“这孩子有没有进步啊，戴维斯？”牧场主约翰·菲尔德焦急地问道。
“哦，约翰，你和我都是老朋友了，”戴维斯回答道，为了缓和气氛，他从桶里拿出一个苹果递给马歇尔的父亲，“我们是老朋友了。我本不想伤害你的感情，可我是个心直口快的人，我会告诉你真实的情况。马歇尔是个非常稳重的好孩子，然而，即使他在我的公司待上一千年，他也不会成为一个真正的商人。他不是做商人的材料，你还是把他领回农场，教教他如何挤牛奶吧！”
如果马歇尔当初一直待在马萨诸塞州皮斯费德镇戴维斯的公司——他的第一个工作所在地，他将永远不会成为当今世界鼎鼎有名的商界精英。
然而到了芝加哥后，马歇尔曾亲眼见证了许多不可思议的例子。自己身边的许多穷苦人家的孩子凭借自身努力最终走上了成功之路。这种经历让雄心勃勃的马歇尔立志做一个真正的商人。他对自己说：“既然别人能做到，我为什么不能？”
当时，芝加哥的本地居民只有八万五千人。就在几年前，芝加哥还是个只能与印第安通商的小村镇。如今芝加哥发生了翻天覆地的变化，这里的居民已经成为全世界最幸福的人了。甚至空气中都弥漫着成功的气息，每个人都坚信自己在未来会有所作为。
许多人认为雄心是我们与生俱来的信念。它有着极强的生命力，唯有我们悉心呵护，才能变得越来越强。如同学习音乐和艺术一样，只有通过长期的积累才能使其拥有旺盛的生命力，否则它就会渐渐枯萎。
就像爱默生所说：“我真正需要的，是找到一位能够助我走向成功之路的人。”我可以做些什么，这只是我的事情，与拿破仑或林肯无关。不管我能实现丰功伟业还是一无是处，不管我能否将自己的潜质发挥到极致，我的世界都将是独一无二的。
我们经常看到，许多人在不惑之年或是垂暮之年时还没有真正将内心的潜能激发出来。他们只是开发了一小部分潜质，一直庸庸碌碌。他们身上蕴藏的许多优点已经沉睡，永远不会醒来。在毫无意识的情况下，巨大的宝贵潜能被他们忽视，白白浪费了。
每个人都是一个有待开发的金矿，每个人都是独一无二的，每个人都可以成为杰出人物。只可惜很多人一生都找不到开发潜能的钥匙，最终在浑浑噩噩、庸碌无为中成为岁月的流沙。
blunt [blnt] adj. 率直的；直言不讳的
Let me ask a blunt question.
允许我问一个直率的问题。
marvelous ['m:vls] adj. 引起惊异的；不可思议的；非凡的
He showed marvelous insight over the description of American
characters in his new book.
在这本新书里，他对美国人性格的描写表现出惊人的洞察力。
sanguine ['s鎔win] adj. 充满希望的；乐观的；面色红润的
He wears a small pair of glasses on ordinary days, which gives us
an impression that he is vivacious, sanguine and clever.
平日里戴着一副小眼镜的他，留给人的总是一个活泼开朗、灵气十足的形象。
susceptible [s'septbl] adj. 易受影响的；易动感情的
Children are more susceptible to colds than adults.
小孩比大人容易患感冒。
自己身边的许多穷苦人家的孩子凭借自身努力最终走上了成功之路。这种经历让雄心勃勃的马歇尔立志做一个真正的商人。
我真正需要的，是找到一位能够助我走向成功之路的人。
不管我能否将自己的潜质发挥到极致，我的世界都将是独一无二的。
Many people seem to think that ambition is a quality born within us; that it is not susceptible to improvement; that it is something thrust upon us which will take care of itself.
take care of：照顾
But it is a passion that responds very quickly to cultivation, and it requires constant care and education, just as the faculty for music or art does, or it will atrophy.
respond to：对……作出回应；对……有某种反应
非走不可的弯路
The Tortuous Path One Has to Take
佚名 / Anonymous
When I arrive and stand at the turning to Youth a small path comes into view off and on as if beckoning me.
Mother steps in my way pleading, "Don't take the path. It's formidable."
I don't believe.
"I've traversed it. No reason not to believe me."
"Since you've passed it, why can't l?"
"I don't want you to go such a tortuous way. "
"But I like the experience. I'm not afraid."
