恐惧、仇恨和顺从——他们的人格也由此决定。我认为，人类的潜能甚至还不曾开始发挥，我相信只要以谦恭的态度坚持不懈地研究人类行为，让越来越多的人发现自身更多的潜能，我们就能自觉地学会创造文明。
我相信，人的生命之所以有意义，正是由于其个人树立的目标与他所处的文明、时代和国家之间有着密切的联系。也许有时，我们的任务会是为一片荒地修起围墙，为一条河架桥，或养育后代让年轻的群体延续下去。如今，为了安宁而自由的未来生活，这就意味着我们必须承担起责任，去创造一个全新的世界。
■ 心灵小语
我相信，人性本无善恶之分，每个人生来都是先天潜能的不同组合，而决定人性善恶的是他们所接受的教育——是教育他们去信任、爱、试验和创造，还是教育他们去恐惧、仇恨和顺从——他们的人格也由此决定。每一个人生来就注定要承担一些责任，要为了美好的生活努力，这就是人生。
A New Control of Destiny
Margaret Mead
Children used to play a game of pointing at someone suddenly； saying： “What are you？” Some people answered by saying： “I am a human being；” or by nationality； or by religion。 When this question was put to me by a new generation of children； I answered： “An anthropologist1。” Anthropology is the study of whole ways of life； to which one must be pletely mitted； all the time。 So that when I speak of what I believe； as a person； I cannot separate this from what I believe as an anthropologist。
I believe that to understand human beings it is necessary to think of them as part of the whole living world。 Our essential humanity depends not only on the plex biological structure which has been developed through the ages from very simple beginnings； but also upon the great social inventions which have been made by human beings； perpetuated2 by human beings； and in turn give human beings their stature as builders； thinkers； statesmen； artists； seers and prophets。 I believe that each of these great inventions—language； the family； the use of tools； government； science； art and philosophy—has the quality of so bining the potentialities of every human temperament； that each can be learned and perpetuated by any group of human beings； regardless of race； and regardless of the type of civilization within which their progenitors3 lived； so that a newborn infant from the most primitive tribe in New Guinea is as intrinsically capable of graduation from Harvard； writing a sonnet or inventing a new form of radar as an infant born on Beacon Hill。 But I believe also that once a child has been reared in New Guinea or Boston or Leningrad or Tibet； he embodies the culture within which he is reared； and differs from those who are reared elsewhere； so deeply； that only by understanding these differences can we reach an awareness which will give us a new control over our human destiny。
I believe that human nature is neither intrinsically good nor intrinsically evil； but individuals are born with different binations of innate potentialities； and that it will depend upon how they are reared—to trust and love and experiment and create； or to fear and hate and conform—what kind of human beings they can bee。 I believe that we have not even begun to tap human potentialities； and that by a continuing humble but persistent study of human behavior； we can learn consciously to create civilizations within which an increasing proportion of human beings will realize more of what they have it in them to be。
I believe that human life is given meaning through the relationship which the individual’s conscious goals have to the civilization； period and country； within which one lives。 At times the task may be to fence a wilderness； bridge a river； or rear sons to perpetuate a young colony。 Today it means taking upon ourselves the task of creating one world in such a way that we both keep the future； safe and leave the future free。
生命在时间的土壤里成长
托马斯？曼
短暂是我的信仰，也是我认为最重要的东西。
然而短暂，如生命的消逝，不是非常哀伤的事情吗？不！它正是生命存在的精髓。它赋予了生命价值、尊严和情趣。短暂创造了时间——而“时间正是其本质”。至少，时间是至高的，是最有用的礼物。
时间与所有富有创造力和活力的事物，及每一个达到更高目标的进步息息相关——是的，它甚至等同于这一切。
没有短暂，没有开始与结束、生与死，时间也就不复存在。永恒是毫无意义的停滞，它意味着时间永远没有结束，也永远没有开始，绝对令人乏味。
生命顽强无比。即便如此，它的存在也依赖于一定的条件，正如它有始亦有终。也因如此，我坚信，生命的价值与魅力将会不断地增长。
人同自然界其他事物之间最重要的区别之一就是，人懂得短暂、始与终，所以也了解时间是一种恩赐。
可以这么说，在人身上，短暂的生命达到了其活力与精神力量的巅峰。这并不是说只有人拥有灵魂。万物皆有灵性。但是对于“存在”与“短暂”的可互换性，只有人的大脑才能最清楚地意识到。
对于人类来说，时间就如赐予的一片土地，等待他去辛勤耕种；是一个让他不断奋斗进取，实现自我价值，不断前进向上的空间。是的，在时间的帮助下，人可以从有限的生命中获得永恒。
在内心深处，我相信宇宙中最为重要的当属我们的地球，并认为这样的信念存在于每一个人的心中。从内心深处，我相信混沌中宇宙的创造，无机中生命的萌芽，最终都是为了创造人类。我相信人类本身便是一项伟大的实验，它可能会因人类自身的罪恶而失败，但这也成为创造本身最主要的失败。
无论这个信仰是否真实，人类如果能依此行事，将会获得更为有益的忠告。
■ 心灵小语
整个世界就是在不断的更迭中发展的，结束和开始，生与死都是并存的，否则，世界就会令人乏味。
Life Grows in the Soil of Time
Thomas Mann
What I believe； what I value most； is transitoriness1。
But is not transitoriness—the perishableness of life—something very sad？ No！ It is the very soul of existence。 It imparts value； dignity； interest to life。 Transitoriness creates time—and “time is the essence。” Potentially at least； time is the supreme； most useful gift。
Time is related to—yes； identical with—everything creative and active； every process toward a higher goal。
Without transitoriness； without beginning or end； birth or death； there is no time； either。 Timelessness—in the sense of time never ending； never beginning—is a stagnant2 nothing。 It is absolutely uninteresting。
Life is possessed by tremendous tenacity。 Even so its presence remains conditional； and as it had a beginning； so it will have an end。 I believe that life； just for this reason； is exceedingly enhanced in value； in charm。
One of the most important characteristics distinguishing man from all other forms of nature is his knowledge of transitoriness； of beginning and end； and therefore of the gift of time。
In man transitory life attains its peak of animation； of soul power； so to speak。 This does not mean man alone would have a soul。 Soul quality pervades all beings。 But man’s soul is most awake in his knowledge of the interchangeability3 of the terms “existence” and “transitoriness”。
To man time is given like a piece of land； as it were； entrusted to him for faithful tilling； a space in which to strive incessantly； achieve self…realization； move onward and upward。 Yes； with the aid of time； man bees capable of wresting the immortal from the mortal。
Deep down； I believe—and deem such belief natural to every human soul—that in the universe prime significance must be attributed to this earth of ours。 Deep down I believe that creation of the universe out of nothingness and of life out of inorga