I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure will increase my chance for success at the next attempt. Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow' s good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once.
I will try, and try, and try again. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and develop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.
I will not allow yesterday' s success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life. So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.
I will persist. I will win.
在东方，挑选小公牛去竞技场格斗有一定的程序。每只小牛都被带进场地，向手持长矛刺它们的斗牛士发起攻击。小牛的勇敢程度以它所表现出的忍受矛刃刺痛的次数来衡量。我从中意识到——生活里，我每天都经历着类似的测试；如果我坚持下去、不断尝试、勇往直前，就能获得成功。
我并不是为了失败才来到这个世界，我的血管里流淌的也不是失败的血液。我不是一只任人宰割的羔羊，而是一头绝不与羊群为伍的雄狮。我不愿听到弱者的哭泣和抱怨，因为他们的脆弱会影响到我。让它们加入羔羊的行列吧！失败者的屠宰场不是我的宿命。
生活的犒赏不会出现在旅途的起点附近，而往往在旅程的终点。我不知道要走多远才能到达目的地。走到第一千步，我仍然可能遭遇失败，然而成功就在下一个拐弯处；如果我不转过去，就永远也不会知道它离我有多近。通常，我都会再前行一步；如果还没成功，我还会再向前一步，然后再向前一步。事实上，每一步也并非那么困难。
因此我认为，每天的努力就好比往大橡树上砍一刀。最开始的一击也许对大橡树没有任何影响，第二刀也是这样，第三刀还是这样。每一刀似乎都没什么效果，都可以忽略。但这小小的一刀刀累积起来，大橡树终将倒掉。同样地，我们也可以把今天所做的努力比做冲刷山岭的雨滴、蚕食老虎的蚂蚁、照亮地球的星星和建造金字塔的奴隶。我要一砖一瓦地垒筑起自己的城堡，因为我知道，小小的努力，只要坚持下去，就能成就伟业。
我绝不会考虑失败，我要从我的字典里去掉这些愚蠢的词和短语：放弃、无法、不能够、不会发生、不可能、没有可能性、失败、难以实行、无望和退却等；我会尽量摆脱失望的控制，即使染上这种思想疾病，我也会在绝望中继续前进；我要挥洒汗水，不停劳作，忍受一切磨难痛苦；我会全身心地向着目标前行，藐视所有阻碍，因为我坚信，沙漠的尽头必有绿洲。
我将牢记古老的平均律，并为我所用。我相信，每一次失败都增加了成功的概率，每一次否定都是肯定的砝码，每一次失败都是成功的前奏，每一次不幸都预示着明天的好运。只有经历过黑夜，才能欣赏到白昼的明亮；只有历经了多次的失败，才能取得最终的成功。
我将努力、努力、再努力。我将视每一个障碍为成功路上的小小延误，或是对我的职业的一种挑战。我将坚持下去，像水手一样不断提高自己的技能，乘风破浪，勇往直前。
我不会因昨日的成功而骄傲自大，因为这是失败的祸根。不论昨日的一切是好是坏，我都将忘记，并满怀自信地迎接新一轮太阳的升起，我相信这将是最美好的一天。只要一息尚存，我就要坚持到底。因为我已经知道了成功的最大秘诀：只要坚持到底，我就一定会获得成功。
坚持下去，定会成功。
我们不是为了失败而来到这个世界的，只要坚持下去，就一定能获得成功。
arena ['ri:n] n. 竞技场；室内运动场；舞台
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.
在极广阔的宇宙竞技场中，地球只是一个很微小的舞台。
blade [bleid] n. 刀锋；刀口
The blade slashed his leg open.
刀刃把他的腿划破了。
shepherd ['epd] n. 牧羊者；牧师；指导者
The shepherd set out to look for the sheep that had wandered (away).
牧羊人出发去找走失的羊。
我会全身心地向着目标前行，藐视所有阻碍，因为我坚信，沙漠的尽头必有绿洲。
我将坚持下去，像水手一样不断提高自己的技能，乘风破浪，勇往直前。
我不会因昨日的成功而骄傲自大，因为这是失败的祸根。
The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade.
according to：按照；根据；根据……所说
in spite of：尽管；不管；不顾；虽然
超越企求和希望：如何让你梦想成真
Beyond Wishing and Hoping:
How to Make Your Dreams Come True
佚名 / Anonymous
Years after Disneyland was built, after the completion of Walt Disney World, the story goes that someone went up to Mike Vance, Director for Walt Disney Studios and said. "Isn' t it too bad Walt Disney didn' t live to see this?" Without pausing, he replied. "But he did see it, that' s why it' s here."
If any outside figure influenced my life early on, it was Walt Disney. Maybe because when I was five, my favorite uncle took me to a wondrous new place called Disneyland. Maybe because I grew up in Southern California, visiting it every year or two, watching a man' s vision come to life and grow. Or maybe because I learned that "when you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are." Growing up on the Wonderful World of Disney, I learned how to dream.
In my experience wishing and hoping are poor strategies for making dreams come true, yet that' s how many people approach work, often surprised at their results. They wish they could make more money. They hope they' ll get promoted or offered a more interesting job. They wish someone would notice how hard they work. They hope the work environment improves, their boss comes to his/her senses, the problem goes away or someone else solves it.
Their chance of winning at working is right up there with becoming a millionaire on Las Vegas slots or holding the winning lottery ticket. And while it' s not true the ostrich hides in the sand, many of us do, wondering why we never land our dreams. Olympic athletics don' t get that way by wishing and hoping. Nor do great musicians, actors, chefs, architects, teacher, lawyers, parents, or business people. And I know I' ll never get my first book published by wishing it so.
Dreams can come true, but there is a secret. They' re realized through the magic of persistence, de termination, commitment, passion, practice, focus and hard work. They happen a step at a time, manifested over years, not weeks. While wishing and hoping makes you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into reality. Want your work dreams to come true? Make them.
在迪斯尼公园和迪斯尼世界建成后，传出了这样一个故事：有一个人来到沃尔特·迪斯尼工作室，在主任迈克·万斯面前说：“沃尔特·迪斯尼没能活到现在看到这一切，是不是太遗憾了？”他毫不犹豫地回答：“但是他真的看到了，这就是它坐落在这里的原因。”