Teacher’s advice
You are no different than anybody else. You have to do the best with what God gave you.---Perseverance.
☆ perseverance [.pə:si'viərəns] n. 坚持, 毅力
He is slow to learn, but shows great perseverance.
他学得慢，但是他表现出不屈不挠的毅力。
☆ perseverant [͵pə:si'viərənt] adj. 能坚持的
In general positive people are perseverant and they don't give up easily.
一般说来，积极之人意志坚强，不轻言放弃。
☆ persevere [͵pə:si'viə] v. 坚持
If we should ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere.
不要忘记，在人生的道路上，要想做成什么事，我们必须持之以恒。
A proverb:
The important thing is perseverance. 贵在坚持。
Of all the advantageous characteristics to have, we think that perseverance plays the greatest role in one's success. Other characteristics, such as intelligence, confidence, and honesty, are no doubt important, but they do not necessarily guarantee success. Perseverance offers no guarantees either, but we believe that this trait offers one more opportunity to succeed.
Behind every great achievement in anyone's life lies perseverance. We see this in every human's endeavor. Outstanding sportsmen spend all their time practicing. Their endurance is beyond imagination. The same is true of businessmen who build up fortunes. What we usually see are their achievements, but once we go behind the scenes we will find that they have put in a lot of continual steady efforts. We all have read of great musicians, writers and inventors who have created or discovered breakthroughs in human achievement. Invariably they have said that they owe all their success to perseverance.
There are several reasons why perseverance often leads to success. First of all, a man who has perseverance does not give up after a failure. He tries again and therefore, can learn from his mistakes. Second, a persistent person is usually a hard worker, and hard work is an important ingredient in success. Last, with perseverance comes a certain amount of confidence-the confidence that one will eventually succeed.
For all of these reasons, we believe that perseverance is the most important characteristic to have. It is easily combined with other traits such as diligence and confidence to increase the chances of success. However, without perseverance, one's success may be more dependent on luck than anything else.
“Try and try until you succeed.”This saying shows the importance of perseverance. Many people have failed in their work or studies, precisely because they had no perseverance. So, if we want to succeed in life, we must be perseverant. Nothing but perseverance can lead a man to the way of success. In other words, a persevering man never does his work without succeeding in it.
To Youth
The Road to Success
成功之道
It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius for the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.
年轻人创业之初，应该从最底层干起，这是好事。匹兹堡有很多商业巨头，在他们创业之初，有肩负过“重任”：他们于扫帚相伴，以打扫办公室的方式度过了他们商业生涯中最初的时光。我注意到我们现在办公室里都有工友，于是年轻人就不幸错过了商业教育中这个有益的环节。如果碰巧哪天上午，专职扫地的工友没有来，某个具有未来合伙人气质的年轻人会毫不犹豫地试着拿起扫帚。在必要时新来的员工扫扫地也无妨，不会因此而有什么损失。我自己就曾经扫过地。
Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is“aim high”. I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My place is at the top.” Be king in your dreams.
假如你已经被录用，并且有了一个良好的开端，我对你的建议是：要志存高远。一个年轻人，如果不把自己想象成一家大公司未来的老板或是合伙人，那我会对他不屑一顾。不论职位有多高，你的内心都不要满足于做一个总管、领班或者总经理。要对自己说：我要迈向顶尖！要做就做你梦想中的国王！
And here is the prime condition of success, the great secret: concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it.
成功的首要条件和最大秘诀就是：把你的精力、思想和资本全都集中在你正从事的事业上。一旦开始从事某种职业，就有下定决心在那一领域闯出一片天地来；做这一行的领导人物，采纳每一点改进之处，采用最优良的设备，对专业知识熟谙于心。
The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” is all wrong. I tell you to“put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” Look round you and take notice, men who do that not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. One fault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.
一些公司的失败就在于他们分散了资金，因为这就意味着分散了他们的精力。他们向这方面投资，又向那方面投资；在这里投资，在那里投资，到处都投资。“不要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里”的说法大错特错。我要对你说：“把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里，然后小心地看好那个篮子。”看看你周围，你会注意到：这么做的人其实很少失败。看管和携带一个篮子并不太难。人们总是试图提很多篮子，所以才打破这个国家的大部分鸡蛋。提三个篮子的人，必须把一个顶在头上，而这个篮子很可能倒下来，把他自己绊倒。美国商人的一个缺点就是不够专注。
To summarize what I have said: aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, foras Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.”
把我的话归纳一下：要志存高远；不要出入酒吧；要滴酒不沾，或者喝也只在用餐时喝少许；不要做投机买卖；不要寅吃卯粮；要把公司的利益当作自己的利益；取消订货的目的永远是为了挽救货主；要专注；把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里，然后小心地看好它；要量入为出；最后，要有耐心，正如爱默生所言，“谁都无法阻止你最终成功，除非你自己承认失败。”
Wordsand Expressions：
1) subordinate[səˈbɔːdɪnɪt]adj. 从属的，下级的
In many societieswomen are subordinate to men.
