"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 tochange
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 realise, If I had only changed myself first,then
by example I would have changed my family.From their inspiration and encouragement,
I would then have been able tobetter my country and, who knows, I may have even
据说,许多世界政要和名人看到这块碑文时都感慨不已。有人说这是一篇人生的教义,有人说
这是灵魂的一种自省。当年轻的曼德拉看到这篇碑文时,顿然有醒醐灌顶之感,声称自己从中找到了
改变南非甚至整个世界的金钥匙。回到南非后,这个志向远大、原本赞同以爆治爆垫平种族歧视鸿沟
的黑人青年,一下子改变的自己的思想和处世风格,他从改变自己、改变自己的家庭和亲朋好友着手,
经历了几十年,终于改变了他的国家。