雙語(yǔ)智慧書(shū)·努力和能力

18．努力和能力
努力和能力。缺少兩者，就不可能出類拔萃，如果二者兼而有之，定會(huì)卓爾不群。努力的平凡者比不努力的聰明人更有所成。工作是贏得榮譽(yù)的代價(jià)。付出少價(jià)值就低。即使是身居高位，所缺的往往是實(shí)干，很少是才能。寧愿在偉大的事業(yè)上取得普通成就，也不想在低級(jí)職位上出類拔萃，這本也無(wú)可厚非；如果你本是天才，卻甘于平庸，則毫無(wú)道理。天賦與后天努力都不可或缺，付出努力方可大功告成。


18．Application and ability
Application and ability. There is no attaining eminence without both, and where they unite there is the greatest eminence. Mediocrity obtains more with application than superiority without it. Work is the price which is paid for reputation. What costs little is little worth. Even for the highest posts it is only in some cases application that is wanting, rarely the talent. To prefer moderate success in great things than eminence in a humble post has the excuse of a generous mind, but not so to be content with humble mediocrity when you could shine among the highest. Thus nature and art are both needed, and application sets on them the seal.