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King John and the Abbot
There was once a king of England whose name was John. He was a bad king; for he was harsh and cruel to his people, and so long as he could have his own way, he did not care what became of other folks. He was the worst king that England ever had.
Now, there was in the town of Canterbury a rich old abbot who lived in a grand style in a great house called the Abbey. When King John heard of the way in which the abbot lived, he made up his mind to put a stop to it. So he sent for the old man to come and see him. He said, “Your fault is plain, and unless you can answer me three questions, your head shall be cut off, and all your riches shall be mine.”
“I will try to answer them, King！” said the abbot.
“Firstly, you must tell me just how long I shall live. Secondly, you must tell me how soon I shall ride round the whole world；and lastly, you shall tell me what I think. Two weeks you shall have. If then you fail to answer me, you shall lose your head, and all your lands shall be mine.”
The abbot went to Oxford and Cambridge, and wanted to see if any of the wise could help him. But they could not.
At last, sad and sorrowful, he rode towards home. Then he met his shepherd. “What news do you bring us from great King John？”
“Sad news, sad news,” said the abbot; and then he told him all that had happened.
“Cheer up, cheer up, good master. I think I can help you out of your trouble.”
Everybody said he looked just like the abbot. He dressed himself with great care. Over his shepherd’ s coat he threw the abbot’ s long gown, and he borrowed the abbot’ s cap and golden staff. When all was ready, no one in the world would have thought that he was not the great man himself. Of course, the king did not know him.
“How long shall I live？” “You shall live until the day that you die, and not one day longer.”
“How soon I will ride round the world？” “You must rise with the sun, and you must ride with the sun until it rises again the next morning. As soon as you do that, you will find that you have ridden the world in twenty-four hours.”
“What do I think？” “You think that I am the Abbot of Can. But, to tell you the truth, I am only his poor shepherd, and I come to beg your pardon for him and for me.” And with that, he threw off his long gown.
The king laughed long and long. “Very well, then, I will give you something to pay you for this merry joke. I will give you four pieces of silver every week as long as you live. And when you get home, you may tell the old abbot that you have brought him a free pardon from King John.”
国王约翰和修道院长
以前，英格兰有个国王，名叫约翰。他是个不得人心的国王，因为他对他的臣民残暴苛刻，他只顾自己顺心，为所欲为，不管别人的死活。他是英格兰历代最坏的国王。
当时，在坎特伯雷市，有一个富有的老修道院长，他住在一所叫威斯敏斯特教堂的雄伟建筑里，过着豪华的生活。约翰国王听说老修道院长的生活方式以后，就打定主意加以制止。于是他派人把那个老人叫来见他。他说： “你的过错是一清二楚的，我提三个问题，你要是回答不出来，我就砍掉你的脑袋，而且你的全部财富都要归我所有。”
“我试试回答吧，国王！” 修道院长说。
“首先，你必须告诉我，我能活多久。第二，你必须告诉我，我骑马周游世界要用多长时间。最后，你要告诉我，我在想什么。给你两个星期，如果到时候回答不出来，我就要砍掉你的脑袋，你的全部土地也将归我所有。”
于是修道院长来到牛津和剑桥。他想了解一下，看看那些聪明的教授有没有人能帮助他。但他们不能。
最后，他又发愁又伤心，骑马回家。然后，他遇到他家的牧羊人。 “您从伟大的约翰国王那里给我们带来什么消息了？”
“不好的消息，不好的消息，” 修道院长说，接着，他把发生的一切都告诉了他。
“振作起来，振作起来！好主人。我想我能够帮助你摆脱困境。”
大家都说他长得像修道院长。他精心打扮起来。在羊倌上衣外面套上了修道院长的长袍，并借来了修道院长的帽子和金手杖。一切准备就绪，世界上的任何人都不会认为他不是那位大人物本人。当然，国王是认不出他来的。
“我能活多久？” “你能活到你死的那天，多一天也活不了。”
“我骑马周游世界要用多长时间？” “你必须日出而起，而且你必须跟着太阳骑马赶路，直到第二天早晨太阳重新升起为止。只要你这样做，你就会发现，在二十四小时里你已经骑马周游世界一周了。”
“我现在想什么？” “你在想我是坎特伯雷市的修道院长。但是我对你说实话，我只是他的穷牧羊人。我来这里是恳求您原谅他和我。” 说罢，他脱下他的长袍。
国王放声大笑很久很久。 “那么好啦！我要给你点东西，酬谢这次有趣的玩笑。只要你活着，我每个星期都给你四个银币。另外，回家以后，你可以告诉老修道院长，你给他带来了约翰国王的特赦。”
Faith
Faith is the “eternal elixir”
Which gives life power, and action to the impulse of thought！
Faith is the starting point of all accumulation of riches！
Faith is the basis of all “miracles”,
And all mysteries which cannot be analyzed by the rules of science！
Faith is the only known antidote for failure！
Faith is the element, the “chemical” which,
When mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence.
