farm. An old farmer had a cow that we wanted to buy. We went over to visit the farmer and asked him about the cow’s pedigree.
The old farmer didn’t know what pedigree meant, so we asked him about the cow’s butterfat production, He told us he didn’t have any idea what it was. Finally we asked him if he knew how many pounds of milk the cow produced each year.
The farmer said,’ I don’t know. But she’s an honest cow, and she’ll give you all the milk she has.’”
He said, “I’m like the cow, I’ll give you everything I have.”
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古時候，有位日本畫家，名叫賀庫塞，他的作品極受皇族的喜愛。有一天，
一位貴族請他為一隻珍貴的鳥作畫。他把鳥留下來，賀庫塞請他過一個禮拜再回來。貴族很想念他那美麗的鳥，所以一個禮拜之後，迫不及待地回到畫室，要取回他的寵物和畫。但是，當貴族到達的時候，畫家謙卑地要求再延兩個禮拜。兩個禮拜延長到兩個月，接著，變成了六個月。一年之後，貴族氣沖沖地衝進賀庫塞的畫室，拒絕再等下去，要求立刻取回鳥和畫。賀庫塞向貴族行日本禮鞠躬之後，便轉向他作畫的桌子，拿起一支畫筆和一大張宣紙，當場揮毫起來。幾分鐘之內，他輕而易舉地畫了一隻一模一樣、栩栩如生的鳥。貴族看得目瞪口呆，但他立刻就生氣了。「如果你能夠這樣不費工夫，用這麼短的時問就能畫好，為什麼讓我等了一年呢？」「這你就不懂了。」賀庫塞說罷，便領著貴族走進一個房間，在那兒，四壁貼滿了同一隻鳥的畫。然而，沒有一張能媲美最後的傑作。我們的生命畫布也是如此，我們要在人格土培養出珍貴長存的品德，並不是一蹴而就的。世上絕沒有速成的傑作。
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記者訪問銀行行長，請他講出成功祕訣。
「四個字。」，
「哪四個字？」
「正確決策。」
「怎樣才能作出正確決策？」
「兩個字。」
「哪兩個字？」
「經驗。」
「如何獲得經驗？」
「四個字。」
「哪四個字？」
「錯誤決策。」
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Quotes引證 :
畫畫的人用她的手去畫。藝術家用她的手和她的心思去畫。大師卻用她的手，她的心思及她心靈的觸覺去畫。A painter paints with her hand. An artist paints with her hand and her mind. A master paints with her hand and her mind through her heart.
偉大的思想能達到目的，其他的只有願望。
Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. Washington Irving
專業人士就是當不喜歡時, 仍會做他的工作。業餘愛好者就只會在喜歡時, 才做他的工作。
Professionals are people who can do their job when they don’t feel like it. Amateurs are people who can’t do their job when they feel like it.
不會與比你差的人爭，只會與比你好的人爭。
You don’t compete with people lesser than you are, only the better ones. David Liu
一個好的射手並不在意他的箭，只專注他的目標。
A good archer is not known by his arrows, but his aim.
廚師不知道正餐前開胃食品。
A chef is not known by his appetizers.
質量永不會帶來意外的發現，一般都會導致高品質的成果，只有真誠的努力，智力的發揮和熟練的執行，才會帶來許多明智的選擇方案。
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. William A. Foster
別人不會在意你做得多快，卻記得你做得多好。
People forget how fast you did a job, but they remember how well you did it. Robert N. Newton
老師正以低沉單調的聲音在教室上課，當他注意到一個坐在後排的學生睡著了，
老師就向坐在那位睡覺學生旁邊的同學喊叫說，「嘿！把他叫醒！」
旁邊的同學喊叫回去，「你讓他睡著，你來叫醒他！」
The teacher is droning away in the classroom when he notices a student sleeping way up in the back row. The teacher shouts to the sleeping student's neighbor, “Hey wake that student up!”
The neighbor yells back, “You put him to sleep, you wake him up!”
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老師：約瑟，你為什麼遲到？
約瑟：因為路上的一個標誌。
老師：這標誌和你的遲到有什麼關係？
約瑟：該標誌說，「學校就在前面，慢慢走！ 」
Teacher: Why are you late, Joseph?
Joseph: Because of a sign down the road.
Teacher: What does a sign have to do with your being late?
Joseph: The sign said, “School Ahead, Go Slow!”
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我聽了會忘記。I hear and I forget.
我看了會了解。I see and I understand.
我做就會記住。I do and I remember.
