180224 英语学习高级阅读材料 2

This one moment when you know you're not a sad story 这一瞬间，你知道自己不是悲剧的主角 You're alive 你充满生命力

And you stand up and see the lights on buildings 你站起来，欣赏着浮光掠影中的建筑

And everything that makes you wonder 看看眼前让你惊叹的一切

And you are listening to that song on that drive 听着音乐，兜着风

With the people you love most in this world 和最爱的人在一起

And in this moment, I swear 我敢说，在这一刻 We are infinite. 我们拥有无限。

来自电影〈壁花少年The Perks of Being A wallflower〉

以上的台词来自电影中Charlie, Sam 以及Patric三个人第一次开车兜风经过隧道时，Charlie的旁白。站起来，迎着风，被包围在真实世界的浮光掠影之中。张开双手，无可救药地渴望着自由和无限。仿佛刹那间，青春绽放出一朵美丽耀眼的壁花。

But every once in a while you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will compare.

世人万千种，浮云莫去求，斯人如彩虹，遇上方知有。

I've been waiting for a lover like you my whole life, you haven't show up until now, and I'm scared shitless that I'm gonna do something to fuck it up.

穷极一生，我都在等待我的爱人出现，终于现在你出现了，我害怕的要命，就怕我搞砸了这一切。

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来自电影〈平常的心 The Normal Heart〉，这是一部讲述美国80年代的纽约同性恋人群以及艾滋病人的生活以及感悟。两位男主角都是帅的如梦如幻，无数个日夜都为着彼此疯狂，生怕搞砸。他们的爱情恰好验证了以上的那句英文台词，真真是想要拥有你，却怕拥有你

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys, make your life extraordinary. 及时行乐，珍惜时间，孩子们，让你们的生命与众不同。

来自电影〈死亡诗社Dead Poets Society〉，Robin Williams饰演的文学教师是那个封闭时代的叛逆者，也是学生记忆中的灵魂拯救者。哪怕最后他无法被世俗接纳，哪怕被学校开除，他也成功地让自由之花在学生心中生根发芽

请不要再放气球了 它其实是个杀手

Mother Nature says stop releasing balloons

放飞气球在很多人看来都是一件很浪漫的事情，但是你知道放飞气球的危害吗？氦气球飞到空中会杀死鸟儿，落到地上会呛死牲畜，掉到海里会害死海龟，而且还会严重污染自然环境。所以，放飞气球仅仅是看上去很美，而已。 Release a helium balloon on a bright, sunny day, watch it magically float up into the sky, and I dare you not to feel some variety of exhilaration, a sense of wonder, a longing for freedom, suspense.... It's like a 21-gun salute, but quieter. It's like a Chinese Sky Lantern ceremony, but for the daytime.People release big bunches of balloons for memorial services, grand openings, birthday parties and parades. It's just a Thing We Do, and it's fun. But it's really, really terrible for the environment.

在一个阳光明媚的日子里，你放飞了一个氦气球，并看着它神奇地漂浮在天空中。我敢肯定，这时的你会感到一丝兴奋与惊喜，还有对自由的渴望。这

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就像观看21响礼炮一样，只是更安静。这也像中国人放飞孔明灯一样，只是在白天而已。人们会在纪念仪式、盛大开幕式、生日聚会和游行中放飞大量的气球。虽然这只是人们喜欢做的一件有趣的事，但是这对环境来说真的非常糟糕。

When a balloon ascends into the heavens, it doesn't end up on Jupiter. You know this. Although a helium balloon can rise to altitudes of 8 kilometers into Earth's atmosphere, it's got to come back down eventually, and when it does, it wreaks some havoc. That colorful little scrap of latex may end up living in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It could get tangled up in the flippers of a sea turtle or be eaten by one who mistakes it for a jellyfish. Or a bighorn sheep could mistake it for forage, or it might land in some farmer's pasture, where a cow chokes on the string. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, animals of the land, sea and air are equally susceptible to mistaking deflated balloons for food, or, arguably worse, getting tangled up and strangled by the ribbon attached to it.

