书城工具书哲理英语
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第18章 青春

青春不是年龄,而是心境;青春不是桃面、红唇、柔膝,而是深沉的意志,恢宏的想象,热烈的情感;青春是生命的深泉在涌流。

青春气宇轩昂,勇锐强过怯弱,进取压倒苟安。如此锐气,二十后生而有之,六旬男子则更多见。年岁有加,并非垂老,理想丢弃,步入暮年。

岁月悠悠,面容衰老;热忱抛却,灵魂颓废。忧烦,惶恐,丧失自信,定使心灵扭曲,意气如灰。

无论年届花甲,或年方二八,心中皆有生命之欢乐,奇迹之诱惑,孩童般天真久盛不衰。人人心中皆有一根无绳天线,只要你从天上人间接受美好、希望、欢乐、勇气和力量的信号,你就青春永驻,风华常存。

一旦天线下降,锐气便被冰雪覆盖,玩世不恭、自暴自弃油然而生,即使年仅二十,实已垂垂老矣;然而只要树起天线,捕捉乐观的电波,你就有望在八十高龄告别尘世之时仍觉年轻。

Love Without Measure

Freda Bright says, “Only in opera do people die of love.” It’s true. You really can‘t love somebody to death. I’ve known people to die from no love, but I‘ve never known anyone to be loved to death. We just can’t love one another enough.

A heart-warming story tells of a woman who finally decided to ask her boss for a raise in salary. All day she felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon she summoned the courage to approach her employer. To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The woman arrived home that evening to a beautiful table set with their best dishes. Candles were softly glowing. Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal. She wondered if someone from the office had tipped him off, or... did he just somehow know that she would not get turned down?

She found him in the kitchen and told him the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to the wonderful meal. Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully lettered note. It read: “Congratulations, darling! I knew you‘d get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you.”

Following the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up. She noticed that a second card had fallen from his pocket. Picking it off the floor, she read: “Don’t worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you.”

Someone has said that the measure of love is when you love without measure. What this man feels for his spouse is total acceptance and love, whether she succeeds or fails. His love celebrates her victories and soothes her wounds. He stands with her, no matter what life throws in their direction.

Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said: “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” And love your friends. Love them without measure.