Asayoungboy,Britain'sgreatPrimeMinister,SirWinstonChurchill,attendedapublicschoolcalledHarrow.英国的伟大首相温斯顿·丘吉尔爵士,小时候在哈罗公学上学。
Hewasnotagoodstudent,andhadhenotbeenfromafamousfamily,heprobablywouldhavebeenremovedfromtheschoolfordeviatingfromtherules.当时他可不是个好学生,要不是出身名门,他可能早就因为违反纪律被开除了。
Thankfully,hedidfinishatHarrowandhiserrorstheredidnotprecludehimfromgoingontotheuniversity.谢天谢地,他总算从哈罗毕业了,在那里犯下的错误并没影响到他上大学。
Heeventuallyhadapremierarmycareerwherebyhewaslaterelectedprimeminister.后来,他凭着军旅生涯中的杰出表现当选为英国首相。
Heachievedfameforhiswit,wisdom,civicduty,andabundantcourageinhisrefusaltosurrenderduringthemiserabledarkdaysofWorldWarII.他的才思、智慧、公民责任感以及在二战痛苦而黑暗的时期拒绝投降的无畏勇气,为他赢得了美名。
Hisamazingdeterminationhelpedmotivatehisentirenationandwasaninspirationworldwide.他非凡的决心,不仅激励了整个民族,还鼓舞了全世界。
Towardtheendofhisperiodasprimeminister,hewasinvitedtoaddressthepatrioticyoungboysathisoldschool,Harrow.在他首相任期即将结束时,他应邀前往母校哈罗公学,为满怀报国之志的同学们作演讲。
Theheadmastersaid,"Younggentlemen,thegreatestspeakerofourtime,willbehereinafewdaystoaddressyou,andyoushouldobeywhateversoundadvicehemaygiveyou."校长说:“年轻的先生们,当代最伟大的演说家过几天就会来为你们演讲,他提出的任何中肯的建议,你们都要听从。”
Thegreatdayarrived.SirWinstonstoodup,allfivefeet,fiveinchesand107kilosofhim,andgavethisshort,clear-cutspeech:那个激动人心的日子终于到了。温斯顿爵士站了起来——他只有5英尺5英寸高,体重却有107公斤。他作了言简意赅的讲话:
"Youngmen,nevergiveup.Nevergiveup!Nevergiveup!Never,never,never,never!"“年轻人,要永不放弃。永不放弃!永不放弃!永不,永不,永不,永不!”
Personalhistory,educationalopportunity,individualdilemmas-noneofthesecaninhibitastrongspiritcommittedtosuccess.个人经历、教育机会、个人困境,这些都不能阻挡一个全力以赴追求成功的、有着坚强意志的人。
Notaskistoohard.Noamountofpreparationistoolongortoodifficult.任务再苦,准备再长,难度再大,都不能让他放弃自己的追求。
Taketheexampleoftwoofthemostscholarlyscientistsofourage,AlbertEinsteinandThomasEdison.就以本时代最有学问的两位科学家——阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦和托马斯·爱迪生为例,Bothfacedimmenseobstaclesandextremecriticism.Bothwerecalled"slowtolearn"andwrittenoffasidiotsbytheirteachers.他们都曾面临巨大的障碍和极端的批评,都曾被说成“不开窍”,被老师当成笨蛋而放弃。
ThomasEdisonranawayfromschoolbecausehisteacherwhippedhimrepeatedlyforaskingtoomanyquestions.托马斯·爱迪生还曾逃学,因为老师嫌他问的问题太多而经常鞭打他。Einsteindidn'tspeakfluentlyuntilhewasalmostnineyearsoldandwassuchapoorstudentthatsomethoughthewasunabletolearn.爱因斯坦一直到将近9岁才能流利地说话,学习成绩太差,有些人认为他都已经学不好了。
Yetbothboys'parentsbelievedinthem.Theyworkedintenselyeachdaywiththeirsons,andtheboyslearnedtoneverbypassthelonghoursofhardworkthattheyneededtosucceed.然而,这