Mother looks at me sadly and sighs, "All right. Go if you insist, you stubborn child. The path is rough going. Do take care all the way."
When I'm on my way I find mother's right. The road is rough and tortuous. Sometimes I come to a dead end, sometimes I take a wrong turn, I tumble or even fall headlong and have my head covered with bumps and bruises. Still I keep on going and eventually I pass it.
I sit down to get my breath back. At this time I see a girl, very young, standing at the turning where I used to do and ready to go. I can't help shouting, "No, you must not take that path." But she shows distrust.
"My mother passed it, so did I."
"As both of you've done so, why shouldn't I?"
"I don't want you to go the same tortuous way."
"But I don't mind."
I look at her and look back at myself, smiling, "Then take good care all the way."
I feel deeply grateful to her for she reminds me of my youth gone. I'm now a has-been that can tell what to do or not to. I've already played such a role, with the obsession of advising against doing the same thing one did before,
On one's life's journey there's a path one has to take the tortuous path of Youth. Without stumbling, bumping, or even being badly battered, how can one grow and become as solid and strong as iron and steel?
当我站在青春的路口时，一条若隐若现的小路出现在我的面前，我仿佛听到了它的召唤。
母亲阻拦我，恳求地说：“这是一条艰难的路，走不得。”
我不相信。
“我就是从那条路走来的，你还不信吗？”
“你都可以走过来，我为什么不能？”
“我不想让你走这样一条曲折的路。”
“但我喜欢亲身体验，我不怕。”
母亲用心疼的眼神看了看我，叹息道：“好吧，你这个孩子真倔强。既然你坚持，那就去吧。这条路艰难坎坷，一路保重。”
当我踏上旅途时，我发现母亲是对的。这条路坎坷曲折。尽管有时会走进死胡同，有时会转错弯，有时会摔倒，甚至跌得头破血流，但我仍坚持走下去，最终走了过来。
我坐下来让自己的呼吸恢复平静。这时，我看到一个非常年轻的女孩站在我曾经站过的地方，准备出发。我不由得喊了出来：“那条路走不得。”但她不信。
“我和我母亲都走过这条路。”
“既然你们都走过了，我为什么不能呢？”
“我不愿意让你走同样的弯路。”
“但我不介意。”
我看了看她，又回头看看自己，笑着说：“那一路保重。”
我非常感激她，因为她让我想起自己已不再年轻。我现在也扮演着过来人的角色，也在告诫年轻人什么能做，什么不能做。
在每个人的生命旅途中都有一条非走不可的弯路，那就是青春的弯路。没有跌倒、碰壁，或摔得头破血流，一个人又怎能长大，又怎能变得像钢铁般坚强呢？
弯路也是人生的必修课，只有经历那些不堪回首的路途，一个人才可能真正变得成熟，只有经过暴风雨的洗礼才能铸就钢铁般的意志。这样，不管你以后遭遇怎样的磨难，都可以安然度过。
beckon ['bekn] v. （用头或手的动作）示意；召唤
In spring, beautiful peach and apricot blossoms atop the walls, like graceful girls
waving their red sleeves, will sway hospitably to beckon the pedestrians.
在春天，常有几枝娇艳的桃花、杏花，娉娉婷婷，像优雅的姑娘，从墙头殷勤地摇曳红袖，向行人招手。
formidable ['f:midbl] adj. 可怕的；令人畏惧的；令人惊叹的；难以克服的
Now our Party is confronted with new and formidable tasks.
现在，我们党正面临着新的艰巨的任务。
traverse ['tr鎣s] v. 横越；穿越；横贯
It will take 48 hours to traverse through America by train with a speed
of 96km/hour.
一辆时速为96公里的快速火车，横跨美国需要48小时以上。
tortuous ['t:tu:s] adj. 弯弯曲曲的
The road is tortuous, but the future is bright.
道路是曲折的，前途是光明的。
当我站在青春的路口时，一条若隐若现的小路出现在我的面前，我仿佛听到了它的召唤。
在每个人的生命旅途中都有一条非走不可的弯路，那就是青春的弯路。
没有跌倒、碰壁，或摔得头破血流，一个人又怎能长大，又怎能变得像钢铁般坚强呢？
When I arrive and stand at the turning to Youth a small path comes into view off and on as if beckoning me。
off and on：断断续续；时不时地
I can' t help shouting, "No, you must not take that path." But she shows distrust.