這一篇文章是大約廿七年前登在宇宙光上的，來自美國一間古老教會。原作者用的英文很古，不易看明白。現有很多英文網站都登錄此文，可以用google查到，但中文網站看不到此文。現今社會價值觀混亂，此文尤其具有啟示意義，故又找出來與大家分享。

　　******　處　世　箴　言　******

　　在喧譁和急迫中，依然舒泰地走下去，要記住：沉默中有平安。儘可能地善待別人，但不必一味應從。平靜清晰地訴說真理，也聆聽旁人的話，即使他的話乏味、無知，因每個人心中都有他自己的一段衷曲。避免和高聲談話，喜歡攻訐別人的人相處，因為他們會擾亂你的精神。

　　常和別人相比，你會變得患得患失，因這世上總有人比你偉大，也總有人不如你。對自己的成就和計畫要抱欣賞的態度。自己的職業，即使很卑微，也要保持興趣；時光流轉，機運在變，唯有你手中的工作才是你可以把握的。

　　處理業務要小心，因為這世上滿是陰謀詭計。但不要被這些現象蒙蔽了你的眼睛；世上同時仍有許多有品德的人，他們為崇高的理想奮鬥著，所以到處都可看到許多人為理想勇敢地活下去。保持你的本色，不要矯飾情感，也不要嘲諷旁人的愛心，因為在枯燥、毫無情趣的生活之中，只有愛心萬古長青！樂於接受歲月帶來的忠告，放棄年輕時的種種。

　　培養你的精神力量，使你能抵擋得住突如其來的災禍。但不要讓灰色的想像苦惱你，因為許多恐懼是由於疲累和孤獨而來的。一面適當地約束自己，一面善待自己。跟青草、星星一樣，你也是宇宙的孩子，你有在這裡生存的權利。不管你是否看清了宇宙的面貌，宇宙卻已把它自己的面貌展露在你面前。

　　不管你對神的看法如何，和神好好地相處。縱然你很勞苦，你有許多熱望，但在這紛擾的生活中，仍要保持你性靈的寧靜。縱然人生有虛偽、勞苦、夢想破滅的苦痛，但這仍不失為一個美麗的世界。要歡愉，努力追尋快樂。



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****** D E S I D E R A T A ******

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


("The poems of Max Ehrmann, (1927)" published in 1948 by the Bruce Humphries
Publishing Company, of Boston)