我们都知道，即使氦气球一直向上升，它最终也不会落到木星上去。尽管氦气球可以升到距地面8千米的高度，但它最终还是会回来的，一旦它降落了，就会造成一些破坏。那些五颜六色的乳胶碎片最终可能会掉在太平洋垃圾带，它们可能会缠住海龟的鳍状肢，或者被海龟当成水母给吃掉。它们落在陆地上时，大角羊可能会把它们误认为是饲料。它们落在农民的牧场时，气球上的丝带很可能会呛死一头牛。美国鱼类和野生动物管理局的数据显示，陆地、海洋和空中的动物都很容易把泄气的气球误认为是食物，更糟糕的是，它们

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都有可能被气球上的丝带缠住并勒死。

And it's true, some balloons do break down eventually. A big part of the reason releasing balloons is permitted in so many places is that latex balloons are technically biodegradable — it takes one between six months and four years to break down completely, though they deteriorate in seawater more slowly than they do on land. Mylar balloons, on the other hand, are made out of NASA-grade nylon and are not biodegradable, so they can hang out in the environment indefinitely.

诚然，有些气球最终会分解掉。许多地方之所以允许放飞气球，很大程度上是因为乳胶气球在技术上是可生物降解的。但是它们也需要长达6个月到4年的时间才能完全分解，而且它们在海水中的降解速度比在陆地上要慢很多。还有一种迈拉气球是由美国宇航局级别的尼龙制成的，不能生物降解，因此它们会一直存在于自然界中。

So, if balloons in the environment are so bad, why isn't releasing them outlawed? Well, in many areas, it is. And a few places in the UK and Australia have banned the release of balloons of all kinds. In the US, California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia and some cities like Louisville, Kentucky, and Huntsville, Alabama have put the kibosh on balloon releases. But the thing about helium balloons is they don't care about our random geographic boundaries. They land wherever they want to land.

既然停留在环境中的气球有这么多危害，为什么放飞它们不是违法的呢？其

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实在许多地方，放飞气球都是违法的。英国和澳大利亚的一些地方已经禁止各种气球的释放。在美国，加利福尼亚州、康涅狄格州、佛罗里达州、田纳西州和弗吉尼亚州，还有肯塔基州的路易斯维尔和阿拉巴马州的亨茨维尔等城市，都已经禁止放飞气球。但是氦气球的问题在于，它们才不管人类划定的地理边界。它们想在哪里降落，就在哪里降落。

Hundreds of balloons drifting slowly into the wild blue yonder might give you the feels, but is a brief display of color and zero confetti cleanup at your party worth a bunch of dead birds and turtles and many beaches full of trash? Absolutely not. But, on a related note, the world may be running out of helium soon anyway — giving the turtles and the birds a reason to throw their own great big party, sans balloons.

看着数以百计的气球慢慢地飘向远处的蓝色天空可能会让你心潮澎湃，然而只是为了欣赏一次转瞬即逝的多彩美景，或者为了不必清理派对留下的五彩纸屑，你就要让一群鸟儿和乌龟用生命来买单，让一片片沙滩堆满垃圾。这值得吗？当然不值得。而且，再这样下去，这个世界可能很快就会耗尽氦气——这反倒让海龟和鸟儿有理由开个大派对来庆祝，没有气球的那种。 最后，不要错过一个重要的事实：

Helium balloons can interfere with airplanes. In Singapore, you have to get permission from a government aviation regulation agency in order to release balloons.

氦气球会干扰到飞机。在新加坡，你必须得到政府航空管制署的许可才能放飞气球。

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要对薪酬范围心里有数，让面试官先提出第一个数字。同时也要记住，在谈薪水时一定要坚持灵活和坦诚两个原则。 Take it slow 慢慢来

Take your time and do it right when it comes to job interviews. 把握面试节奏也是很重要的，心急吃不了热豆腐。

Shana Lebowitz reported for Business Insider that this strategy especially benefits shy people, allowing them to show the interviewer that they’re confident enough to handle the pauses and engaged enough to carefully consider each answer. If you rush through your conversation, you risk sounding incoherent and nervous.

