How to Succeed

 

     It is not very difficult to succeed if some basic rules are laid down. While discussing this subject, I’d like to mention four necessary rules: diligence1, devotion2, constancy3, and punctuality4.
    All things can be defeated by diligence. It makes the foolish wise and the poor rich. It produces a wonderful effect. The work of a diligent fool is double that of a lazy wit5.
    Devotion means to set our heart on one thing at a time and not to focus on anything else. Never think about another subject while studying one subject. Those who often change their studies will never succeed. Therefore, in order to be successful, we need to be devoted.
    Constancy makes success a certainty6. On the opposite, a lack of constancy often results in failure. If we study day after day, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. We should remember a worthy saying: "The constant7 dripping of water can wear away a stone."
    Furthermore, there is another rule that contributes to one’s achievements. That is punctuality. The habit of keeping regular hours is of extreme importance to success. Work while you work. Play while you play. Every man will certainly become strong and wise if he does so.

Notes:

1. diligence n. 勤勉; 勤奮

2. devotion n. 專心

3. constancy n. 持久不變

4. punctuality n. 守時

5. wit n. 機(jī)智幽默的人

6. certainty n. 確定的事

7. constant adj.連續(xù)發(fā)生的

賞析與理解：
    想要獲得成功，你會怎樣要求自己？放眼周遭的偉人和成功人士，他們身上是否也具備著一些相同的性格特點？成功，對于每個人來說都非易事，但如果你能掌握一些準(zhǔn)則，并以這些準(zhǔn)則嚴(yán)格要求自己，也許有一天開啟成功之門的鑰匙就出現(xiàn)在你眼前。

譯文對照：

怎樣獲得成功

    只要遵循一些基本的原則，成功并非難事。當(dāng)討論這個話題時，我想提及四個基本原則，若想取得成功，它們必不可少：勤奮、專注、堅持及守時。
    勤奮能無堅不摧、戰(zhàn)勝一切。勤奮使愚鈍的人變得聰明，使窮人變得富有。勤奮能夠產(chǎn)生一種神奇的作用。一個勤奮的傻瓜得到的成就往往是一個懶惰的聰明人的兩倍。
    專注意味著將我們的全部心思每次只放在一件事情上，拋棄一切其它的雜念。在學(xué)習(xí)某一學(xué)科時，不要一心二用。那些經(jīng)常更換學(xué)習(xí)目標(biāo)的人，絕不會在今后取得成功。因此，想要成功，我們需要全身心投入。
    堅持使成功更有把握。相反，反復(fù)無常則經(jīng)常導(dǎo)致失敗。如果我們每日都堅持不懈地努力學(xué)習(xí)，定將達(dá)成心中所想。我們應(yīng)銘記這個有價值的諺語：滴水穿石。
    除此之外，還有一條準(zhǔn)則也可幫我們走向成功，那就是守時。擁有良好的時間習(xí)慣對取得成功至關(guān)重要。在工作的時間認(rèn)真工作，在玩樂的時候盡情玩樂。任何能做到這些的人都會變得強(qiáng)大且明智。