塞繆爾·斯邁爾斯/Samuel Smiles
"Heaven helps those who help themselves" is a well-tried maxim, embodying in a small compass the results of vast human experience. The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the true source of national vigour and strength. Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates.
Even the best institutions can give a man no active help. Perhaps the most they can do is, to leave him free to develop himself and improve his individual condition. But in all times men have been prone to believe that their happiness and well-being were to be secured by means of institutions rather than by their own conduct.
All nations have been made what they are by the thinking and the working of many generations of men. Patient and persevering labourers in all ranks and conditions of life, cultivators of the soil and explorers of the mine, inventors and discoverers, manufacturers, mechanics and artisans, poets, philosophers, and politicians, all have contributed towards the grand result, one generation building upon another's labors, and carrying them forward to still higher stages.
The spirit of self-help, as exhibited in the energetic action of individuals. Rising above the heads of the mass, there were always to be found a series of individuals distinguished beyond others, who commanded the public homage. But our progress has also been owing to multitudes of smaller and less known men.
Daily experience shows that it is energetic individualism which produces the most powerful effects upon the life and action of others, and really constitutes the best practical education. Schools, academies, and colleges, give but the merest beginnings of culture in comparison with it. Far more influential is the life-education daily given in our homes, in the streets, behind counters, in workshops, at the loom and the plough, in manufactories, and in the busy haunts of men.
This is that finishing instruction as members of society, which Schiller designated "the education of the human race", consisting in action, conduct, self-culture, self-control,—all that tends to discipline a man truly, and fit him for the proper performance of the duties and business of life.
In fine, human character is moulded by a thousand subtle influences; by example and precept; by life and literature; by friends and neighbors; by the world we live in as well as by the spirits of our forefathers, whose legacy of good words and deeds we inherit. But great, unquestionably, though these influences are acknowledged to be, it is nevertheless equally clear that men must necessarily be the active agents of their own well-being and well-doing; and that, however much the wise and the good may owe to others, they themselves must in the very nature of things be their own best helpers.
“天助自助者”是一句通過大量人類經驗總結出的至理名言。自助的精神不僅是個人成長之本，也是立國之本，它帶給一個國家活力與實力。來自外界的幫助常常是事半功倍，但是長期堅持自我援助往往會使人精神振奮。
即使是最健全的社會製度也不能給人以積極的幫助。或許人們隻能盡自己的全力來促使自己成長，改善自己的生活條件。但是一直以來，人們更傾向於相信那些健全的社會製度比他們自己更能帶給他們幸福和安康。
所有國家的建立都是依靠幾代人的智慧與勞作。各個階層的吃苦耐勞、堅持不懈的勞動人民——農民、探險家、發明家、商人、機械工與技工，還有詩人、哲學家和政治家，這些人共同努力，創造出了巨大的成就。後代人的成就是建立在前幾代人的成果之上，並繼續向未來更高的目標努力。
自助的精神，同樣在個人精力充沛的行為上展現出來。一個國家的強盛是由一些不同於他人，並受到大眾尊敬的先鋒人士建立起來的。但是，我們的進步也不乏一些不為人知的小人物的努力。
每天的經曆表明：心態積極的人可以影響生活和他人的行為，也同樣具備極高的個人素質。各種學校的教育與其相比，都隻是知識的基礎。對我們影響最大的是社會生活——在家裏、街上、櫃台前、車間、織機前，田間、工廠裏和人群中，我們都可以學到很多。
這樣，我們就完成了一個社會成員的任務，正如席勒所說的“真正的人類教育”，勇於行動、敢於創新、具有自學及自製能力——一個人隻有做到了這些，他才會更好地履行自己的職責，更好地發展事業。
總之，人類的品質是受外界許多細微的改變所影響的——通過實例與規則、生活和書籍、朋友和鄰居以及我們居住的社會環境和我們傳承下來的祖先的精神和優秀品質。但是毫無疑問，盡管擁有了這些影響，人們還是要依靠自己來達到個人的安康與幸福。無論他人是多麽聰明，品格多麽優良，他們還是要依靠與生俱來的最好幫助者——自助。
If you don't learn to think when you are young, you may never learn.
—Thomas Edison
如果你年輕時就沒有學會思考，那麽就永遠學不會思考。
——托馬斯·愛迪生
maxim[?m?ksim]n.格言；箴言
"Waste not, want not" is her favourite maxim.
“不浪費則不匱乏”是她最喜愛的格言。
constitute[?k?nstitju:t]v.構成；組成；任命
Time is life, constitute a material person.
時間是構成一個人生命的素材。
invigorate[in?vig?reit]v.使精力充沛；使活躍；激勵
Chinese car stimulated policy also invigorate car manufacturer taxi to enrage.
中國的汽車刺激政策也鼓舞了汽車廠商的士氣。
multitude[?m?ltitju:d]n.多數；群眾
A multitude of people gathered at the gate of the exhibition hall.
大群人聚集在展覽大廳的門口。
“天助自助者”是一句通過大量人類經驗總結出的至理名言。
__________________________________________
來自外界的幫助常常是事半功倍，但是長期堅持自我援助往往會使人精神振奮。
__________________________________________
無論他人是多麽聰明，品格多麽優良，他們還是要依靠與生俱來的最好幫助者——自助。
__________________________________________
But in all times men have been prone to believe that...
be prone to：有……的傾向；易於
__________________________________________
Rising above the heads of the mass, there were always to be found a series of individuals distinguished beyond others, who commanded the public homage.
a series of：一係列的……
__________________________________________