莎娜.列波维茨曾在《商业内幕》上撰文称，这个策略对于内向害羞的人尤其有用，因为这会让面试官觉得自己足够自信，能够把握对话的节奏，专注而仔细地思考每个问题的回答。如果你的话说得太快，有可能会显得紧张甚至语无伦次。

Stick to your thesis 不要跑题

If you’re anxious or speaking with an inexperienced interviewer, it can be easy to swerve off-track in your interview. You might end up babbling about your career highlights reel, when you really should be demonstrating the value you can bring to the organization. 如果你在面试中感到焦虑，或者你的面试官经验不足，那么你容易就会被面试官带到沟里。你可能会喋喋不休地吹嘘自己职业生涯的几个高光时刻，却忘了最重要的是展示你能给这家公司带来什么价值。

Make sure to always keep the focus on what you can do for the organization. Treat your interview a bit like an essay. Everything you discuss should pertain to one thesis — why you’re a great fit for the job.

所以要记住，重点是你能给这家公司带来什么。面试就像写论文，所有的话都要围绕一个论点，也就是为什么你最适合这份工作。

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Pretend as if you’re about to start work tomorrow 做出“明天就上班”的样子

Want to nail the job interview? Pretend that you already have the job. Matt Kaness, the CEO of online vintage-style clothing retailer ModCloth, previously told Business Insider about one job candidate who wowed him in an interview.

如果你真想要获得这份工作，就要装出你已经拿下了这份工作的样子。在线服装零售商ModCloth公司的CEO马特.凯尼斯曾讲过一个在面试中给他留下深刻印象的求职者。

The applicant arrived with a brief that sketched out detailed suggestions on improving ModCloth’s app. Kaness was impressed with the dedication, enthusiasm, and level of research that went into the mock-up.

这位求职者是带着一叠材料来了，材料里详述了关于如何改进ModCloth的APP的建议。这位求职者的专注、热情和对公司的研究程度深深打动了凯尼斯。

It’s a bit of extra effort, but it can really put you far ahead of the competition.

虽然这样做会多费不少工夫，但它真的会让你在竞争中远远领先其他对手。

“This person saw ModCloth as a platform for them to do their best work and bring their craft to the table in a way that was additive,” Kaness said. “I loved seeing that initiative.”

凯尼斯表示：“这个人将ModCloth看作他的一个平台，他能在这个平台上发挥聪明才智，带来价值。我很喜欢看到这种闯劲。” Really know what you want 真正知道自己想要什么 It can be difficult to adopt this sort of thinking, especially when you’re at the beginning of your career or simply desperate for any job. But it’s an important trick to add to your arsenal. You can rock

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an interview, but if the gig’s not right for you, you’ll be back in the job search process soon enough.

这句话说起来容易做起来难，尤其是在你的职业生涯刚开始的时候，你可能对任何工作机会都十分渴求。所以正确的心态是很重要的，你可能轻松搞定了面试，但如果这份工作不适合你，很快你就会又回到就业市场上四处找工作了。

So, during your next job interview, come with questions, try to ascertain whether or not the company is a good fit for you, and really listen to your gut.

所以在下次面试时，一定要带着问题去，要确定这份工作到底适不适合你，并且听从内心的选择。 Ask about next steps 问问下一步要做什么

Especially for individuals who are particularly nervous or new to the hiring process, it can feel a bit daunting to ask about next steps. 对于特别容易紧张或面试经验很少的人，他们可能很害怕追问面试官自己下一步该做什么。 Still, asking about the follow up process demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re pragmatic and serious about the job.

其实这种担心是不必要的。问问后续流程，只会向面试官表明你是一个务实的人，并且对这份工作的态度是很严肃的。

Plus, Natalie Walters previously reported for Business Insider, if your interviewer is enthusiastic with their response, that’s a sign that your interview went very well.

纳塔莉.沃特斯曾在《商业内幕》上撰文称，如果面试官热情地回答了你的问题，这就是面试进行得非常好的迹象。 Send the perfect thank you email 面试后发一封完美的感谢邮件

Let’s say you rocked your interview. It’s easy to become so relieved that you forget one crucial step.

