The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in the Crypts of Westminister Abbey:
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.
編記:在懵懂的童年時期,我們胸懷夢想,相信自己的力量可以改變世界。后來,我們漸漸長大成熟,經歷了生活的艱辛,明白了世無定事,感到了自己的渺小,我們的夢想也從“改變世界”降格成“改變家庭”,最終定位成“改變自己”。但我們實在不該低估自己,因為在我們改變自己的同時也潛移默化地影響著家庭,而作為世界的一分子,從某個角度來講,我們也正改變著世界。