Thought and Purpose

詹姆斯·艾倫 / James Allen

Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to “drift” upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice， and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.

They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries， fears， troubles， and self-pitying， all of which are indications of weakness， which lead， just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route)， to failure， unhappiness， and loss， for weakness cannot persist in a power evolving universe.

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart， and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal， or it may be a worldly object， according to his nature at the time being. But whichever it is， he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object， which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty， and should devote himself to its attainment， not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies， longings， and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome)， the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success， and this will form a new starting-point for future power and triumph.

Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty， no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way can the thoughts be gathered and focused， and resolution and energy be developed， which being done， there is nothing which may not be accomplished.

Having conceived of his purpose， a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement， looking neither to the right nor the left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded； they are disintegrating elements， which break up the straight line of effort， rendering it crooked， ineffectual， useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplished anything， and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose， energy， power to do， and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.

The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge， and he who encourages them， who does not slay them， thwarts himself at every step.

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every thought is allied with power， and all difficulties are bravely met and wisely overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted， and they bloom and bring forth fruit， which does not fall prematurely to the ground.

Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force， he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations； he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.

智慧是思想與目標相結合的產物。大多數人任由他們的思想之舟在生命的海洋中“漂泊”。漫無目的是一種罪惡，這樣的漂泊，對于那些想要摒棄災難和毀滅的人來說，是不能再繼續下去的。

那些生命中缺乏中心目標的人，很容易被一些微小的煩惱、恐懼、麻煩和自哀所吞噬，這些都是軟弱的暗示，都會因一些不可避免的失誤（盡管方式各異）而導致失敗、憂愁和損失。因為在這個崇尚力量的世界里，軟弱是不可能再繼續的。

一個人應該在自己的內心中孕育一個合理的目標，并準備去實現它，還應將其作為自己思想的中心。這個目標或許只是一種精神理想的外殼，又或是一種世俗的目標，這取決于他當時的自然狀態。無論是哪一種，他都將為自己設定的這個目標傾注全部精力。他應該將這個目標作為自己至高無上的責任，并完全投身于它的實現中去，絕不允許自己的思想徘徊在過眼云煙般的迷戀、渴求與幻想之中。這是一條通往自制和思想集中的正途。即使他在實現目標的征途中不斷跌倒（這是他克服軟弱的必經之路），他的人格力量也會成為其成功的度量器，并為將來的力量與成功形成一個新的起點。

對于那些沒有準備好偉大目標的人來說，應當將思想完全集中在每日任務的完成上，不管他們的任務看似多么的無關緊要。只有通過這種方法，才能將思想結合、集中起來，決心和能力的作用才能得以發揮。如果做到了這些，就沒有什么是不能實現的了。

……

一個人如果確定了目標，就應該在心中描繪出一條通往成功的直路，而不是左顧右盼。要摒棄所有的疑惑與恐懼，因為它們極具破壞性，會改變我們努力的方向，使之扭曲、失敗、無益。疑慮和恐懼的想法是不會實現任何目標的，永遠不會，它們只會導致失敗。目標、精力、實踐力，以及所有堅定的思想都會被疑慮和恐懼所干擾。

成功的愿望來自我們對自我學識的了解。疑慮與恐懼是我們最大的敵人，那些對其縱容而又不予以扼殺的人，相當于在他們前進的道路上自設了絆腳石。

戰勝了疑慮與恐懼的人就等于戰勝了失敗。他的每一個想法都充滿了力量，能勇敢地面對所有困難，并通過聰明才智去征服。他的目標被適時栽植，于是開花結果，而不會過早地死去。

思想勇敢地與目標相結合，就形成了創造力。明白這點的人會隨時為成為一個更高更強的人做準備，而不會成為一個思想左右搖擺、感覺時刻變化的人。能做到這一點的人，就是一個有意識、有頭腦的精神力量的主宰者。

1. They who have_______central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty_______， fears， troubles， and self-pitying，_______of which are indications of weakness， which_______， just as surely_______deliberately planned sins (though by a different route)， to failure， unhappiness， and loss， for weakness_______persist in a power evolving universe.

2. The_______to do springs from the knowledge that we_______do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge， and he_______encourages them， who does not slay_______， thwarts himself at every step.

1. 大多數人任由他們的思想之舟在生命的海洋中“漂泊”。

2. 一個人應該在自己的內心中孕育一個合理的目標，并準備去實現它，還應將其作為自己思想的中心。

3. 思想勇敢地與目標相結合，就形成了創造力。

1. He should make this purpose his supreme duty， and should devote himself to its attainment， not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies， longings， and imaginings.

devote oneself to：致力于；獻身于

2. ...they are disintegrating elements， which break up the straight line of effort， rendering it crooked， ineffectual， useless.

break up：打碎；破碎；結束