As I try to outline my thoughts, the subject becomes more and more difficult. I have many basic beliefs but as I try to pick and choose it seems to me that they all can be summarized in the word "character." Obviously, what you believe is a fundamental thing. There can be no fanfare, no embellishments. It must be honest.
我努力清算思路時，主題變得越來越難講述。我有諸多信奉，但試圖篩選時，仿佛都可用“人格”一詞概括。顯然，一個人的信奉是基本，無需夸耀，無需修飾，是什么就是什么。
An architect once told me that the most difficult structure to design was a simple monumental shaft. The proportions must perfect to be pleasing. The hardest thing to build is a plain straight wall. The dimensions must be absolute.
一位修建師告知我，最難設計的修筑是一尊簡略的紀念柱，比例必須白璧無瑕，賞心悅目;最難砌的是一堵儉樸筆直的墻，尺寸必需一絲不差。
In either case there is no ornamentation to hide irregularities, no moldings to cover hidden defects and no supports to strengthen concealed weaknesses.
在這兩種情況下，都無奈用潤飾掩飾不平整，以造型遮蔽隱藏的缺點，以支撐物來加固不牢的基礎。
I am using this example to illustrate human character, which to me is the most important single power in the world today. The young people of toady are in reality foundations of structures yet to be built.
我以此例來闡明人格，在我看來它是當今世界上最主要的獨一的力氣。今天的年青人實際上是世界待建結構的根基。
It is obvious that the design of these human structures is the combined efforts of many human architects. Boys and girls are influenced first by their parents, then by their friends and finally by business associates. During this period of construction, the human character is revised and changed until at maturity a fairly well-fixed form of character is found.
不言而喻，設計這些人格構造需要眾多人類建造師的獨特盡力。孩子們的成長，先后要受到父母、友人跟事業搭檔的影響。在這一成長進程中，人格始終在轉變，直到在成熟期定型。
There are few human straight walls and fewer human monumental shafts. Such men and women are personalities of great beauty and are so rare that history records their being and holds them up as examples for the future.
人類中堪稱墻個別筆挺矗立的人少有，像留念柱一樣聳立的人更少，這樣的人是美的化身，世所常見，歷史記載他們的存在，奉之為后代的榜樣。
The Biblical characters are for me the closest examples of human perfection. They were unselfish, steadfast in their faith and unstinting in their help to others.
《圣經》中的人物在我心中是最瀕臨完人的典范，他們忘我，信奉動搖，輔助別人，盡力而為。
Today in this world of turmoil and trouble we could use more of such people, but they do not just happen along. I believe that they are the result of concentrated effort on the part of parents and associates, and the more we build with character the better the world will become.
在今天這個凌亂不安的世界，我們能夠多用這樣的人，但他們并非從天而降。我相信他們是父母、錯誤傾力鑄造的結果。我們越器重人格的建構，世界會越美妙。
This may sound like a dreamer's hope and a theoretical goal which can never be reached. I do not think so.
這聽起來像癡人說夢，是永遠無法實現的實踐目的，我卻不這么想。
The world as a whole has progressed tremendously material-wise, and we are a fortunate nation in that we are leading the procession. It is, I believe, natural that nations not so fortunate should look upon us with envy. We would do the same if the positions were reserved, so we should not judge too harshly the efforts of others to equal our standard of living. In either case, the fortunate or the unfortunate character in the individual and collectively in a nation stands out.
全世界在物資出產上已獲得宏大提高，美利堅幸運地成為領導這一過程的國度。我信任，不這樣好福氣的國家可能會嫉妒我們，如果換個地位，我們也會如斯，因而對別人奮力向我們的生涯尺度看齊，我們不應該輕率地評判。無論是哪種情況，個人或民族的榮幸或可憐的品德都會凸顯出來。
I agree that it is easier to build character under ideal conditions but cannot forget that character is also required to give as well as receive.
我贊成在幻想前提下更輕易塑造人格的說法，但我以為不能忘卻人格的塑造不僅需要外界條件的陶冶，也需要本身的努力。
It should be to the benefit of humanity if all individuals - and this includes myself - did a renovation or remodeling job on our own character. It may merely be a case of removing rough edges or tossing away molding to expose irregularities, in some cases to remove a prop and stand on one's own feet.
假如所有人——也包含我自己——都更新或重鑄自己的人格，這應當是有利于人類的。這興許僅僅是抹去毛糙的邊沿或拋棄固有的模式，從而露出出不平坦，有時則須要拿走支持物，完整靠本人站破。
In any event if some of us set example, others will follow and the result should be good. This I believe.
不管何種情形，只有咱們有人建立模范，其余人就會效仿，成果就應該是好的。對此我堅信不疑。
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