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戴爾的知識圓錐論（由個人體驗而來的知識）戴爾認為：人通常的記憶有：他們所讀的能記憶的佔百分之十他們所聽的能記憶的佔百分之二十他們所看的能記憶的佔百分之三十他們看電視所能記憶的佔百分之五十他們所說或所寫的能記憶的佔百分之七十他們在做某件事所說的能記憶的佔百分之九十
Dale’s Cone of Experiences Cone of Experience
Edgar Dale:
People generally remember:
10% of what they read
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what they hear and see – video
70% of what they say or write
90% of what they say as they do something
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有一天，一個父親和他的兒子去釣魚。在船上大約一個小時之後，男孩突然對他周圍的世界變得很好奇，於是他問父親：「這船如何能漂浮？」他的父親想了一下，就回答他：「兒子，我不太知道！」於是，男孩又再進到沉思中。然後，他再問父親：「魚如何能在水中呼吸？」父親再一次回答他：「兒子，我不太知道！」一會兒後，男孩再問父親：「天為甚麼是藍色？」同樣的，父親回答：「兒子，我不太知道！」男孩深恐打擾了父親，於是他說：「爸爸，你會介意我問你這些問題嗎？」「當然不會，兒子。若你不會發問，你將不會學到東西！」
A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple hours in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, “How does this boat float?” The father thought for a moment, then replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.” The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, “How do fish breathe underwater?” Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.” A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?” Again, the father replied. “Don’t rightly know, son.” Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?” “Of course not, son. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!”
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ㄧ個成功的商業顧問，他所處理的事情，通常是公司規模比較小的領導階層問題。ㄧ個管理者他問：「你能敎我如何賺大錢嗎？」顧問回答說：「當然可以。」管理者接著問：「那我需要付多少代價呢？」顧問回答：「那是我的商業機密，我是依問題來收費的。」管理者問：「你是怎麼收費？」顧問回答：「ㄧ個問題ㄧ百美元。」管理者問：「那你提供的諮詢答案，如何向我證明這是有用的呢？」顧問回答：「當然，當你問第五個問題時你就能瞭解了。」
A prospering business consultant was approached by a downsized executive.
“Can you teach me how to make big money in consulting?” asked the executive.
“Absolutely,” said the consultant.
“How much will it cost me?”
“That’s my trade secret,” said the consultant, “I charge by the question.”
“How much do you charge?”
“One hundred dollars per question.”
“Can you prove to me that charging by the question works?”
“Sure, but you realize that will be your fifth question” (Bits and Pieces 4/24/97)
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兩個哈佛大學的學生剛從學校畢業，他們在波士頓的城裏攔了一部計程車，一邊談一邊進到車裏去。聽了他們交談了幾分鐘後，計程車司機就問他們：「你們是哈佛大學的畢業生嗎？」
這兩個畢業生很驕傲的說：「是的，我們是 ‘94’年那屆的。」
計程車司機馬上伸手過去跟他們握手說：「 ‘58’年那屆的。」
Two young men who had just graduated from Harvard were all excited and talking effusively as they got into a taxi in downtown Boston. After hearing them for a couple of minutes the cab driver asked, “You men Harvard graduates?”
“Yes Sir! Class of ‘94!” they answered proudly.
The cab driver extended his hand back to shake their hand, saying, “Class of ‘58.”
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一個年輕人第一天到超級市場上班，市場經理微笑地歡迎他，並熱烈的和他握手。之後，經理交給他一把掃帚，說：「你的第一個工作是打掃店內的裏外。」
這個年輕人很不高興的說：「你不知道我是一個大學畢業生嗎？」
「喔！對不起，我不知道你是大學畢業生。」經理說：「把掃帚給我，我教你怎麼掃。」
A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”
“But I’m a college graduate,” the young man replied indignantly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said the manager. “Here, give me the broom -- I’ll show you how.”
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羅斯福說：「未曾受過教育的惡人，只從鐵路的貨車裡偷一些貨物，受了教育的惡人，若他的心沒有改變，你給他的教育，會助他偷竊整條鐵路。」
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Quotes引證 :
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. John wooden sign
除非他從痛苦經歷中學習要不然他仍是一個愚昧人。(義大利諺語)
He who cannot learn except through bitter experiences remains a fool forever. Italian
平凡的老師只講述，好的老師會解釋，優秀的老師則親自示範，最棒的老師乃會啟發學生。(William Arthur Ward)
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward
訓練十個人比做十個人的工作好，但它是辛苦的。(Moody)
It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder. Moody.
心靈狹隘是一件可怕的事情。
A narrow mind is a terrible thing to use. Marshall Shelly
顧問是 「能掌握資訊的頭腦，有傾聽的耳，幫助人往對的方向前進。」
A mentor is “a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” The Uncommon Individual Foundation
教育是能永遠觸摸到人的生命。
To teach is to touch a life forever.
