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。但这小小的一刀一刀累积起来，大橡树终将倒掉。同样的，我们也可以把今天所作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。
我决不会考虑失败，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，我也将在绝望中继续前进；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胜算，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；只有经历了多次的失败，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一个小小延误，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，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。
一切贵在坚持。当你开始一段新的征程时，不要因为目标遥远而中途放弃，不要因为荆棘密布而停止脚步，不要因为孤独难耐而动摇决心，你要记住：坚持，只要抬起脚，路便在下面延伸，目标便指日可待。
orient [':rint] n. 东方；亚洲
They love paintings from the Orient.
他们喜欢来自东方的绘画。
demonstrate ['demnstreit] v. 显示；表露
He demonstrated dauntless heroism in the war.
他在战斗中表现出大无畏的英雄主义。
contagious [kn'teids] adj. 有感染力的
Yawning is contagious.
打呵欠是容易传染的。
detour ['di:tu] n. 绕行的路；绕道；兜圈子
We made a detour to avoid the heavy traffic.
我们绕道走，避开繁忙的交通。
如果我坚持下去、不断尝试、勇往直前，就能获得成功。
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。
只有经历过黑夜，才能欣赏到白昼的明亮；只有经历了多次的失败，才能取得最终的成功。
If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another.
be of no avail：无济于事
I will be likened to the rain drop which washes away the mountain.
be likened to：好比
你从未真正失去自己的价值
You Never Really Lose Your Value
佚名 / Anonymous
A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a 20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "What is this piece of paper and is it worth anything?"
"It is a 20 bill, encashable in international and national markets for its quoted value," replied one of the many participants who raised their hands.
The speaker proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up using both his hands till it became a bundle of wrinkled paper.
He then unfolded it again and making an unsuccessful attempt to keep it straight, he asked, "Would you still be able to negotiate it for its quoted value?"
"Yes!" was the echoing reply from the participants.
"Well," he said, "Looks like I haven't done enough! What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, which was now all crumpled, dirty, defaced and not easy to recognize from a distance.
"Now will someone like to trade it for its quoted value?"
Many hands went in the air.
"I think this piece of currency is still holding its quoted value," replied a participant in a slightly unsure voice.
"This bill can still fetch goods worth 20 dollars," said the other participant.
Everyone agreed.
"My friends, there is a very valuable lesson in this exercise that we are just through with. It may have appeared to some of you, that I was able to deshape, deface, mutilate and alter the 20 bill during the process as the effects were quite visible.
"However, no matter what I did to this piece of paper, you still upheld its negotiability because you were sure in your mind that my actions did not actually decrease its value. It was still a currency note worth 20.
"Many times in our lives, we feel like as if we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make or the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. It may also appeal to onlookers as if it has really happened to certain extent. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, please remember you never lose your 'Value'."
Values that you cherish are indeed devoid of worldly disturbance and always you're your saviour.
研讨会上，一位著名的演说者是这样开场的——他举起一张20美元的钞票，问在座的200名听众：“这张纸是什么？它有价值吗？”
“这是一张20美元的钞票，按它的面值，在国际和国内市场都能兑换。”在众多举手的参与者中，一个人这样答道。
于是，演说者把那张美钞揉成一团，搓成了一张皱巴巴的纸。
接着，他又把美钞展开，并尽量把它弄平整，但仍然皱皱巴巴的。他问道：“按面值，你们还能把它兑换出去吗？”
“能！”大家异口同声地说。
“哦，”演说者说，“看来我做的还不够啊！要是我这么做呢？”他说着，就把那张20美元丢到地上，开始用鞋踩来踩去。然后，他捡起钞票，这时，那张钞票已经皱得不成样子了，而且脏兮兮的，面目全非，从远处很难认出是什么东西。
“现在，还有人愿意按它的面值和我做交易吗？”
许多人都举起了手。
“我认为，这张钞票仍有票面价值。”一位听众回答道，声音中透着些许不自信。
“这张钞票还可以买价值20美元的商品。”另一人说道。
大家一致赞同。
“朋友们，我刚刚所举的一个例子包含着一个深刻的道理，可能有些人已经意识到了。整个过程中，我把这张20美元的钞票弄得变形、走样，让它面目全非、残缺不全，结果你们也看到了。
“但是，不论我怎么毁损这张美钞，你们仍对它的可流通性确信不疑，因为你们都认为，我对它所做的并没让它真正贬值。它还是一张价值20美元的钞票。
“生活中，很多时候，我们总被自己作出的决定或遭遇的境况所困扰，觉得自己被扔在地上，揉成一团，被踩进烂泥里。我们觉得自己毫无用处；甚至在某种程度上，一个旁观者也可能这么认为。那么，朋友们，请记住，不论发生了什么，或将要发生什么，你都不会失去你的‘价值’。”
你所珍视的价值一定不会受到尘世中各种纷扰的影响，它就是你一生的依靠。
正如一张被折皱的钞票不会贬值一样，无论你在人生路上遭遇怎样的挫折，不管是被揉成团、压成饼，抑或被扔进臭水沟，都不要怀疑自己的价值，因为只要你还活着，健康地活着，你的生命就不会贬值，而你只需要用行动向世人证明这点。
seminar ['semin:] n. 研讨班；研讨小组；研讨会；培训会
He had presided over a seminar for theoretical physicists.
他主持了一个理论物理学家的会议。
quote [kwut] v. 报（价）；开（价）
The company's shares are currently being quoted at 62 pence a
share.
该公司股票的现在报价是每股62便士。
crumple ['krmpl] v. 压皱；弄皱
He crumpled a letter into a ball.
他把信揉成一团。
mutilate ['mju:tleit] v. 损坏；使残缺不全
Someone mutilated the book by tearing out the illustrations.
有人撕掉插图，把那本书弄得残缺不全。
许多人都举起了手。
不论发生了什么，或将要发生什么，你都不会失去你的“价值”。
你所珍视的价值一定不会受到尘世中各种纷扰的影响，它就是你一生的依靠。
The speaker proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up using both his hands till it became a bundle of wrinkled paper.
proceed to：接着；继续
No matter what I did to this piece of paper, you still upheld its negotiability.
no matter what：无论如何；不管怎样
勇敢地攀登到人生的峰顶
Reaching the Top of the Mountain
佚名 / Anonymous
"You can always see a beautiful sky at the top of the mountain, but you can't see it before you reach the top."