Faith is the element
Which transforms the ordinary vibration of thought, created by the finite mind of man, into the spiritual equivalent.
Faith is the only agency through which
The cosmic force of
Infinite intelligence can be harnessed and used by man.
信念是 “永恒的万应灵药” ，
它赋予突发奇想以生命、力量和行动！
信念是所有财富积累的起点！
信念是一切 “奇迹”
以及所有科学法则无法分析的奥秘的根基！
信念是惟一已知失败之解药！
信念是重要元素、 “化学物质” ，
一旦与祈祷结合便会使你与上帝直接沟通。
人类的智慧固然有限，
普通的灵感闪现一经信念指点，
便会转换成精神震撼。
信念是惟一的中介，通过它
上帝的宇宙力会成为人类开发和利用的资源。
The Lecture of Obama’ s Success
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’ s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It’ s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.
We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’ s the answer that led those who’ ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’ s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.
Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’ s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they’ ve achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’ s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’ s next First Lady, Michelle Obama.
Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that’ s coming with us to the new White House.
And while she’ s no longer with us, I know my grandmother’ s watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you’ ve given me. I am grateful to them.
And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best-the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
To my chief strategist David Axelrod who’ s been a partner with me every step of the way.
To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’ t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’ s apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
This is your victory.
And I know you didn’ t do this just to win an election. And I know you didn’ t do it for me.
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime-two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they’ ll make the mortgage or pay their doctors’ bills or save enough for their child’ s college education.
There’ s new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.
I promise you, we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’ t agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’ t solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’ s been done in America for 221 years-block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.
This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
