July 24, 2015

A Treasury of English Famous Essays

英美散文菁華

陳榮吉 編譯

8.   Life Is What We Make It 人生自創論

       Orison Sweet Mardon, 1906, American lawyer

       Are you dissatisfied with today’s success? It is the harvest from yesterday’s sowing. Do you dream of a golden morrow? You will reap what you are sowing today. We get out of life just what we put into it.

       Nature takes on our moods: she laughs with those who laugh and weeps with those who weep. If we rejoice and are glad the very birds sing more sweetly, the woods and streams murmur our song. But if we are sad and sorrowful a sudden gloom falls upon Nature’s face; the sun shines, but not in our hearts, the birds sing, but not to us.

       The future will be just what we make it. Our purpose will give it its character. One’s resolution is one’s prophecy. Leave all your discouraging pessimism behind. Do not prophesy evil, but good. Men of hope come to the front.