首页 世界上最富哲理的美文

第8章 自律才有自由

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Self-control

佚名 / Anonymous

Practicing for Better Learning

Listen to the article,and then try to answer the following questions.

1. What is self-control?

2. What can we do about self-discipline and self-inspection?

Self-control is essential to happiness and usefulness. It is the master of all the virtues, and has its root in self-respect. Let a man yield to his impulses and passions, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.

It is the self-discipline of a man that enables him to pursue success with superior diligence and sobriety. Many of the great characters in history illustrate this trait. In ordinary life the application is the same. He who would lead must first command himself. The time of test is when everybody is excited or angry, then the well-balanced mind comes to the front.

There is a very special demand for the cultivation of his trait at present. The young men who rush into business with no good education or drill will do poor and feverish work. Endurance is a much better test of character than act of heroism.

A fair amount of self-examination is good. Self-knowledge is a preface to self-control. Too much self-inspection leads to morbidness; too little conducts to careless and hasty action. There are two things which will surely strengthen our self-control. One is attention to conscience; the other is a spirit of good will. The man who would succeed in any great undertaking must hold all his faculties under perfect control; they must be disciplined and drilled until they quickly and cheerfully obey the will.

自制力是获取幸福和成就事业不可或缺的能力。它根植于自尊,掌控着所有美德。一个人如果屈从于自己的情感冲动,便会从此失去精神自由。

历史上的许多伟人都具有一种品质,即自律。自律能使人更勤奋、更理性地追求成功。日常生活中,人们同样需要具有这种特质。想要成为领袖的人,首要条件就是要克制自己,每当激动万分或气愤不已时,便是检验自律能力之时。此刻,人们首先要做的就是平和心气。