每日英语：A Straight Wall Is Hard to Build (3)
A Straight Wall Is Hard to Build (3)如果所有人——也包括我自己——都更新或重铸自己的人格，这应该是有益于人类的。这也许仅仅是抹去粗糙的边缘或丢弃固有的模式，从而显露出不平整，有时则需要拿走支撑物，完全靠自己站立。不论何种情况，只要我们有人树立榜样，其他人就会效仿，结果就应该是好的。对此我深信不疑。
A Straight Wall Is Hard to Build
by Lou R. Crandall
人格的力量
卢.R.克兰德尔
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. 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.
全世界在物质生产上已取得巨大进步，美利坚荣幸地成为引导这一进程的国家。我相信，没有这样好运气的国家可能会嫉妒我们，如果换个位置，我们也会如此，因此对于别人奋力向我们的生活标准看齐，我们不应该草率地评判。无论是哪种情况，个人或民族的幸运或不幸的品格都会凸显出来。我赞同在理想条件下更容易塑造人格的说法，但我认为不能忘记人格的塑造不仅需要外界条件的熏陶，也需要自身的努力。
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. In any event if some of us set example, others will follow and the result should be good. This I believe.
如果所有人——也包括我自己——都更新或重铸自己的人格，这应该是有益于人类的。这也许仅仅是抹去粗糙的边缘或丢弃固有的模式，从而显露出不平整，有时则需要拿走支撑物，完全靠自己站立。
不论何种情况，只要我们有人树立榜样，其他人就会效仿，结果就应该是好的。对此我深信不疑。
附注：
卢·R·克兰德尔：出生于俄亥俄州的西尔韦尼亚，任乔治·A·富勒工程公司总裁，毕业于密歇根大学，获土木工程学士学位。克兰德尔先生在一战期间是一名“内陆水手”，在驻法海军中担任海滩执勤工作。
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