After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "why?"asked the bearer, "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master' s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don' t get full value from your efforts, "the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master' s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That' s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you' ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master' s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
印度有一个挑水工。他有两个大罐子，其中一个罐子做工精细，从不漏水；另一个上面则有一道裂缝。每当挑水工回到雇主家时，有裂缝的罐子里的水就只剩一半了。
这样过了整整两年，这个挑水工每天挑到雇主家的水仅有一罐半。当然，那个完好的罐子为自己的成就甚感自豪。而那个可怜的、有裂缝的罐子因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已。
痛苦了两年后，一天，那个有裂缝的罐子在小溪边对挑水工说：“我很惭愧，想向你道歉。”“为什么？”挑水工问，“你惭愧什么呢？”“为这两年来只能让你挑回一半的水。因为我身上的这个裂缝，每次你在回雇主家的路上，水都在漏，到家时就只剩下半罐了。正是我的裂缝，你不得不多挑几次水，这样就浪费了你的部分劳动价值。”罐子说道。
挑水工对这个有裂缝的旧罐子感到很同情，他说道：“当我们返回雇主家时，我希望你能留心路旁那些美丽的花朵。”
的确如此，当他们上山时，这个有裂缝的旧罐子注意到路旁的野花，它们沐浴在阳光中，非常漂亮。它感到了一丝快乐。但到雇主家时，它又为自己漏了一半水而难过起来，于是，它再次为自己的失败向挑水工道歉。
挑水工对罐子说：“你注意到了吗？你这边沿路都有花，而另一边却没有？我早就注意到了你的裂缝，我就是利用这一点，在你这侧的路边种上花籽。每天，我们从小溪回来时，你就给它们浇了水。这两年，我就采这些漂亮的花朵来装点雇主的桌子。倘若你不漏水，他就没有这么美丽的鲜花来装饰屋子了。”
bearer ['br] n. 送信人；搬运工；支撑物
I'm the bearer of the good news.
我是带来好消息的人。
imperfection [,imp'fekn] n. 不完全；不完备；缺点
My father never tolerated imperfection.
我的父亲做什么事都要求尽善尽美。
decorate ['dekreit] v. 装饰；装修
We decorated the house for Christmas.
我们装饰房屋过圣诞节。
grace [greis] n. 优雅；魅力；恩惠；慈悲
She moved with grace.
她风姿秀逸。
那个完好的罐子为自己的成就甚感自豪。
这个有裂缝的旧罐子注意到路旁的野花，它们沐浴在阳光中，非常漂亮。
倘若你不漏水，他就没有这么美丽的鲜花来装饰屋子了。
The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
be proud of：以……自豪（以……自负）
That' s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.
take advantage of：利用；欺诈；从……中得到好处
“我能做到！”
"I Can Make It Happen!"
佚名 / Anonymous
History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans and projects of others could never be achieved. However, achievement came to those who believed, "I can make it happen."
The Italian sculptor Agostino D' Antonio worked diligently on a large piece of marble. Unable to produce his desired masterpiece, he lamented, "I can do nothing with it." Other sculptors also worked this difficult piece of marble, but to no avail. Michelangelo discovered the stone and visualized the possibilities in it. His "I-can-make-it-happen" attitude resulted in one of the world' s masterpieces—David.
Even the great Thomas Edison discouraged his friend, Henry Ford, from pursuing his fledgling idea of a motorcar. Convinced of the worthlessness of the idea, Edison invited Ford to come and work for him. Ford remained committed and tirelessly pursued his dream. Although his first attempt resulted in a vehicle without reverse gear, Henry Ford knew he could make it happen. And, of course, he did.
Let' s not forget our friends Orville and Wilbur Wright. Journalists, friends, armed forces specialists, and even their father laughed at the idea of an airplane."What a silly and insane way to spend money. Leave flying to the birds, " they jeered. "Sorry, " the Wright brothers responded."We have a dream, and we can make it happen."
You too can make it happen.
在历史上，认为别人的想法、计划或方案根本无法实现的专家们的例子比比皆是，而成功却青睐那些相信“我能做到”的人。
意大利雕刻家阿戈斯蒂诺·丹东尼奥在一块巨大的大理石上花费了很多心思，但他没有雕刻出理想的作品，于是他感慨道：“我用它雕不出任何东西。”另外一些雕刻家也在这块巨石上费了一番工夫，仍然没有收获。米开朗琪罗发现了这块巨石，并看到了这块巨石的所有可能性。他用“我能做到”的态度，创作了闻名世界的《大卫》。
即使是伟大的托马斯·爱迪生也曾劝阻他的朋友亨利·福特，放弃制造机动车雏形的想法。爱迪生确信这一想法没有任何价值，于是请福特过来协助他的工作。可是福特坚定不移，持之以恒地为他的梦想而奋斗。虽然他初次实验的结果是一辆缺少倒挡的汽车，但福特明白他会实现自己的梦想。而且，他的确成功了。
大家不要忘了我们的朋友奥维尔·莱特和威尔伯·莱特，新闻记者、他们的朋友、军事专家们，甚至连他们的父亲都讥笑他们有关飞机的构想。“这么花钱简直太愚蠢、太荒唐了！让鸟儿在天空飞翔吧！”他们嘲笑说。“对不起，”莱特兄弟回应道，“我们有一个梦想，我们能把它变为现实。”
你也可以把梦想变为现实！
只要有无限的热情，一个人就可以在几乎任何事情上获得成功。
diligently ['dilidntli] adv. 勤奋地
He studies more diligently than his friend.
他比他的朋友更勤奋地学习。
marble ['m:bl] n. 大理石
Do they have marble tables and chairs?
他们有大理石餐桌和椅子吗？
masterpiece ['m:stpi:s] n. 杰作
The artistic zealot devoted his life to the completion of a great
masterpiece.
这位艺术热心者奉献他的一生来完成一幅伟大的作品。
insane [in'sein] adj. 疯狂的；精神错乱的
Hey, watch out those insane trucks!
嘿，小心那些疯狂的卡车！
在历史上，认为别人的想法、计划或方案根本无法实现的专家们的例子比比皆是，而成功却青睐那些相信“我能做到”的人。
可是福特坚定不移，持之以恒地为他的梦想而奋斗。
我们有一个梦想，我们能把它变为现实。
History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas...
abound with：充满；有许多的
...and even their father laughed at the idea of an airplane.
laugh at：嘲笑；因……而笑
让信心长起来
Let Your Confidence Grow
佚名 / Anonymous