It can’ t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’ s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers-In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.
Let’ s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
Let’ s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity. Those are values that we all share.
And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.
And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those-to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’ s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
That’ s the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we’ ve already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’ s on my mind tonight’ s about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’ s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’ t vote for two reasons-because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’ s seen throughout her century in America-the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’ t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’ s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, and a world was connected by our own science and imagination.
And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves-if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see？ What progress will we have made？
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’ t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
奥巴马获胜演讲全文
如果还有人对美国是否凡事都有可能存疑，还有人怀疑美国奠基者的梦想在我们所处的时代是否依然鲜活，还有人质疑我们的民主制度的力量，那么今晚，这些问题都有了答案。
这是设在学校和教堂的投票站前排起的前所未见的长队给出的答案；是等了三四个小时的选民所给出的答案，其中许多人都是有生以来第一次投票，因为他们认定这一次肯定会不一样，认为自己的声音会是这次大选有别于以往之所在。
这是所有美国人民共同给出的答案--无论老少贫富，无论是民主党还是共和党，无论是黑人、白人、拉美裔、亚裔、原住民，是同性恋者还是异性恋者、残疾人还是健全人--我们从来不是 “红州” 和 “蓝州” 的对立阵营。
我们是美利坚合众国这个整体，永远都是。
长久以来，很多人一再受到告诫，要对我们所能取得的成绩极尽讽刺、担忧和怀疑之能事，但这个答案让这些人伸出手来把握历史，再次让它朝向美好明天的希望延伸。
已经过去了这么长时间，但今晚，由于我们在今天、在这场大选中、在这个具有决定性的时刻所做的，美国已经迎来了变革。
我刚刚接到了麦凯恩参议员极具风度的致电。
他在这场大选中经过了长时间的努力奋斗，而他为自己所深爱的这个国家奋斗的时间更长、过程更艰辛。他为美国做出了我们大多数人难以想象的牺牲，我们的生活也因这位勇敢无私的领袖所做出的贡献而变得更美好。
我向他和佩林州长所取得的成绩表示祝贺，我也期待着与他们一起在未来的岁月中为复兴这个国家的希望而共同努力。
我要感谢我在这次旅程中的伙伴--已当选美国副总统的拜登。他全心参与竞选活动，为普通民众代言，他们是他在斯克兰顿从小到大的伙伴，也是在他回特拉华的火车上遇到的男男女女。
如果没有一个人的坚决支持，我今晚就不会站在这里，她是我过去16年来最好的朋友、是我们一家人的中坚和我一生的挚爱，更是我们国家的下一位第一夫人：米歇尔·奥巴马。
萨莎和玛丽亚，我太爱你们两个了，你们已经得到了一条新的小狗，它将与我们一起入住白宫。
虽然我的外祖母已经不在了，但我知道她与我的亲人肯定都在看着我，因为他们，我才能拥有今天的成就。今晚，我想念他们，我知道自己欠他们的无可计量。
我的妹妹玛雅，我的妹妹阿尔玛，我的其他所有的兄弟姐妹们，感谢你们一直以来对我的所有支持，我感谢他们。
还有我的竞选顾问大卫·普劳夫，此次竞选的无名英雄，我认为，是他打造了美利坚合众国历史上最好的--最好的政治竞选。
我的首席策略师大卫·阿克塞尔罗德，这条道路上每一步都与我同行的伙伴。
政治史上最好的竞选团队--是你们成就了今天，我永远感激你们为实现今天的成就所做出的牺牲。
但最重要的是，我永远不会忘记这场胜利真正的归属--它属于你们。
我从来不是最有希望的候选人。一开始，我们没有太多资金，也没有得到太多人的支持。我们的竞选活动并非诞生于华盛顿的高门华第之内，而是始于得梅因、康科德、查尔斯顿这些地方的普通民众家中。我们的竞选活动能有今天的规模，是因为辛勤工作的人们从自己的微薄积蓄中拿出钱来，捐出一笔又一笔5美元、10美元、20美元。