**********************************************************
ELDERLY 長輩
一對老夫妻發現他們開始忘記在屋子裡的一些細小東西。他們擔心這種情況可能會有危險，因為其中一人可能會忘記關爐子而引起火災。因此，他們決定去看醫生得到一些幫助。他們的醫生告訴他們，許多在他們這個年齡的人發現把事情寫在小紙條上來作為提醒還滿有用的。
老夫婦認為這個建議聽起來很好，他們便很滿意地離開醫生的辦公室。當他們回到家裡，妻子說：「親愛的，請你去廚房給我拿一盤冰淇淋？為什麼你不寫下來，以免你忘記？」丈夫說「胡說！」，「我還記得一盤冰淇淋！」妻子說 「哦！」，「我還想加些草莓在上面。你最好寫下來，因為我知道你會忘記。」 丈夫回答 「不要愚蠢了」。「一盤冰淇淋和一些草莓。我可以記住的！」。「好吧，親愛的，但我希望你拌些奶油在上面。」現在你最好把它寫下來，要不然你會忘記「，妻子說。」得啦，我的記憶沒有那麼糟」，丈夫回答說。「沒問題 -- 一盤冰淇淋加草莓和拌些奶油。」於是，丈夫關上在他身後的廚房門。
妻子聽見她丈夫失控著處理鍋碗瓢盆，以及不是準備一盤冰淇淋，草莓和加奶油該有的聲音。約15分鐘後他從廚房出現，走到妻子面前，他拿給她一盤培根和雞蛋。妻子看著盤子，瞥一眼她的丈夫說：「嘿，吐司在哪裡？」
回覆問題，「何時表示一個女人老了？」一個著名的悲劇女演員寫著：「從不逞能，別不高興的太快，在適當的時候當智者。」
An elderly husband and wife noticed that they were beginning to forget many little things around the house. They were afraid that this could be dangerous, as one of them may accidentally forget to turn off the stove and thus cause a fire. So, they decided to go see their physician to get some help. Their physician told them that many people their age find it useful to write themselves little notes as reminders.
The elderly couple thought this sounded wonderful, and left the doctor's office very pleased with the advice. When they got home, the wife said, "Dear, will you please go to the kitchen and get me a dish of ice cream? And why don't you write that down so you won't forget?" "Nonsense," said the husband, "I can remember a dish of ice cream!" "Well," said the wife, "I'd also like some strawberries on it. You better write that down, because I know you'll forget." "Don't be silly," replied the husband. "A dish of ice cream and some strawberries. I can remember that!" "OK, dear, but I'd like you to put some whipped cream on top. Now you'd really better write it down now. You'll forget," said the wife. "Come now, my memory's not all that bad," said the husband. "No problem--a dish of ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream." With that, the husband shut the kitchen door behind him.
The wife could hear him getting out pots and pans, and making some noise inconsistent with his preparing a dish of ice cream, strawberries, and whipped cream. He emerged from the kitchen about 15 minutes later. Walking over to his wife, he presented her with a plate of bacon and eggs. The wife took one look at the plate, glanced up at her husband and said, "Hey, where's the toast?"
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Answering the question, “When is a woman old?” a famous tragedienne wrote: “The conceited never; the unhappy too soon, and the wise at the right time.”
(More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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一位老人聽到有一些藥丸能使他恢復年青。於是他買了一盒子，本來他應該每一天服用一粒，後來在睡覺前他一次把整盒藥丸都全部服用。第二天早上，他的家人花了九牛二虎之力把老人喚醒。最後，他搓著眼睛，抱怨地說「好吧，好吧，我會起床，但我不會上學去。 」
An old man heard about some pill that would restore his youth. He bought a box, but instead of taking one every day he swallowed the whole boxful one night before going to bed. The next morning his family had difficulty waking the old man. At last he rubbed his eyes. “All right, all right,” he grumbled, “I’ll get up, but I won’t go to school.”
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Golf
Golf is the midlife sport of choice for very different reasons......
First of all, it’s esier to reach your goals. In midlife, after all, it’s a snap to have a handicap below your age and a score below your weight. And getting easier all the time.
Golf is like midlife because only now do you realize that the course you have set upon is governed by rules so vast, so arcane, and so arbitrary that the average person -- you -- will never figure it all out.
Golf is like midlife because it is absolutely unfair. As a young person, you carry the illusion that, if you do your homework, study, and work overtime you’ll get it all right. By middle age, you know that every time you’ve got it all together -- work, family, putt, pitch -- some piece is about to unravel. I promise you.
Golf, like midlife, is played against only one opponent: yourself. By the time you reach 50, ou’d better figure out that doing well doesn’t depend on others doing badly. You don’t have to wish them ill. They’re not the reason you are shanking the ball.
Golf is like middle age, because -- ah, you knew this was coming -- in these years you really do have to play it as it lays. You don’t get to start everything all over again. The most you get is a mulligan. If it’s an unplayable lie, everybody sympathizes, but you still have to take a penalty. On the other hand, golf, like midlife, also offers another chance. No matter how badly you hit one ball, you can still recover on the next. Of course, no matter how well you hit one ball, you can always screw up on the next.
Finally, golf is like midlife because at some time on a beautiful October day, when you are searching for a ball, or for that matter your swing, you look around and realize for the first or 50th time that in this game, you’re the one keeping your own score.