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如果你在面试中表现得相当不错，你可能因为放松而忘掉了重要的一步 You don’t want to have the job interview-equivalent of a Simone Biles-esque vault, only to fall flat on your face during the landing. 面试就像体操比赛，整套动作耍得再溜，落地时摔了个狗啃泥，也会前功尽弃。 This happens when you really click with the hiring manager and then forget to send a thank-you note. Something as simple as a thank you email shows that you care about the job — in some cases, this could make or break your prospects.

如果你在面试中与面试官谈笑风生，后来却忘了给他发一封感谢信，说不定前面的努力就都白费了。感谢信虽然是件小事，却显得你对这份工作相当重视。有些时候，这一小小的细节就决定了你的命运。 Send a thank you note that looks something like this within 24 hours of your job interview. ==

职场英语：请求加薪，5件事情要记得提出！

[摘要]是的，你已经在日历上圈好与老板正式见面考核绩效的日期，并且非常努力地谋求加薪。但如果你没有为这次会话做好准备（并彩排），那么想要事情按照你的意愿发展（薪水方面的问题）就更艰难了

Yep, your review with your boss is officially on the calendar and you’re angling hard to get a raise. But if you don’t prep (and rehearse) for the convo, it’s a lot harder to be sure things will go your way, salary-wise. Here, how to nail the conversation so you get the bump you deserve.

是的，你已经在日历上圈好与老板正式见面考核绩效的日期，并且非常努力地谋求加薪。但如果你没有为这次会话做好准备（并彩排），那么想要事情按照你的意愿发展（薪水方面的问题）就更艰难了。接下来，为您的会面对话支招，助你达到自己应得的加薪。

FOCUS ON WHY YOU DESERVE IT (VERSUS WHY YOU NEED IT) 专注在你应得加薪的原因（而不是你需要它的原因）

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It’s all about your frame of mind. In the meeting, stick to a script that explains why you’ve earned a salary increase (this is the time to shout out all your contributions) instead of why it’s necessary to your day to day (gah, your rent just increased and you’re nervous about paying the bills).

这跟你个人心境有关，保持一致说法，解释你值得加薪的原因（这就是你把个人贡献全部展示出来的时候了），而不是为什么加薪对你日常生活的必要性的原因（啊，你的房租上升了，你很担心交费用清单。）

Your boss isn’t responsible for your budget, but she is responsible for recognizing — and rewarding you monetarily — for growth. 你的老板不需要为你的预算负责，但是她负责去意识到你的进步，并通过金钱奖励你。

HAVE THREE SUBSTANTIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS MEMORIZED 要有三个实质记录的成就

It’s only natural to feel nervous going into a review, so prep by jotting down three significant milestones you’ve reached in the past year. (For example, you brought in new business that boosted the company’s bottom line — or totally nailed training that new hire.) Sure, you can bring a piece of paper in to reference, but you’ll feel a lot more confident if you rehearse these achievements and memorize the specifics for a more natural conversation flow.

参与绩效考核时很紧张是很自然正常的事情，所以要做好准备，记录下在过去一年里你所达到的三个意义非凡的里程碑。（举个例子，你为公司带来了新的生意，提高公司盈利底线，或者是完成了新员工的培训项目。）当然，你可以带上一张纸以便参考，但如果你事前排练过并记住具体的细节，使得对话过程更顺利，你就会感到更自信。

AND EXPLAIN HOW THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HELP BIG-PICTURE COMPANY GOALS 解释这些成就对实现公司主要目标的作用

Your work matters, no doubt. But when it comes to salary negotiations, it’s all about expressing how your work connects to what’s ahead.

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Again, do your homework and take a step back: What’s the most important initiative for your department that year? Maybe it’s increasing revenue or building out your team. Speak to your impact on the bigger picture and detail how you rose above and beyond.