而竞选活动的声势越来越大则是源自那些年轻人，他们拒绝接受认为他们这代人冷漠的荒诞说法；他们离开家、离开亲人，从事报酬微薄、极其辛苦的工作。
同时也源自那些已经不算年轻的人们，他们冒着严寒酷暑，敲开陌生人的家门进行竞选宣传；更源自数百万的美国民众，他们自动自发地组织起来，证明了在两百多年以后，民有、民治、民享的政府并未从地球上消失。
这是你们的胜利。
我知道你们的所做所为并不只是为了赢得大选，我也知道你们做这一切并不是为了我。
你们这样做是因为你们明白摆在面前的任务有多艰巨。因为即便我们今晚欢呼庆祝，我们也知道明天将面临我们一生之中最为艰巨的挑战--两场战争，一个面临危险的星球，还有百年来最严重的金融危机。
今晚站在此地，我们知道伊拉克的沙漠里和阿富汗的群山中还有勇敢的美国士兵醒来，甘冒生命危险保护着我们。
会有在孩子熟睡后仍难以入眠的父母，担心如何偿还按揭月供、付医药费或是存够钱送孩子上大学。
我们亟待开发新能源、创造新的工作机会；我们需要修建新学校，还要应对众多威胁、修复与许多国家的关系。
前方的道路会十分漫长艰辛。我们可能无法在一年甚至一届任期之内实现上述目标，但我从未像今晚这样满怀希望，相信我们会实现。
我向你们承诺，我们肯定可以。
当然，这一过程肯定还会出现挫折，甚至是不成功的开始。我作为总统所做出的决策，肯定也会有许多人并不赞同。我们知道政府并不能解决所有问题。
但我也会向你们诚恳地交待我们所面临的挑战。我会认真听从你们的建议，尤其是意见不一致的时候。总之，我邀请你们加入到国家再建的工作之中。221年来，我们的国家就是这样一砖一瓦，一点一滴地建造起来的。
我们开始于21个月前深冬，不会结束在今年这个秋天的夜晚。
今天的选举胜利并不是我们所寻求的改变--这只是我们进行改变的机会。而且如果我们仍然按照旧有方式行事，我们所寻求的改变不可能出现。
没有你们，没有一种新的服务精神，新的牺牲精神，它也不可能发生。
因此，让我们发扬新的爱国精神，树立新的服务意识和责任感，让我们每个人下定决心全情投入、更加努力地工作，并彼此关爱。
让我们铭记这场金融危机带来的教训：我们不可能在金融以外的领域备受煎熬的同时拥有繁荣兴旺的华尔街--在这个国家，我们患难与共。
让我们抵制重走老路的诱惑，避免重新回到令美国政治长期深受毒害的党派纷争和由此引发的遗憾和不成熟表现。
让我们铭记，是这个州（伊利诺伊州）的一名男子第一次将共和党的旗帜扛进了白宫，共和党是建立在自强自立、个人自由以及全民团结的价值观上，这也是我们所有人都珍视的价值。
虽然民主党今天晚上赢得了巨大的胜利，但我们是以谦卑的态度和弥合阻碍我们进步的分歧的决心赢得这场胜利的。
林肯在向远比我们眼下分歧更大的国家发表讲话时说，我们不是敌人，而是朋友。虽然激情可能褪去，但是这不会割断我们感情上的联系。
对于那些现在并不支持我的美国人，我想说，或许我没有赢得你们的选票，但是我听到了你们的声音，我需要你们的帮助，而且我也将是你们的总统。
那些彻夜关注美国大选的海外人士，从国会到皇宫，以及在这个世界被遗忘的角落里挤在收音机旁的人们，我们的经历虽然各有不同，但是我们的命运是相通的，新的美国领袖诞生了。
那些想要颠覆这个世界的人们，我们必将击败你们。那些追求和平与安全的人们，我们支持你们。那些所有怀疑美国能否继续照亮世界发展前景的人们，今天晚上我们再次证明，我们国家真正的力量并非来自我们武器的威力或财富的规模，而是来自我们理想的持久力量：民主、自由、机会和不屈的希望。
这才是美国真正的精华--美国能够改变。我们的联邦会日臻完善。我们取得的成就为我们将来能够取得的以及必须取得的成就增添了希望。
这次大选创造了多项 “第一” ，也诞生了很多将世代流传的故事。但是今天晚上令我难忘的却是在亚特兰大投票的一名妇女：安·尼克松·库波尔。她和其他数百万排队等待投票的选民没有什么差别，除了一点：她已是106岁的高龄。
她出生的那个时代奴隶制度刚刚结束；那时路上没有汽车，天上也没有飞机；当时像她这样的人由于两个原因不能投票--一是她是女性，一是她的肤色。
今天晚上，我想到了她在美国过去一百年间所经历的种种：心痛和希望；挣扎和进步；那些我们被告知我们办不到的时代，以及那些坚信美国信条--是的，我们能做到--的人们。
曾几何时，妇女没有发言权，她们的希望化作泡影，但是安·尼克松·库波尔活了下来，看到妇女们站了起来，看到她们大声发表自己的见解，看到她们去参加大选投票。是的，我们能做到。
当30年代的沙尘暴和大萧条引发人们的绝望之情时，她看到一个国家用罗斯福新政、新就业机会以及对新目标的共同追求战胜恐慌。是的，我们能做到。
当炸弹袭击了我们的海港、独裁专制威胁到全世界，她见证了美国一代人的伟大崛起，见证了一个民主国家被拯救。是的，我们能做到。
她看到蒙哥马利通了公共汽车、伯明翰接上了水管、塞尔马建了桥，一位来自亚特兰大的传教士告诉人们： “我们能成功。” 是的，我们能做到。
人类登上月球、柏林墙倒下，世界因我们的科学和想象被连接在一起。
今年，就在这次选举中，她用手指触碰屏幕投下自己的选票，因为在美国生活了106年之后，经历了最好的时光和最黑暗的时刻之后，她知道美国如何能够发生变革。是的，我们能做到。
美国，我们已经走过漫漫长路。我们已经历了很多。但是我们仍有很多事情要做。因此今夜，让我们自问--如果我们的孩子能够活到下个世纪；如果我们的女儿有幸活得和安一样长，他们将会看到怎样的改变？我们将会取得怎样的进步？
现在是我们回答这个问题的机会。这是我们的时刻。
这是我们的时代--让我们的人民重新就业，为我们的后代敞开机会的大门；恢复繁荣发展，推进和平事业；让 “美国梦” 重新焕发光芒，再次证明这样一个基本的真理：我们是一家人；一息尚存，我们就有希望；当我们遇到嘲讽和怀疑，当有人说我们办不到的时候，我们要以这个永恒的信条来回应他们：是的，我们能做到。
谢谢你们。上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。