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有一位長者徹底檢查身體後，返去覆診，醫生告訴他:「我有一個好消息和一個壞消息，你會喜歡先聽哪一個？」病人：嗯，先給我壞消息。 醫生：你得了癌症，我估計你會活兩年左右。 病人：這實在太可怕！兩年後我的生命將會消逝！你可還有比這更好消息可以訴我嗎？ 醫生：你也患上了老年癡呆症。大約3個月後，你將會忘記一切我告訴你的事。
This old man visits his doctor and after a thorough examination, the doctor tells him, “I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?”
Patient: Well, give me the bad news first.
Doctor: You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left.
Patient: That’s terrible! In two years, my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this?
Doctor: You also have Alzheimer’s. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you.
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有分別是九十二歲、九十四歲和九十五歲的三姊妹同住在一起。一天晚上，年紀最大的姊姊上樓洗澡。 當她的一隻腳踏進浴缸，而另一隻腳在浴缸外時，她對樓下的妹妹喊叫說，「我是要進浴缸去，還是要從浴缸中出來？」 九十四歲的妹妹決定上去了解一下她的情形，看看能否幫上忙。當她來到第三級樓梯時，她停下來，然後大聲喊叫，「我是要下樓，還是要上樓？」 九十二歲的妹妹正坐在廚房桌子前，她敲了桌子一下，心裡想：希望這樣倒霉的事不會發生在自己的身上，然後她說：「我希望不會跟我的姐組們一樣糟。剛才敲門的人是在正門，還是在後門敲？」
有分別是九十二歲、九十四歲和九十五歲的三姊妹同住在一起。一天晚上，年紀最大的姊姊上樓洗澡。 當她的一隻腳踏進浴缸，而另一隻腳在浴缸外時，她對樓下的妹妹喊叫說，「我是要進浴缸去，還是要從浴缸中出來？」 九十四歲的妹妹決定上去了解一下她的情形，看看能否幫上忙。當她來到第三級樓梯時，她停下來，然後大聲喊叫，「我是要下樓，還是要上樓？」 九十二歲的妹妹正坐在廚房桌子前，她敲了桌子一下，心裡想：希望這樣倒霉的事不會發生在自己的身上，然後她說：「我希望不會跟我的姐組們一樣糟。剛才敲門的人是在正門，還是在後門敲？」
There were 3 sisters living together 92, 94 and 95 yrs. old. The oldest went upstairs one evening to take a bath. As she was getting in the tub with one foot in and one foot out, she called down to her sisters, “Am I getting in the tub or am I getting out of the tub?” The 94 yr. old decided to go upstairs to see if she could help figure out the situation. She got to the 3rd step and stopped - then called out, “Was I going up the stairs or was I coming down the stairs?” The 92 yr. old, sitting at the kitchen table, thought she better knock on wood and as she knocked on the kitchen table she said, “I hope I never get as bad as my sisters. Now was that the front door or the back door?”
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瓊斯太太多年以來一直是當地教會的主要會友，這是為什麼最近大家留意到她的缺席。牧師決定在主日禮拜後順道拜訪她家去看一下是否有什麼狀況。他敲她的門，因她年近85歲，她花了一點到才來應門。「請位是誰？」她問道。「我是史密斯牧師」，她回答。「喔！ 請進，請進，主日禮拜如何？」她問。「很好，我只是想確定你禱告需求事項是否已被應允。」「哦！ 親愛的，我最近是不太舒服，但我變得越來越好了。」
就在這時，電話鈴響了，她致歉的接電話。牧師坐在附近的一張桌子，上面有一本舊的讀者文摘和一碗花生。經過 15分鐘，然後 20分鐘，他聽到他的胃嗥嗥叫，開始浮躁不安。他開始吃碗上的花生，並開始閱讀。45分鐘後，他突然意識到，他吃完了所有的花生。那時瓊斯太太回來，說：「哦，我很抱歉，那通電話是我妹妹從匹茲堡打來。她一個月打一次，所以每當她打來，我們都天南地北的聊一切事。」牧師有點不好意思地說：「我必須道歉，因為當你走後，我餓了，就吃完你小碗裡的所有花生。請原諒我。」
瓊斯太太回答說：「噢，那沒關係，沒有我的牙齒，我唯一能吃的就是吸吮其中的巧克力！」她說。
Mrs. Jones had been a staple of her local congregation for many years and that is why her absence was noticed lately. The pastor decided to drop by her house to check up on her after the Sunday service. He knocked on her door and being that she’s nearly 85 it took her a bit to get to the door. “Hello, who is it?” she asked.
