从我在内布拉斯加州瓦胡镇的童年时代起，直到今天，忠诚与仁爱这两种最基本的美德始终为我的生活带来莫大的慰藉。孩提时，我还学到了其他的一些基本准则，但最重要的还是这两条。
在我看来，忠诚不只是一个简单的词，而是一种生活方式。我所指的并不只是忠于家庭与朋友，还要忠于我们建国的基础，即诚实正直的价值观。我认为，忠诚这一必需的原则也意味着对我们内在自我的忠诚。
成长过程中，我曾几度叛逆，与生活中的很多基本观念背道而驰。但是，多次叛逆后，我想象着自己围绕内布拉斯加平原的那座山走了整整一圈，终于明白这些美德的确经得起时间的考验。
在逆境中给予我莫大安慰的另一个原则是仁爱。这是我们必须学习的美德。生活中的我很幸运，因为我能够乐善好施。行善者不应祈求回报，因为我们从行善中所得到的满足感便是最好的报答。
行善，必须真心诚意。否则，任何形式的给予皆是对生命本身极大的欺骗。
仁爱与忠诚深深感动着我的生命，为我生活的每一天带来极大的满足。每天临睡前，忠诚这一原则都会提醒我反省自己一天的行为，确保当日的所作所为没有为他人带来任何故意的伤害。
每天临睡前，我都会努力为自己对他人造成的伤害予以弥补。这无疑是种自私的行为，因为只有这样，每夜我才不会辗转难眠。
横看成岭侧成峰，人生亦是如此。无论是在伦敦、巴黎、罗马、开罗、纽约、好莱坞，还是内布拉斯加的瓦胡镇，我所看到的美德始终不变。
感谢儿时在内布拉斯加学到的那些传统美德。我希望，我能永远对我所出生的这个国家满怀谦恭、心存感激，因为它给予了我生存的机会。
■ 心灵小语
从不同角度看待事物，你就能更轻松地抓住生活的精髓；而当你仅从一个角度片面地观察世界时，就很可能会变得愤世嫉俗。
Walk Clean around the Hill
Darryl F。 Zanuck
Now that I can look back across the years from the so…called vantage point of experience in two World Wars； travel throughout a large part of the world； and contact with many of the outstanding personalities of our time； it gives me a great deal of real reassurance each day to know that way down deep I learned some fundamental values when I was a boy in a small town in Nebraska。
I have found one thing to be so very true—the virtues I learned as a boy are still fundamental virtues。 My point of view has changed； of course； over the years； and so has that of my friends； but so much of all this change of viewpoint is like a small boy gazing at a hill on the plains of Nebraska。 The hill remains the same。 The small boy only sees it from another angle as he grows up。 。 想看书来
横看成岭侧成峰（2）
I have always tried to walk pletely around every hill I have found in existence since； so that I could get a view from every angle。 This； I think； reveals the difference between honesty and cynicism。 When you see the hill from every angle； you have a much better chance at keeping life in focus。 When you only see it from one angle you run the very great danger of being cynical1。
Two of the fundamental virtues that have been such a great fort to me in my life； from the days of my boyhood in Wahoo； Nebraska； until now are loyalty and charity。 There are other fundamentals I learned as a boy； but principally loyalty and charity。
Loyalty is not only just a term—it has been a way of life for me。 I mean not only loyalty to my friends and family； but to the honest values on which our country was founded。 And to me； this guidepost of loyalty of necessity means loyalty to one’s own self。
When I was growing up； I rebelled against so many things； and fought against so many of the basic ideas of life—but I found after so much rebellion2 and walking pletely around that hill on the Nebraska plains； in my mind’s eye； that these virtues had not been tested over the centuries in vain。
Charity is another rule that has been of great fort to me in so many trying situations。 Charity is something you must learn。 I have been very lucky in life because I have been in a position to give charity； and one should never expect any other reward from charity than the satisfaction it gives。
In taking part in any charity you must give from your heart。 Any other type of giving is a terrible cheat on life itself。
