星火書(shū)業(yè)-晨讀英語(yǔ)美文100篇六級(jí)

星火書(shū)業(yè)晨讀英語(yǔ)美文100篇六級(jí)Passage1.knowledgeandVirtueKnowledgeisonething,virtueisanother;goodsenseisnotconscience,refinementisnothumility,norislargenessandjustnessofviewfaith.Philosophy,howeverenlightened,howeverprofound,givesnocommandoverthepassions,noinfluentialmotives,novivifyingprinciples.LiberalEducationmakesnottheChristian,nottheCatholic,butthegentleman.Itiswelltobeagentleman,itiswelltohaveacultivatedintellect,adelicatetaste,acandid,equitable,dispassionatemind,anobleandcourteousbearingintheconductoflife—thesearetheconnaturalqualitiesofalargeknowledge;theyaretheobjectsofaUniversity.Iamadvocating,Ishallillustrateandinsistuponthem;butstill,Irepeat,theyarenoguaranteeforsanctityorevenforconscientiousness,andtheymayattachtothemanoftheworld,totheprofligate,totheheartless,pleasant,alas,andattractiveasheshowswhendeckedoutinthem.Takenbythemselves,theydobutseemtobewhattheyarenot;theylooklikevirtueatadistance,buttheyaredetectedbycloseobservers,andinthelongrun;andhenceitisthattheyarepopularlyaccusedofpretenseandhypocrisy,not,Irepeat,fromtheirownfault,butbecausetheirprofessorsandtheiradmirerspersistintakingthemforwhattheyarenot,andareofficiousinarrogatingforthemapraisetowhichtheyhavenoclaim.Quarrythegraniterockwithrazors,ormoorthevesselwithathreadofsilk,thenmayyouhopewithsuchkeenanddelicateinstrumentsashumanknowledgeandhumanreasontocontendagainstthosegiants,Passage2.“Packing”aPersonAperson,likeacommodity,needspackaging.Butgoingtoofarisabsolutelyundesirable.Alittleexaggeration,however,doesnoharm.whenitshowstheperson'suniquequalitiestotheiradvantage.Todisplaypersonalcharminacasualandnaturalway,itisimportantforonetohaveaclearknowledgeofoneself.Amasterpackagerknowshowtointegrateartandnaturewithoutanytracesofembellishment,sothatthepersonsopackagedisnocommoditybutahumanbeing,livelyandlovely.Ayoungperson,especiallyafemale,radiantwithbeautyandfulloflife,hasallthefavorgrantedbyGod.Anyattempttomakeupwouldbeself-defeating.Youth,however,comesandgoesinamomentofdoze.Packagingforthemiddle-agedisprimarilytoconcealthefurrowsploughedbytime.Ifyoustillenjoylife'sexuberanceenoughtoretainself-confidence.andpursuepioneeringwork,youareuniqueinyournaturalqualities,andyourcharmandgracewillremain.Elderlypeoplearebeautifuliftheirriveroflifehasbeen,throughplains,mountainsandjungles,runningitscourseasitshould.Youhavereallylivedyourlifewhichnowarrivesatacomplacentstageofserenityindifferenttofameorwealth.Thereisnoneedtoresorttohair-dyeing；thesnow-cappedmountainisitselfabeautifulsceneoffairyland.Letyourlookschangefromyoungtooldsynchronizingwiththenaturalageingprocesssoastokeepinharmonywithnature,forharmonyitselfisbeauty,whiletheotherwayroundwillonlyendinunpleasantness.Tobeintheelder'scompanyislikereadingathickbookofdeluxeeditionthatfascinatesonesomuchastobereluctanttopartwith.Aslongasonefindswhereonestands,oneknowshowtopackageoneself,justasacommodityestablishesitsbrandbytherightpackaging.3.ThreePassionsIHaveLivedforThreepassions,simplebutoverwhelminglystrong,havegovernedmylife:thelongingforlove,thesearchforknowledge,andunbearablepityforthesufferingofmankind.Thesepassions,likegreatwinds,haveblownmehitherandthither,inawaywardcourseoveradeepoceanofanguish,reachingtotheveryvergeofdespair.Ihavesoughtlove,first,becauseitbringsecstasy—ecstasysogreatthatIwouldoftenhavesacrificedalltherestofmylifeforafewhoursforthisjoy.Ihavesoughtit,next,becauseitrelievesloneliness—thatterriblelonelinessinwhichoneshiveringconsciousnesslooksovertherimoftheworldintothecoldunfathomablelifelessabyss.Ihavesoughtit,finally,becauseintheunionofloveIhaveseen,inamysticminiature,theprefiguringvisionoftheheaventhatsaintsandpoetshaveimagined.ThisiswhatIsought,andthoughitmightseemtoogoodforhumanlife,thisiswhat—atlast—Ihavefound.WithequalpassionIhavesoughtknowledge.Ihavewishedtounderstandtheheartsofmen.Ihavewishedtoknowwhythestarsshine...Alittleofthis,butnotmuch,Ihaveachieved.Loveandknowledge,sofarastheywerepossible,ledupwardtowardtheheavens.Butalwayspitybroughtmebacktoearth.Echoesofcriesofpainreverberateinmyheart.Childreninfamine,victimstorturedbyoppressors,helplessoldpeople—ahatedburdentotheirsons,andthewholeworldofloneliness,poverty,andpainmakeamockeryofwhathumanlifeshouldbe.Ilongtoalleviatetheevil,butIcannot,andItoosuffer.Thishasbeenmylife.Ihavefounditworthliving,andwouldgladlyliveitagainifthechancewereofferedme.Passage4.ALittleGirlSittingonagrassygrave,beneathoneofthewindowsofthechurch,wasalittlegirl.Withherheadbentbackshewasgazingupattheskyandsinging,whileoneofherlittlehandswaspointingtoatinycloudthathoveredlikeagoldenfeatheraboveherhead.Thesun,whichhadsuddenlybecomeverybright,shiningonherglossyhair,gaveitametallicluster,anditwasdifficulttosaywhatwasthecolor,darkbronzeorblack.Socompletelyabsorbedwassheinwatchingthecloudtowhichherstrangesongorincantationseemedaddressed,thatshedidnotobservemewhenIroseandwenttowardsher.Overherhead,highupintheblue,alarkthatwassoaringtowardsthesamegauzycloudwassinging,asifinrivalry.AsIslowlyapproachedthechild,Icouldseebyherforehead,whichinthesunshineseemedlikeaglobeofpearl,andespeciallybyhercomplexion,thatsheuncommonlylovely.Hereyes,whichatonemomentseemedblue-gray,atanotherviolet,wereshadedbylongblacklashes,curvingbackwardinamostpeculiarway,andthesematchedinhuehereyebrows,andthetressesthatweretossedabouthertenderthroatwerequiveringinthesunlight.AllthisIdidnottakeinatonce;foratfirstIcouldseenothingbutthosequivering,glittering,changefuleyesturnedupintomyface.Graduallytheotherfeatures,especiallythesensitivefull-lippedmouth,grewuponmeasIstoodsilentlygazing.Hereseemedtomeamoreperfectbeautythanhadevercometomeinmyloveliestdreamsofbeauty.Yetitwasnotherbeautysomuchasthelookshegavemethatfascinatedme,meltedme.Passage5DeclarationofIndependence.WhenintheCourseofhumanevents,itbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbandswhichhaveconnectedthemwithanother,andtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateandequalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandofNature'sGodentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinionsofmankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemtotheseparation.Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRights,thatamongtheseareLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.