“It’s Pastor Smith”, he answered.”OH Hi-Come in, Come in, how’s the ministry doing?” She said. “Very well, I just wanted to make sure your prayer needs are being met.” “Oh honey, I haven’t felt well lately but I’m getting better”
Just then the phone rang and she excused herself to get it. The pastor sat near a table with an old reader’s digest and a bowl of peanuts. After 15 minutes, then 20, he heard his stomach growl and began to get restless. He started in on the bowl of peanuts and began reading. After 45 minutes, he suddenly realized that he had eaten all of the peanuts. Right then Mrs. Jones returned and said, “Oh I sure am sorry, that was my sister from Pittsburgh. She only calls once per month so when she does we have to catch up on everything.” The pastor feeling a little embarrassed said “I must also apologize, for while you were gone I got hungry and ate all the peanuts in your little bowl there. Please, forgive me” he said.
Mrs. Jones replied, “Oh that’s ok, without my teeth, all I can do is just suck the chocolate off of them!” she says.
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一個八十歲的老人在高爾夫球場練球，可是被他那糟透的視力所影響。 他的擊球很好，但是他看不到球被打到甚麼地方去。 因此，他的醫生為他找來一個九十歲，但視力很好的老人陪伴他打球，好讓他沿途觀察球被打到哪裡去。 八十歲的老人擊中第一球時，便問他的同伴是否看到球落到甚麼地方去。「是……」九十歲的老人說。「它到底落到哪裡去了？」八十歲的老人追問。然後， 九十歲的老人回答說：「我忘記了！」
An eighty-year-old man’s golf game was hampered by poor eyesight. He could hit the ball well but he couldn’t see where it went. So his doctor teamed him up with a ninety-year-old man who had perfect eyesight and was willing to go along to serve as a spotter. The eighty-year-old man hit the first ball and asked his companion if he saw where it landed. “Yep,” said the ninety-year-old. “Where did it go?” the eighty-year-old demanded. The ninety-year old replied, “I don’t remember.”
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有一對年長的夫妻，她的太太要求他先生說：「親愛的，我想要吃ㄧ點甜的東西，能不能麻煩你到街角的商店幫我買一個甜筒冰淇淋，好嗎？我要阿月渾子果實口味的冰淇淋，而且上面要灑些巧克力碎片。」，她的丈夫就喃喃自語的重複說：「冰淇淋圓筒，阿月渾子果實口味的，還有巧克力碎片。」，就出門去商店買了，幾分鐘之後，他帶了一隻熱狗回來，她的太太就很不高興的瞪著他說：「那是什麼？」她先生就回答說：「怎麼了？有什麼問題嗎？」，他太太接著說：「我告訴你！我要的是上面灑著有芥茉碎片的冰淇淋！（氣呼呼地）」
There was an elderly couple, and the wife asked her husband, “Darling, I feel like having something really sweet. Could you please go to the corner store and bring me an icecream cone? I would like pistachio icecream, with a chocolate chip topping.” The husband repeated, mumbling to himself, “Icecream cone, pistachio, chocolate chips” and went off to the store. After a few minutes, he returned with a hot dog. The wife looked at him, upset, and asked “What’s that?!” The husband asked, “Why, is there anything wrong?” The wife said, “I told you, I wanted mustard on top!”
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4歲時，成功是不尿濕褲子。
12歲時，成功是擁有朋友。
16歲時，成功是考取駕駛執照。
20歲時，成功是獲得性經驗。
35歲時，成功是能賺錢。
40歲時，成功是找到生活的意義與目的。
45歲時，成功是找到生活的意義與目的。
50歲時，成功是能賺錢。
60歲時，成功是重享性生活。
70歲時，成功是再考取駕駛執照。
75歲時，成功是擁有朋友。
80歲時，成功是不尿濕褲子。
At age 4, success is…not peeing in your pants.
At age 12, success is…having friends.
At age 16, success is…having a driver’s license.
At age 20, success is…having sex.
At age 35, success is…having money.
At age 40, success is…finding meaning & purpose to life.
At age 45, success is…finding meaning & purpose to life.
At age 50, success is…having money.
At age 60, success is…having sex.
At age 70, success is…having a driver’s license.
At age 75, success is…having friends.
At age 80, success is…not peeing in your pants.
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一個年長，並患有嚴重風濕性關節炎的女士，正使用拐杖痛苦地、蹣跚地上教堂去。對她來說，這是一個痛苦、嚴酷的考驗；有人問她：在這種情況之下，她為何仍要參與各種事奉。 她答案是「我的心首先到達那裡，而我的腿卻是緊緊的跟隨在後。」
An elderly lady, dreadfully crippled with arthritis, used to hobble painfully to church on two crutches. It was an agonizing ordeal for her, and someone asked her how she managed to be at every service. Her answer was, “My heart gets there first, and my legs just follow after.”