Charity and loyalty are two things that have touched my life very deeply。 They have been a source of tremendous satisfaction to me every day I have lived。 This rule of loyalty has caused me to check back on the course of my activities at the close of each day； to be sure I haven’t knowingly hurt anyone in my day’s activities。
I have tried to repair any hurts I have caused before the day’s end。 This undoubtedly is very selfish of me because I have learned that this rechecking of each day gives me a good night’s sleep。
In walking around the hill on the plain each day of my life； the virtues I see—whether I am in London； Paris； Rome； Cairo； New York； Hollywood or Wahoo； Nebraska—are always the same。
I am grateful for those old…fashioned virtues that I learned as a boy in Nebraska。 And I hope I will have enough humility always to be thankful I was born in a country that give me this chance at life。
书包 网 。 想看书来
在探索中成长
安妮？菲普斯
我坚信，自己的信仰一直在改变。没有什么事情是绝对的。或许，我还只是处在幼体的发育阶段，总有一天我会发育完全，就会对一切深信不疑；或许，我将用一生的时间去探索。
在这个冬天以前，我信仰外界的事物，信仰在自然与艺术中所发现的美。美丽总会稍纵即逝，从外到内，给人留下无尽的感伤。当我骑马穿过夏日的树林，当我聆听着浪花翻滚的韵律，当我手中握着一朵鲜花时，我感觉到一种无形的信念。同样的灵感也来源于艺术——它无处不在，转瞬即逝。当我初次看到一只精妙的白玉花瓶时，或者看到一块华丽的地毯，听到一段演奏得近乎完美的音乐，看到马尔科娃在《吉赛尔》中优美的舞姿时，都会有这种灵感。然而，最多的灵感却来自于阅读。他人的思想，对情感、颜色、声音的敏锐，以及对形式的感知，都会给我带来启迪。我发现，对美的需求是人类最崇高的善举，是人类灵魂最伟大的天赋。但是，我想它并非一切。
今年冬天，我开始了大学生活。我所面临的问题也有所改变。很多事实与那些 “谁拉着谁徘徊在哪个墙边？”的问题已变得毫无意义。相反，一些永恒的问题出现在我的面前，比如，何为美？何为真？何为上帝？我与其他学生探讨信仰的问题，我阅读圣奥古斯丁与亚里士多德的著作。我想知道，自己是否一直徘徊在信仰的边缘。自然与艺术皆为边缘，心中的信仰才是核心所在。我真实地发现，自己拥有一个灵魂。一天，当我坐在阳光下时，我猛然明白了圣奥古斯丁的话的涵义：太阳与月亮，所有自然界的奇迹，皆非上帝的“初作”，而是精神上的二次创造。
直到那一刻，通过外部的事物，我才认识到精神上的美，那种美已经走进我的心中。如今，我正在通往内在精神意识的道路上摸索前行，希望有一天能够将它们从我的内心唤醒。我迷失在探索之中，我在学习。
■ 心灵小语
他人的思想，对情感、颜色、声音的敏锐，以及对形式的感知，都会给我带来启迪。我发现，对美的需求是人类最崇高的善举，是人类灵魂最伟大的天赋。美丽总会稍纵即逝，从外到内，给人留下无尽的感伤。对美的需求是人类最崇高的善举，是人类灵魂最伟大的天赋。
Growing in the Middle Ground
Anne Phipps
I believe that my beliefs are changing。 Nothing is positive。 Perhaps I am in a stage of metamorphosis which will one day have me emerging plete； sure of everything。 Perhaps I shall spend my life searching。
Until this winter； I believed in outward things； in beauty as I found it in nature and art。 Beauty passed； swift and sure； from the outside to the inside； bringing intense emotion。 I felt a formless faith when I rode through summer woods； when I heard the counterpoint of breaking waves； when I held a flower in my hand。 There was the same inspiration from art—here and there； in flashes—in seeing for the first time the delicacy of a white jade vase； or the rich beauty of a rug； in hearing a passage of music played almost perfectly； in watching Markova dance Giselle； most of all in reading。 Other people’s consciousness； their sensitivity to emotion； color； sound； their feeling for form； instructed me。 The necessity for beauty I found to be the highest good； the human soul’s greatest gift。 It was not； I felt； all。
This winter I came to college。 The questions put to me changed。 Lists of facts and “who dragged whom how many times around the walls of what？” lost importance。 Instead I was asked eternal questions： What is Beauty？ What is Truth？ What is God？ I talked about faith with other students。 I read St。 Augustine and Tolstoy。 I wondered if I hadn’t been worshiping around the edges。 Nature and art were the edges； an inner faith was the center。 I discovered； really discovered； that I had a soul。 Just sitting in the sun one day；