—Thattosecuretheserights,GovernmentsareinstitutedamongMen,derivingtheirjustpowersfromtheconsentofthegoverned,—ThatwheneveranyFormofGovernmentbecomesdestructiveoftheseends,itistheRightofthePeopletoalterortoabolishandtoinstitutenewGovernment,layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheirSafetyandHappiness.Prudence,indeed,willdictatethatGovernmentslongestablishedshouldnotbechangedforlightandtransientcauses;andaccordinglyallexperiencehasshown,thatmankindaremoredisposedtosuffer,whileevilsaresufferable,thantorightthemselvesbyabolishingtheformstowhichtheyareaccustomed.Butwhenalongtrainofabusesandusurpations,pursuinginvariablythesameObjectevincesadesigntoreducethemunderabsoluteDespotism,itistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrowoffsuchGovernment,andtoprovidenewGuardsfortheirfuturesecurity.—SuchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceoftheseColonies;andsuchisnowthenecessitywhichconstrainsthemtoaltertheirformerSystemsofGovernment.isahistoryofrepeatedinjuriesandusurpations,allhavingindirectobjecttheestablishmentofanabsoluteTyrannyovertheseStates.Toprovethis,letFactsbesubmittedtoacandidworld.Passage6.ATributetotheDogThebestfriendamanhasintheworldmayturnagainsthimandbecomehisenemy.Hissonordaughterthathehasrearedwithlovingcaremayproveungrateful.Thosewhoarenearestanddearesttous,thosewhomwetrustwithourhappinessandourgoodname,maybecometraitorstotheirfaith.Themoneythatamanhashemaylose.Itfliesawayfromhim,perhapswhenheneedsitmost.Aman’sreputationmaybesacrificedinamomentofill-consideredaction.Thepeoplewhoarepronetofallontheirkneestodoushonorwhensuccessiswithusmaybethefirsttothrowthestoneofmalicewhenfailuresettlesitsclouduponourheads.Theoneabsolutelyunselfishfriendthatmancanhaveinthisselfishworld,theonethatneverdesertshim,theonethatneverprovesungratefulortreacherous,ishisdog.Aman’sdogstandsbyhiminprosperityandinpoverty,inhealthandinsickness.Hewillsleeponthecoldground,wherethewintrywindsblowandthesnowdrivesfiercely,ifonlyhemaybenearhismaster’sside.Hewillkissthehandthathasnofoodtooffer;hewilllickthewoundsandsoresthatcomefromencounterwiththeroughnessoftheworld.Hewillguardthesleepofhispaupermasterasifhewereaprince.Whenallotherfriendsdesert,heremains.Whenrichestakewingsandreputationfallstopieces,heisasconstantinhisloveasthesuninitsjourneysthroughtheheavens.Iffortunedrivesthemasterforth,anoutcastintheworld,friendlessandhomeless,thefaithfuldogasksnohigherprivilegethanthatofaccompanyinghim,toguardhimagainstdanger,tofightagainsthisenemies.Andwhenthelastsceneofallcomes,anddeathtakesthemasterinitsembrace,andhisbodyislaidawayinthecoldground,nomatterifallotherfriendspursuetheirway,therebythegravewillthenobledogbefound,hisheadbetweenhispaws,hiseyessadbutopeninalertwatchfulness,faithfulandtrueevenindeath.Passage7.KnowledgeandProgressWhydoestheideaofprogressloomsolargeinthemodernworld?Surelybecauseprogressofaparticularkindisactuallytakingplacearoundusandisbecomingmoreandmoremanifest.Althoughmankindhasundergonenogeneralimprovementinintelligenceormorality,ithasmadeextraordinaryprogressintheaccumulationofknowledge.Knowledgebegantoincreaseassoonasthethoughtsofoneindividualcouldbecommunicatedtoanotherbymeansofspeech.Withtheinventionofwriting，agreatadvancewasmade,forknowledgecouldthenbenotonlycommunicatedbutalsostored.Librariesmadeeducationpossible,andeducationinitsturnaddedtolibraries