在许多社会中，妇女都从属于男人。
2) Pittsburgh['pitsbə:ɡ] n. 匹兹堡（美国一座城市）
3) threshold['θreʃəʊld]n. 开始，开端
She felt as thoughshe was on the threshold of a new life.
她觉得好像就要开始新生活了。
4) janitor['dʒænɪtə]n.大楼管理员，清洁工
Ed Roberts had beena school janitor for a long time.
埃德•罗伯茨做学校的看门人已很久了。
5) janitress['dʒænitris]n. 女门警；女性的守卫
6) salutary['sæljʊtərɪ]adj. 有益的
The accident was asalutary reminder of the dangers of climbing.
这次事故提醒人们注意登山的种种危险，倒也不无益处。
7) branch[brɑːntʃ] n. 树枝，分枝；分部；支流
The bank hasbranches all over the country.
那家银行在全国各地设有分行。
8) genius['dʒiːnɪəs]n. 天才，天赋；精神
He's a genius atorganizing people.
他是人员组织方面的天才。
9) assumingthat假定
Assuming that thenecessary technology eventually arrives, the big question is: What will lifelook like when we live to over 100?
假设长寿技术最终被人类所掌握，一个重要的问题是：当我们活到100多岁时，生活会变成什么模样？
10) give a fig for对……毫不在乎；认为......毫无价值
She wouldn't givea fig for her neighbors' gossip.
对邻居们的闲言碎语她丝毫不放在心上。
11) content[kən'tent]adj. 满意的
She sat quietly,content to watch him working.
她安静地坐着，心满意足地看他干活。
12) foreman['fɔːmən]n. 领班；陪审团主席
He still visitedthe dairy daily, but left most of the business details to his manager andforeman.
他仍然每天去牛奶公司，但将多数生意上的细节留给了经理和工头。
13) extensive[ɪk'stensɪv]adj. 广泛的；大量的；广阔的
The fire causedextensive damage.
火灾造成了巨大的损失。
14) prime[praɪm]adj. 主要的；最好的；基本的
The care of theenvironment is of prime importance.
保护环境是最重要的。
15) capital['kæpɪtəl]adj.重要的；大写的n. 首都，省会；资金；大写字母；资本家
He's a capitalfellow.
他是个出色的小伙子。
The government iseager to attract foreign capital.
政府急切希望吸引外国资金。
16) exclusively[ɪk'skluːsɪvlɪ]adv. 唯一地；专有地；排外地
This offer isavailable exclusively to people who call now.
只有现在打来电话的人才能享有这个优惠。
17) engage[ɪn'geɪdʒ]v. 从事； (使)参加；使订婚；预定
He is currentlyengaged as a consultant.
他现在受雇为顾问。
18) resolve[rɪ'zɒlv]vt. 决定；决心要做；解决
Both sides met inorder to try to resolve their differences.
双方会晤以努力解决分歧。
19) adopt[ə'dɒpt]v. 采取；接受；收养；正式通过
He adopted an airof indifference.
他摆出一副满不在乎的样子。
20) scatter['skætə]v. (使)散射；(使)散开，(使)分散
They scattered hisashes at sea.
他们把他的骨灰撒向大海。
21) be apt to倾向于
Babies are apt toput objects into their mouths.
婴儿爱把东西往嘴里塞。
22) tumble['tʌmbəl] v. 翻倒，摔倒
He slipped andtumbled down the stairs.
他脚一滑滚下了楼梯。
23) trip up绊倒，使失败
I have never knownhim to trip up even in details.
即使在琐事上我都不曾看到他犯错。
24) speculate['spekjʊleɪt] v. 投机
He likes tospeculate on the stock market.
他喜欢炒股。
25) indorse[ɪn'dɔːs] v.（支票等的）背书；承认；赞成
To sum up, do notdrink, do not smoke, do not indorse, do not speculate.
总之，不要喝酒，不要抽烟，不要沉迷，不要投机；
26) surplus['sɜːpləs]adj. 剩余的；过剩的
Surplus grain isbeing sold for export.
过剩的谷物正销往国外。
27) cash fund现金基金
See if we have anymoney in the petty cash fund, you can take it directly from there.
看看，如果我们的零用钱基金里有钱，你就可以直接从那里面拿了。
28) expenditure[ɪk'spendɪtʃə] n.花费，支出
The budgetprovided for a total expenditure of ￡27billion.
预算案规定支出总额为270亿英镑。
29) revenue['revənjuː]n. 税收收入；财政收入；收益
The company'sannual revenues rose by 30%.
公司的年收入增加了30%。
30) ultimate[ˈʌltəmɪt]adj. 最终的；极限的；根本的
We will acceptultimate responsibility for whatever happens.
无论出什么事情，我们愿承担全部责任。
★扩展
更多详情解析请参见推荐论文（解读《阿甘正传》“傻人有傻福”）
