宋美齡/Mayling Soong
If the past has taught us anything, it is that every cause brings effect—every action has a consequence. This thought, in my opinion, is the moral foundation of the universe; it applies equally in this world and the next.
We Chinese have a saying:"If a man plants melons, he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans." And this is true of every man's life: good begets good, and evil leads to evil.
True enough, the sun shines on the saint and sinner alike, and too often it seems that the wicked wax and prosper. But we can say with certitude that with the individual as with the nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an illusion, for, unceasingly, life keeps books on us all.
In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it be put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurture for growth and development.
Thus also, day by day, we write our own destiny, for inexorably we become what we do. This, I believe, is the supreme logic and the law of life.
如果說曾經的歲月教會了我們什麽，那就是每件事都會帶來影響——每個舉動都有後果。依我看來，這種想法是宇宙的道德基礎，它適用於這個世界和未來世界。
中國有句俗語：“種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆。”這句話忠實於每個人的生活：善有善報，惡有惡報。
確實如此，陽光照耀著聖人，也同樣恩澤惡人，然而常常似乎是惡人大行其道。但是我們可以肯定地說，對於一個人或者一個民族而言，猖獗的惡行隻是一種假象。因為，生活會不斷地將我們的德行記錄在案。
我們最終都是自己行為累積的結果。品質不能偽造，也不能由著性子像件衣服那樣脫穿，它就像木材的紋理，已在樹的中心根深蒂固。品質需要時間和養料的澆灌得以成長和發展。
因此，一天又一天，我們寫下自己的定數，因為我們殘酷地規劃著自己。我相信，這是至高的邏輯學，也是生活的法則。
consequence[?k?nsikw?ns]n.結果；後果
It rained yesterday and in consequence the match was canceled.
昨天下雨了，結果比賽被取消。
certitude[?s?:titju:d]n.確實；確信
Political conflict lacks mathematical or material certitude.
政治鬥爭缺乏數學或推理內容方麵的確定性。
inexorable[in?eks?r?bl]adj.不為所動的；堅決不變的
He bowed to inexorable facts.
他在冷酷的事實麵前低了頭。
supreme[sju:?pri:m]adj.最高的
The general was girded with the supreme power.
將軍被授予最高權力。
如果說曾經的歲月教會了我們什麽，那就是每件事都會帶來影響——每個舉動都有後果。
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依我看來，這種想法是宇宙的道德基礎，它適用於這個世界和未來世界。
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因此，一天又一天，我們寫下自己的定數，因為我們殘酷地規劃著自己。我相信，這是至高的邏輯學，也是生活的法則。
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In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions.
the sum total of：……的總和
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Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it be put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment.
cast off：脫下；解開；擺脫；拋棄
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