英语名篇诵读 自制（在线收听）

Self-control

自制

Self-control is essential to happiness and usefulness. It is the master of all the virtues, and has

its root in self-respect. Let a man yield to his impulses and passions, and from that moment he

gives up his moral freedom.

It is the self-discipline of a man that enables him to pursue success with superior diligence

and sobriety . Many of the great characters in history illustrate this trait. In ordinary life the

application is the same. He who would lead must first command himself. The time of test is when

everybody is excited or angry, then the well-balanced mind comes to the front.

There is a very special demand for the cultivation of this trait at present. The young men who

rush into business with no good education or drill will do poor and feverish work. Endurance is

a much better test of character than act of heroism.

A fair amount of self-examination is good. Self-knowledge is a preface to self-control. Too

much self-inspection leads to morbidness ; too little conducts to careless and hasty action.

There are two things which will surely strengthen our self-control. One is attention to conscience;

the other is a spirit of good will. The man who would succeed in any great undertaking must hold

all his faculties under perfect control; they must be disciplined and drilled until they quickly and

cheerfully obey the will.

自制对于获取幸福、发挥效能是至关重要的。自制掌控着所有的美德，扎根于自尊。

若一个人听凭种种冲动和激情的摆布，从那一刻起，他就放弃了道德自由。

一个人自律使他能够更勤奋、更理性地追求成功。历史上的许多伟人的业绩都说明了

这个特性。这在平常生活中也同样适用。要领导他人必须先能约束自己。考验人的时刻

是，当每个人都情绪激动、怒气冲冲的时候，气定神闲的人便走到了领先的位置上。

时下，尤其需要培养这种特性。没有接受过良好教育或训练的年轻人，匆忙就进入业

务工作，必然会做事急躁而无成效。与逞英雄相比，磨难更能考验人的品性。

应当适当地自我反省，自知才能自律。过多的自省会导致病态心理，过少的自省则会

导致做事粗心而草率。有两样东西肯定能够加强我们的自制。其一是听从良知，其二是友

善精神。要想成就大事者，必须把他的各种官能牢牢地控制住；这些官能必须受到教育和

训练，直到能快速服从意志，而且心悦诚服。