威斯敏斯特教堂（西敏寺）墓碑上的话（WestMinster Abbey，When I was young and free...，修身齐家治国平天下）

（原文载于教堂墓地的一块墓碑上，但主人不详）

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.

大意如下：

 

当我年轻自由意气风发的时候，梦想改变世界。后来长大变得聪明后才发现世界很难改变，于是我把目光拉近决定只是改变我的国家，然而依然很难。当我垂暮之年，绝望中尝试只改变我的家庭，可是他们都不接受。

现在我行将就木，突然意识到：倘若当初我是只改变我自己，并作为榜样影响我的家庭；进而在他们的激发和鼓励下或许可以改变我的国家，甚至，最终改变世界。

 

这段话很适合踌躇满志却频繁跳槽的求职者。由于在学生时代整体在教育人们要树立远大目标，因此毕业后几乎整个处在从理想到现实的降落状态。

另外当你感慨公司太大难以说服领导的时候，也应该牢记这句话。要说服部门领导，自身的业绩和绩效必须很好；而要改变公司，则应该先将自己的部门经营妥当；而要改变世界，则需要经营或运行一家成功的公司。

这倒不是说只有做好前半部分才能保证自己的观点是对的，而是说只有做好前半部分，才有能力说服别人接受自己的观点。

 

另：听说此段文字在《心灵鸡汤》中有深入探讨。

 

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