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恩典性的衰老米奇老鼠的太太買了一套可以是她年輕的新系列昂貴化妝品。在梳妝臺面前使用這富奇跡性的化妝品一段很長的時間后，她問：「達玲，老實說，您認爲我是什麽嵗數？」仔細地看着她后，米奇老鼠答道：「從您皮膚的判斷是二十嵗；從您的頭髮是十八嵗，而從您的身材看是二十五嵗。」「噢，您是奉承我！」她不由而說出。「嘿，等等！」米奇老鼠打斷她的話説：「我還沒有把這些嵗數加起來。」
Mickey’s wife bought a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to make her look years younger. After a lengthy sitting before the mirror applying the “miracle” products, she asked, “Darling, honestly, what age would you say I am?” Looking over her carefully, Mickey replied, “Judging from your skin, twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty five.” “Oh, you flatterer!” she gushed. “Hey, wait a minute!” Mickey interrupted. “I haven’t added them up yet.”
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一位老太太走進家庭醫生的辦公室，坦承一件令她尷尬的事：「我常常放屁，約翰孫醫生，既沒有聲音也沒有氣味。實際上就在進來你辦公室的這麽一會兒，我大約放了二十幾個屁。我該怎麽辦呢？」
「這是處方，貝克女士，服這些藥丸每日三次每次一粒七天后再來找我。」
過了一個星期，貝克女士有點生氣地問醫生：「醫生，這是什麽葯？，我的問題越來越嚴重了！我還像以前一樣放屁，還是沒聲，但現在是臭極了。這算怎麽囘事？」
「別緊張，貝克女士，」醫生平靜地說，「現在你的嗅覺治好了，下來我們來治你的聽覺。」
An old lady came into her doctor’s office and confessed to an embarrassing problem: “I pass gas all the time, Doctor Johnson, but it’s soundless, and without odor. In fact, since I’ve been here, I’ve passed gas no less than twenty times. What can I do?”
“Here’s a prescription, Mrs. Barker. Take these pills three times a day for seven days and come back and see me in a week.”
The next week, an upset Mrs. Barker marched into Dr. Johnson’s office: “Doc, I don’t know what was in those pills, but the problem is worse! I’m passing gas just as much, and they’re still soundless, but now they smell terrible! What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Calm down, Mrs. Barker,” said the doctor soothingly. “Now that we’ve fixed your sinuses, we’ll work on your hearing.”
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一群住在弗羅里達的老年居民，一起圍坐著談論他們的疾病：『我的手臂非常虛弱，讓我很難拿好這杯咖啡』
其中一個說著，『對阿，我可以瞭解，我的白內障很嚴重，我甚至不能看到我的咖啡』
另一個回答說，『我不能轉動我的頭，因為我的脖子有關節炎』
第三個說著，其他 人虛弱點著頭表示同意，『我的高血壓藥片要使我頭昏眼花』
另一個繼續說……，『我想這就是我們的年紀漸長的代價』一個老人臉部抽蓄地搖著頭。
然後，一片短暫的寧靜……『恩，事情沒那麼糟啦！』一個婦人笑笑地說……『感謝神，我們都還可以開車』
A group of Florida senior citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:
“My arms are so weak I can hardly hold this cup of coffee,” said one.
“Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” replied another.
“I can’t turn my head because of the art hritis in my neck,” said a third to which several nodded weakly in agreement.
“My blood pressure pills make my dizzy,” ...another went on...”I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he shook his head.
Then there was a short moment of silence...
“Well, it’s not that bad,” said one woman cheerfully ---
“Thank God we can still drive!”
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有個法國人，在五十歲生日那一天，覺得自己就將老去，心裏極為消沉。有人就請雨果去安慰安慰他。雨果對他說：「我的朋友，你該高興，你已經活過四十歲了，那是青年時期中的老年。現在你活到了五十歲，那是老年時期的青年。」 韓愈說：「吾年未四十而髮蒼蒼，齒牙搖動。」
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當神創造驢子的時候，神告訴驢子：「你得勞碌終日，你要馱負重物、吃草得活，你智商不高但可以活到五十歲」 o驢子回答說：「我願意做一隻驢子，但活五十年對我而言是太長了一些，我只要二十年」，結果神就照他的要求應許他o神又創造了狗並且對牠說：「你要替人類看守房舍，你並要做他們最好的朋友。不論人類給你什麼，你都吃的津津有味，你可以活到二十五歲」 o狗回答說：「二十五年的壽命太長了，我只要活十年」o神也答應了他。神也創造了猴子並告訴他說：「你要從這棵樹盪到那棵樹，你要做些滑稽的動作討人的歡笑，你可以活到二十歲」。猴子回答神說：「二十年太多了，我只要十年」o神也同意了。最後神創造了人類並對他說：「你是人，是這地球上唯一有理性的動物，你有智慧管理其他動物你要掌管全地並且活到二十年」。結果人回答說：「我既然是人，二十年是不夠的。好不好你將驢子所不要的三十年、狗不要的十五年，以及猴子不要的十年都給我？」神說：「好啊！就這樣辦！你的前二十年活得人模人樣，但成年之後接下來的三十年會累的像驢子一樣，肩上常有一大堆工作的壓力。再下來的十五年你的孩子長大離家，你要像狗一樣地看守房子，有什麼吃什麼。然後你年屆退休，最後有十年的時間像猴子從一樹盪到另一樹一樣，你要輪流在你孩子的家裡作客，做些滑稽的事討你孫兒的歡心」。
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澳大利亞一家療養院貼有一張健康提示：「如果不注意鍛鍊身體,那麼人一旦過了50 歲,身體就一年不如一年；過了60歲,則是一個月不如一個月；過了70 歲,則是一周不如一周；到了80歲,是一天不如一天；上了90歲的人可能就會一小時不如一小時。
