When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As i grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change,so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.
中文:在威斯敏斯特教堂地下室英國聖公會主教的墓碑上寫著這樣的壹段話:當我年輕自由的時候,我的想象力沒有任何局限,我夢想改變這個世界.當我漸漸成熟明智的時候,我發現這個世界是不可能改變的,於是我將眼光放得短淺了壹些,那就只改變我的國家吧.
但是我的國家似乎也是不能改變的.
當我到了遲暮之年,抱著最後壹絲努力的希望,我決定只改變我的家庭,我親近的人,但是,唉!他們根本不接受改變.
現在在我臨終之時,我才突然意識到:如果起初我只改變自己,接著我就可以依此改變我的家人.
在他們的激發和鼓勵下,我可能就能改善我的國家,接下來,誰又知道呢,也許我連整個世界都可以改變.