A Marve

 　　Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again … And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France.

　　When will we also teach them what they are?

　　We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel¹. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move.

　　You may become a Shakespeare², a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity³ for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?

　　You must work — we must all work — to make the world worth of its children.

　　---Pablo Casals

　　中文翻译：

　　我们活着的每一秒都是独一无二的

　　我们活着的每一秒都是世界上独一无二、不可重现的。我们应该教给我们的孩子些什么呢？2+2=4，法国的首都是巴黎？

　　我们应该对他们每一个说：你知道自己是什么吗？——你是一个奇迹。你是独一无二的。过往的所有日子里，从来没有出现过像你一样的孩子。你的腿，你的手，你灵巧的手指，你的一举一动都是与众不同的。

　　你可以成为莎士比亚，米开朗琪罗，或者是贝多芬。你有成就一切的能力。是的，你是一个奇迹。而当你长大之后，你会忍心去伤害另一个如你一般的奇迹么？

　　我们必须同心协力，让这个世界成为值得孩子们生活的乐土。

1 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

2 Shakespeare   

n.莎士比亚(16世纪英国剧作家、诗人)

参考例句：

• Shakespeare is a giant among writers.莎士比亚是作家中的巨擘.
• He read Shakespeare to help his English.他阅读莎士比亚的作品以提高自己的英语水平。

3 capacity   

n.能力，力量，接受力；容量，能量，容积

参考例句：

• She is employed by the president in an advisory capacity.她被总裁聘为顾问。
• This carriage has a seating capacity of 120 people.这节车厢定员120人。