演讲实例：Learning from a Great Man’s Life

Learning from a Great Man’s Life

It is a little difficult for me to speak on this topic because I do not think most of the socially recognized great men are truly worthy of their fame. Generally speaking, great men are the high-achievers in our history books. Biographies are written, movies are made, and stories are told about their life. Every pupil is encouraged to follow in their footsteps and to endeavor to become a great man, at the cost of the warmness of the heart. What a social disgrace this is! In my opinion, it is not fair to measure a person’s greatness only by the yardstick of social standing. When we praise a high-achiever, aren’t we forgetting to consider the nobleness of his mind?
A man noble at heart can never cheat himself and others. He can never make cunning deals to obtain success. He cannot topple others for his own benefit. However, such a man is oftentimes branded as a weak-minded, slowwitted lowachiever. This is not fair. I have seen many people with a tender heart and a noble mind. There are many around us who are not successful politicians, rich industrialists, or Nobel Prize winners, like our own parents and some of our friends who are small people indeed in our society. In my estimation, it is these very people who have nurtured the feelings of compassion, love and benevolence to all humankind in my heart. I would rather respect these small people around me than the figures extolled in our history books.

向伟人的一生学习

要我讲这个题目有点困难，因为我认为大部分社会上所公认的伟人并不名实相符。一般来说，伟人是史书中成就大的人。人们写传记、拍电影、讲有关他生活的故事。每个学生都被鼓励牺牲心灵温暖，跟随他们的脚步，努力成为伟人。这真是社会的耻辱啊！我认为，只靠社会地位的标准衡量一个人伟不伟大是一公平的。当我们赞美一个成就在大的人，我们不就忘了考虑他心灵高不高贵了吗？
一个心灵高贵的人不会欺骗自己和别人。他绝不会使诈以获得成功。他不可能为了自己的利益而推倒他人。然而这样的人常这被认为是优柔寡断、反应迟钝、成就低的。这是不公平的。我曾见过很多人有温柔、高贵的心灵。在我们的身旁有很多人，他们不是成功的政治家、大企业家、或诺贝尔奖得主，我们的父母及朋友事实上是社会上的小人物。我认为，就是这些人培养了我心中对全人类的怜悯、爱心及善心。我宁愿尊敬我身旁的这些小人物，而不是史书中颂扬的人物。

recognized 公认的
endeavor v. 努力
at the cost of 以 ~ 的代价
topple v. 使倒，推翻
nurture v. 养育
compassion n. 怜悯
benevolence n. 慈善
extol v. 颂扬