佚名/Anonymous
Born in 1758，Horatio Nelson, the son of a pastor, was a small, frail child who loved sailing. As a young teenager he joined the British navy and, while journeying to the East Indies, caught a fever that seriously damaged his health. But he never allowed this to hold him back. At age 18 he was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and by the year 1802 was made commander-in-chief of the British feet.
Two years later, at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. This was the greatest naval victory in British history and left the British in control of the seas for the rest of the 1800's. Unfortunately, Nelson was mortally wounded during Trafalgar but lived long enough to know that his feet had won the battle. His last words were,“Thank God I have done my duty.”
Nelson was a man of fearless courage and devotion. He believed in his country, in his cause.and in himself. He proved this with hiswords and more so with his life. He once said,“I am of the opinion that the boldest measures are the safest.”Nelson was a man greatly admired by others who said about him,“His frail body housed a great spirit.”
One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have interest.
First, beliefs are remarkably powerful in that they are to our lives what a rudder is to a ship. That is, they control the direction and destiny of our lives. While we don't always live the life we profess, we always live the life we believe. Simply put, if I believe I am a failure, I will set myself up to fail. If I believe I am a successful person, I will succeed, and so on.
A well-known author and psychologist says,“An individual's self-concept（what he believes about himself）is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior：the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change, the choice of friends, mates and careers. It's no exaggeration to say that a strong positive self-image（self-belief）is the best possible preparation for success in life.”
Self-belief is not an egotistic“I'm the greatest”attitude. This is self-deception and a cover for deep insecurity. Believing in yourself is knowing and accepting your weaknesses as well as your strengths and believing with God's help that you can overcome your weaknesses and develop and use your strengths.
One very successful woman, a well-known entertainer, didn't have much going for her. She would never have won a beauty contest and at age 38 was living on welfare. After reading Claude Briston's The Magic of Believing and beginning to believe in herself, her life took a dramatic turn. One gift she had was the ability to make people laugh. Once she believed this, she didn't allow what she didn't have tostop her using what she did have.
Jimmie Durante was another entertainer who wouldn't have made a fortune with his looks. But he capitalized on his weakness and turned it into one of his greatest strengths. He didn't focus on his physical attributes—what he didn't have—but on his strengths—what he did have—and put these to good use because he believed he could.
1758年，霍雷肖·納爾遜出生於一個牧師家庭，身材瘦小的他很喜歡航海，十幾歲時加入英國海軍。在去往東印度群島的途中，高燒嚴重損害了納爾遜的身體，但是他從不允許這點影響或阻止他前進。18歲的納爾遜被任命為皇家海軍的海軍上尉，1802年，晉升為海軍艦隊總司令。
在兩年後的特拉法加大海戰中，納爾遜擊敗了法國和西班牙的聯合艦隊。這是英國海軍曆史上最大的一次勝利，英國因此得到了戰後19世紀的海域控製權。不幸的是，納爾遜在特拉法加大海戰中身負重傷，可是一直堅持到自己的艦隊大獲全勝才壯烈犧牲。他最後說道：“感謝上帝，我完成了自己的使命。”
納爾遜是一個勇敢、無畏犧牲的人。他信仰自己的國家，信仰自己的理想，信仰自己。納爾遜用自己的語言，更在自己的生活中證實了這一點。他曾經說過：“我相信，最大膽的做法也是最安全的。”納爾遜是一位受人敬重的偉人，人們這樣評價他：“在他瘦弱的身體裏，蘊藏著一種偉大的精神。”
一個有信仰的人，可抵99個隻有興趣的人。
首先，信仰的強大力量在我們生活中的作用，就像船舵對船隻的作用。也就是說，信仰掌控著我們生活的方向和命運。我們通常並不是按照我們所期望的那樣生活，卻是按照我們堅信的那樣生活。舉個例子，如果我相信自己是一個失敗者，那我注定要失敗。如果我相信自己是一個成功者，我就會成功。
一位著名的作家、心理學家說：“一個人的自我定義（他對自己的信心）是他人格的核心。它影響著人類行為的每個方麵：學習的能力，成長與改變的能力，對朋友、伴侶和事業的選擇等。毫不誇張地說，一個堅定的正麵自我形象（自我信念）是生活中最好的成功準備。”
自信，並不是一種狂妄地認為“我最偉大”的態度。自大的態度是一種自欺行為，是對內心深處不安的掩飾。相信你自己，就是要像對你的優點一樣，了解並且接受你的弱點，相信你能在上帝的幫助下克服弱點，發展並好好利用自己的優點。
一位著名的女演員，曾被認為沒有多大潛力。在選美比賽中，她從來沒贏過一次，到38歲的時候還靠社會福利生活。在讀了克洛德·布萊斯頓的《信心的魔力》一書之後，她開始對自己有信心，生活發生了翻天覆地的變化。她所具備的天賦便是擁有引人發笑的能力。她曾經堅信，她不允許自己的不足阻礙她利用自己所具有的天賦。
傑米·杜蘭特是另外一個很好的例子。他是一個沒有利用相貌而成功的演員，他利用自己的不足，將其轉變成自己最大的優點。傑米·杜蘭特並不在意自己的身體特征——他不具備的英俊相貌，而是將精力集中在自己的優勢上——他所擁有的天賦，並將這些優點好好加以利用，因為他相信自己能做到。
W詞匯筆記
lieutenant[lef'ten?nt]n.陸軍中尉；海軍上尉；助理人員
例 He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.
他說動那個副官，遞了一張簡短的便條進去。
exaggeration[iɡ,z?d??'rei??n]n.誇張；誇大之詞
例 That may sound like an exaggeration.
這聽起來似乎有些誇大其詞。
egotistic[,i:ɡ?'tistik]adj.自我本位的；自負的；自高自大的
例 As he began to earn more money, his personality became more egotistic.
他的錢越賺越多時，他的個性也變得越來越自負。
entertainer[,ent?'tein?]n.演藝人員；表演者
例 She is a natural entertainer.
她是個天生的表演者。
S小試身手
首先，信仰的強大力量在我們生活中的作用，就像船舵對船隻的作用。
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自信，並不是一種狂妄地認為“我最偉大”的態度。
譯________________________________________
相信你自己，就是要像你的優點一樣，了解並且接受你的弱點。
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P短語家族
As a young teenager he joined the British navy and, while journeying to the East Indies, caught a fever that seriously damaged his health.
catch a fever：發燒
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One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have interest.
be equal to：勝任；合適；相等
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