毫无疑问，你的工作非常重要。但当到了谈论薪资的时候，这就关乎你如何把自己的工作联系到公司的发展方向了。再次，要做好准备功夫然后退一步思考：那一年，你们部门最重要的目标是什么？也许是增加盈利，也许是构建团队。要证明你对公司发展大目标的作用，然后详细说明你的表现已经大大超越了既定的标准。

THROW OUT A SPECIFIC NUMBER 给出具体数额

Sure, it’s a scary thing to quantify, but having a salary request in mind is helpful for getting your boss on the same page as you. A couple of things to keep in mind: You don’t want to pitch an increase that’s so off base that it alienates anyone. (FYI, most raises are between one and five percent.) You also need to be prepared for a counter offer or a flat-out no. (If a raise isn’t in the cards, ask to nail down a timeline for when it’s possible to revisit.)

没错，以数字说明事实很吓人，但是如果心中已有加薪幅度的要求，这对于与老板达成共识是很有帮助的。要记住几件事情：你不希望薪水的幅度是大大超出合理范围，与别人造成巨大距离的。（顺便一提，大多数的加薪都在1%到5%之间。）你还需要准备好还价的数额或坦白的拒绝。（如果加薪是不大可能的，那么请求老板给予一个时间限期，方便下次再次到访申请。） REITERATE HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE JOB AND WHAT’S AHEAD FOR YOUR ROLE 重申你对工作的热爱以及你的职位的前景

No matter how the conversation goes, it’s important to showcase your investment in the company and remind your boss of the value you bring to the team. Now go forth and ask for what you deserve!

不管会面的前进方向如何，你也要记得展示你对公司的投入，提醒他你对团队的价值。那么现在就走到老板面前，请求老板给予你应得的东西吧

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==

职场英语：点子有很多，怎样才能获得老板的支持？

[摘要]大多数管理者都希望下属提出有趣的点子。他们本人通常也是经验丰富，知识丰富，以及总能很好地鉴别点子的可行度。当他们否定了你的点子的时候，有可能是因为你的点子并没有你想象得那么好。

Most managers are always looking for good ideas. They also often have experience, know more, and are in a good position to evaluate the merits of an idea. When they reject your idea, chances are, your idea may not have been as good as you thought, or maybe you didn’t do a good job pitching it.

大多数管理者都希望下属提出有趣的点子。他们本人通常也是经验丰富，知识丰富，以及总能很好地鉴别点子的可行度。当他们否定了你的点子的时候，有可能是因为你的点子并没有你想象得那么好，或者你没有做好推荐它的工作。

Another reality is that most ideas are never implemented. 还有一个真实情况是，大多数的点子都不会被真正实施起来。

What can you do to ensure your ideas are heard? Managers are as different as people are different, so there’s no one way that will work for all. Knowing your manager’s style will help, so you can adapt your approach. For example, using a social styles model, a “Driver” will want you to get to the point and present the facts. With an “Amiable”, you’ll have a better chance if you’ve built a good relationship first. Analytics need to see the data, and expressives can be swayed with pizazz.

那么你该怎么做才能保证点子得到关注？管理者的区别如同人与人的区别，所以没有万能的方法。但是了解管理者的行事风格会大有好处，这样你就可以调整自己的计划。例如，利用社交风格模型来说，一个“驱使者”就会希望你直击重点、展示证据。而跟“和蔼可亲”的人共事，如果你首先建立良好的人际关系，就会有更大的机会。分析者们需要看到数据，而表达者就可能被活力所动摇。

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For most managers, consider the following tips: 对于大多数管理者来说，您不妨考虑以下的小提示： 1. Develop an inspiring vision of your idea. 1. 构建鼓舞人心的愿景。

Describe it in a way that brings out your enthusiasm, your passion, and commitment.

以一种能够表现个人热情、激情和忠诚的方法来展示你的观点。 Most people have a hard time not listening to someone that’s genuinely fired up about something.

大多数人没有听取别人可能真正点燃某件事情的观点，因此吃了不少苦头。 And if you’re not excited about it, how can you expect someone else to be interested?

那么如果你并不为之激动，你怎么能期待他人感兴趣呢？ 2. Do your homework. 2. 做好功课。

Take the time to think it over, list the pros and cons, and come up with a plan. Check to see if it’s been thought out or tried before, and what were the results. In other words, don’t waste your manager’s time thinking out loud – do your thinking on your own time, then present a well-developed idea.