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Quotes引證 :
我說我到了五十個年就退休，但現在我不相信我必須退休除非必要的。我從來未曾想過我可以活著沒有它，但我知道有一天我將會有不同的工作。
I said I'd stop at 50 but now I don't believe in retiring unless you have to. I never have days where I think I can live without it. But I know some day I will do something different. Arsene Wenger
其餘的動物退休後如何？假如一隻獅子今天退休，明天牠將成為其它獅子的早餐。
What other animal retires? If a lion retires today, tomorrow morning he becomes his brother's breakfast. Michael Roberts
May God bless you with many more of these 3-years to come! Or 5-years, or longer. But we just have a small number of years to play with. Michael
年老猶如一艘遇難船。
Old age is a shipwreck. Charles de Gaulle
人生像一個羅網，你完全無意識的往裡面遊走。
Old age is like a trap that you wander into completely unaware. Francois De La Rochefoucauld
人生四種過程：奶水瓶，可樂瓶，啤酒瓶和點滴瓶。
4 stages of life: baby bottle, coke bottle, beer bottle and sodium chloride intravenous liquid
二十歲意志佔優勢，三十歲是智慧，四十歲則是判斷力。
At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment. Benjamin Franklin
進展。他從辦公室事務的手續退休下來，轉而在家做健康事務的手續。
Progress. He retired from doing business paperwork at the office to doing health paperwork at home. Cecil Baxter.
當你失掉對事情的好奇心時，代表你知道你已經老了。
You know you’re old when you’ve lost all your marvels.
年齡意識是超越物質的。若你不介意，根本無關痛癢。
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
They say I’m too old. I’m old, but I’m not cold. Linford Christie, 100m gold medalist.
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ESCHATOLOGY 末世論
當聖方濟在花園裡鋤草，有人問他說：「在日落前，如果你死了，你會做什麼 ？」「我會完成鋤我的花園，」 他回答：「我會鋤完我花園裡的草」。
St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden when someone asked what would he do if he were to learn that he would die before sunset. “I would finish hoeing my garden,” he replied. (Bits and Pieces, 9/11/97)
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Quotes引證 :
生命是不確定的，先吃甜點吧。
Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.
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EXCELLENCE 優等
父親不太滿意撒母耳從學校帶回來的成績單，父親就問：「你是怎麼ㄧ回事，你一月的成績比去年十二月的成績還要差」，撒母耳臨到這樣窘況，以一種很受委屈的口吻對父親說：「為什麼？爸爸，你難道不知道，每ㄧ件事情在假期過後，效果總是會降低嗎？」。
Dad was not greatly pleased by the school report brought to him by his hopeful.
“How is it?” he demanded, “that you stand so much lower in your studies for the month of January than for December?”
Samuel was equal to the emergency. “Why, dad,” said he, in an injured tone, “don’t you know that everything is marked down after the holidays?” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
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在一個完美的世界，人將會感覺五士歲和十七歲的年齡狀況ㄧ樣好，實際上五十歲會被認為像十七歲一樣的靈活。在一個完美的世界，你沒有懷孕，你就不能得到免費的嬰兒床。在一個完美的世界，職業棒球選手會向百萬合約的教練抱怨。在一個完美的世界，郵件總是會提早到，支票總是可以放在郵件裡面，郵件總是會比你所期待的更多。在一個完美的世界，洋竽片或許有卡路里，但是你用手掐起來吃卡路里就可以抵消。在一個完美的世界，至少對每ㄧ個人來說，一個輕輕關門的孩子總是會被告誡地說，「走回去，用力把門關上」。
In a Perfect World a person should feel as good at 50 as he did at 17, and he would actually be as smart at 50 as he thought he was at 17.
In a Perfect World you could give away a baby bed without getting pregnant.
In a Perfect World pro baseball players would complain about teachers being paid contracts worth millions of dollars.
In a Perfect World the mail would always be early, the check would always be in the mail, and it would be written for more than you expected.
In a Perfect World potato chips might have calories, but if you ate them with dip, the calories would be neutralized.
In a Perfect World every once in a while at least, a kid who always closed the door softly would be told, “Go back and slam the door.”
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一位大師想從兩位徒弟中選擇一個做衣缽傳人。一天，大師吩咐徒弟說你們出去給我撿一片最完美的樹葉回來。兩個徒弟遵命而去，不久，大徒弟回來了，遞給師傅一片看來並不太漂亮的樹葉，他對師傅說：這片樹葉雖然不完美，但他是我看到最完整的樹葉。第二個徒弟在外面轉了半天，最終卻空手而歸，他對師傅說：我見到了很多很多的樹葉，但怎樣挑也挑不出一片最完美的。最後大師把衣缽傳給了大徒弟，因為他懂得做人的道理，每一個人都不完美，可是該有優點、有缺點，才是一個完整的人。
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艾森豪總統曾向 National Press俱樂部的聽眾說他不是一個偉大的演說家.他曾說：「我記得作孩童時在堪薩斯州農場發生的事，一位老農夫有一頭牛我們想向他購買，我們去探訪這個農夫問他關於這頭牛的生產能力。這農夫不知道何謂生產力，所以我們改問他關於這頭牛的牛油產量，他也不知所云，最後我們問他這牛每一年能產生若干磅牛奶。
農夫說:「我不知道產重，但牠是一頭誠實的牛，牠會將所有的全部牛奶給你，
總統說:「我像這頭牛我會付出一切所有的給你。
President Eisenhower once admitted to the National Press Club audience that he was not a great speaker.
He once said: It reminds me of my boyhood days on a Kansas farm. An old farmer had a cow that we wanted to buy. We went over to visit the farmer and asked him about the cow’s pedigree.
The old farmer didn’t know what pedigree meant, so we asked him about the cow’s butterfat production, He told us he didn’t have any idea what it was. Finally we asked him if he knew how many pounds of milk the cow produced each year.
The farmer said,’ I don’t know. But she’s an honest cow, and she’ll give you all the milk she has.’”
He said, “I’m like the cow, I’ll give you everything I have.”
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古時候，有位日本畫家，名叫賀庫塞，他的作品極受皇族的喜愛。有一天，
一位貴族請他為一隻珍貴的鳥作畫。他把鳥留下來，賀庫塞請他過一個禮拜再回來。貴族很想念他那美麗的鳥，所以一個禮拜之後，迫不及待地回到畫室，要取回他的寵物和畫。但是，當貴族到達的時候，畫家謙卑地要求再延兩個禮拜。兩個禮拜延長到兩個月，接著，變成了六個月。一年之後，貴族氣沖沖地衝進賀庫塞的畫室，拒絕再等下去，要求立刻取回鳥和畫。賀庫塞向貴族行日本禮鞠躬之後，便轉向他作畫的桌子，拿起一支畫筆和一大張宣紙，當場揮毫起來。幾分鐘之內，他輕而易舉地畫了一隻一模一樣、栩栩如生的鳥。貴族看得目瞪口呆，但他立刻就生氣了。「如果你能夠這樣不費工夫，用這麼短的時問就能畫好，為什麼讓我等了一年呢？」「這你就不懂了。」賀庫塞說罷，便領著貴族走進一個房間，在那兒，四壁貼滿了同一隻鳥的畫。然而，沒有一張能媲美最後的傑作。我們的生命畫布也是如此，我們要在人格土培養出珍貴長存的品德，並不是一蹴而就的。世上絕沒有速成的傑作。
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記者訪問銀行行長，請他講出成功祕訣。
「四個字。」，
「哪四個字？」
「正確決策。」
「怎樣才能作出正確決策？」
「兩個字。」
「哪兩個字？」
「經驗。」
「如何獲得經驗？」
「四個字。」
「哪四個字？」
「錯誤決策。」
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Quotes引證 :
畫畫的人用她的手去畫。藝術家用她的手和她的心思去畫。大師卻用她的手，她的心思及她心靈的觸覺去畫。A painter paints with her hand. An artist paints with her hand and her mind. A master paints with her hand and her mind through her heart.
偉大的思想能達到目的，其他的只有願望。
Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. Washington Irving
專業人士就是當不喜歡時, 仍會做他的工作。業餘愛好者就只會在喜歡時, 才做他的工作。
Professionals are people who can do their job when they don’t feel like it. Amateurs are people who can’t do their job when they feel like it.
不會與比你差的人爭，只會與比你好的人爭。
You don’t compete with people lesser than you are, only the better ones. David Liu
一個好的射手並不在意他的箭，只專注他的目標。
A good archer is not known by his arrows, but his aim.
廚師不知道正餐前開胃食品。
A chef is not known by his appetizers.
質量永不會帶來意外的發現，一般都會導致高品質的成果，只有真誠的努力，智力的發揮和熟練的執行，才會帶來許多明智的選擇方案。
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. William A. Foster
別人不會在意你做得多快，卻記得你做得多好。
People forget how fast you did a job, but they remember how well you did it. Robert N. Newton
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