花时间好好考虑，列出优点与缺点，然后制定相应的计划。检查看看是否已经有人提出过或者尝试过了，以及之前的结果如何。换而言之，不要浪费管理者的时间自言自语，而是花自己的时间去考虑，然后展示一个考虑周全的点子。

3. Test your idea with a few trusted co-workers. 3. 与几位信任的同事测试点子的可行度。

See if it makes sense to them, ask them to be critical, and provide feedback. Listen, check for their understanding to see how well you’re explaining it. While you shouldn’t let resistance squash your enthusiasm, be prepared to accept that if five people tell you it’

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s ugly, it just might be ugly.

检验这个点子是否被同事们赞同，请他们以批判的观点去评价，然后给予反馈。懂得倾听，了解他们的理解程度如何，从而得知自己的表达程度如何。虽然你不该让负面的评论摧毁你的热情，但是也要做好心理准备，如果有5个人都给你差评，那么这个点子就真的可能很糟糕。 4. Benefits. 4. 收益好处。

Here are some ideas are more likely to get your manager’s attention: 以下这些点子可能会更吸引管理者的注意： - A way to reduce expenses ——减少费用的方法

- A way to increase revenue ——提高收益的方法

- A way to get more done with less people (improve efficiency) ——更少人完成更多事情的方法（提高效率的方法）

- A solution to a problem your manager has been trying to solve ——一个解决管理者目前尝试解决的问题的方法

- An idea that will help your department achieve one or more of its goals

——有助部门达成一个或多个目标的点子

- An idea that will help one of your co-workers be more successful (rarely do we come up with these kind of ideas, that is, being an advocate for your peers, and not just yourself or your manager) ——助力某位同事的点子（我们很少能够想到这样的点子，因为这意味着充当同事的拥护者，而不仅仅是你自己或管理者的拥护者） 5. Avoid these kinds of ideas: 5. 避免以下这些点子：

Here are a few ideas that are more likely to lose your manager’s interest in the first three minutes:

以下这些点子，可能一开始就失去了管理者的兴趣：

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- Something obviously self-promoting, or blatant empire building ——明显的自我推广或公然建立个人王国的言论

- A way to make your job easier, but at other people’s expense ——对自己工作有利、却造成他人损失的想法

- Something that has a great potential to embarrass your manager (and you)

——很有可能使得管理者（还有你本人）难堪的想法

- Something that’s going to cost a lot of money in a tight economy ——在拮据的经济状况中还会造成大量经济损失的举措 - An idea built on the assumption that 2+2=5 ——以2+2=5臆想为基础的想法 - Fluff

——毫无价值的想法

6. Respond appropriately. 6. 得体地给予答复。

When you present your idea, answer your manager’s questions patiently and with respect.

在你展示点子的时候，要有耐心以及保持尊重的态度回答管理者的问题。 If you don’t know the answer, admit it, and commit to getting the answer.

如果你不知道如何回答，那么要保证去找到答案。 7. Be flexible. 7. 保持灵活性。

If your manager starts making suggestions, then you’re there! That means he/she is starting to buy in, and taking some shared ownership. Don’t be rigid about the details – give a little, if anything just to get buy-in, and who knows, your manager’s suggestions just might improve your chances for success.

如果你的管理者开始提出个人建议，那么你的机会就到了！那就意味着他/她开始被你说服，并想以此分享自己对这个点子的想法。不要拘泥于细节，

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恶。耐心、真诚可以瓦解分歧。原谅宽恕可以创造奇迹。这些小小的品质能够让社会不陷入嫉妒，憎恶，分歧、不忠、不敬的境地。

We cannot buy these traits from any store or market. Instead it is nature’s gift. We can earn these from prayers and from changing our selves because these are the traits that everyone possess, just need to use them.

这些品质我们买不来换不到。这些是与生俱来的。我们可以从祈祷以及改变自我中习得，原本就属于我们，只是我们不曾使用而已的属性。不要把自己和他人做比较，每个人都有自己的价值。发掘属于自己的人生真谛，不要带有（功利）目的生活，找到自己的（热爱）并将它惠及他人。 Thank you. 感谢

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