:thegrowthofknowledgefollowedakindofcompoundinterestlaw,whichwasgreatlyenhancedbytheinventionofprinting.Allthiswascomparativelyslowuntil,withthecomingofscience,thetempowassuddenlyraised.Thenknowledgebegantobeaccumulatedaccordingtoasystematicplan.Thetricklebecameastream;thestreamhasnowbecomeatorrent.Moreover,assoonasnewknowledgeisacquired,itisnowturnedtopracticalaccount.Whatiscalled“moderncivilization”isnottheresultofabalanceddevelopmentofallman'snature,butofaccumulatedknowledgeappliedtopracticallife.Theproblemnowfacinghumanityis:Whatisgoingtobedonewithallthisknowledge?Asissooftenpointedout,knowledgeisatwo-edgedweaponwhichcanbeusedequallyforgoodorevil.Itisnowbeingusedindifferentlyforboth.Couldanyspectacle,forinstance,bemoregrimlyweirdthanthatofgunnersusingsciencetoshattermen'sbodieswhile,closeathand,surgeonsuseittorestorethem?Wehavetoaskourselvesveryseriouslywhatwillhappenifthistwofolduseofknowledge,withitsever-increasingpower,continues.Passage8.AddressbyEngelsOnthe14thofMarch,ataquartertothreeintheafternoon,thegreatestlivingthinkerceasedtothink.Hehadbeenleftaloneforscarcelytwominutes,andwhenwecamebackwefoundhiminhisarmchair,peacefullygonetosleep—butforever.AnimmeasurablelosshasbeensustainedbothbythemilitantproletariatofEuropeandAmerica,andbyhistoricalscience,inthedeathofthisman.Thegapthathasbeenleftbythedepartureofthismightyspiritwillsoonenoughmakeitselffelt.JustasDarwindiscoveredthelawofdevelopmentoforganicnature,soMarxdiscoveredthelawofdevelopmentofhumanhistory:thesimplefact,hithertoconcealedbyanovergrowthofideology,thatmankindmustfirstofalleat,drink,haveshelterandclothing,beforeitcanpursuepolitics,science,art,religion,etc.;thatthereforetheproductionoftheimmediatematerialmeansofsubsistenceandconsequentlythedegreeofeconomicdevelopmentattainedbyagivenpeopleorduringagivenepochformthefoundationuponwhichthestateinstitutions,thelegalconceptions,art,andeventheideasonreligion,ofthepeopleconcernedhavebeenevolved,andinthelightofwhichtheymust,therefore,beexplained,insteadofviceversa,ashadhithertobeenthecase.Butthatisnotall.Marxalsodiscoveredthespeciallawofmotiongoverningthepresent-daycapitalistmodeofproductionandthebourgeoissocietythatthismodeofproductionhascreated.Thediscoveryofsurplusvaluesuddenlythrewlightontheproblem,intryingtosolvewhichallpreviousinvestigations,ofbothbourgeoiseconomistsandsocialistcritics,hadbeengropinginthedark.Twosuchdiscoverieswouldbeenoughforonelifetime.Happythemantowhomitisgrantedtomakeevenonesuchdiscovery.ButineverysinglefieldwhichMarxinvestigated—andheinvestigatedverymanyfields,noneofthemsuperficially—ineveryfield,eveninthatofmathematics,hemadeindependentdiscoveries.Passage9.RelationshipthatLastsIfsomebodytellsyou,“I’llloveyouforever,”willyoubelieveit?Idon’tthinkthere’sanyreasonnotto.Wearereadytobelievesuchcommitmentatthemoment,whateverchangemayhappenafterwards.Asforthebeliefinaneverlastinglove,that’sanotherthing.Thenyoumaybeaskedwhetherthereissuchathingasaneverlastinglove.I’danswerIbelieveinit,butaneverlastingloveisnotimmutable.Youmayunswervinglyloveorbelovedbyaperson.Butlovewillchangeitscompositionwiththepassageoftime.Itwillnotremainthesame.Inthecourseofyourgrowthandasaresultofyourincreasedexperience,lovewillbecomesomethingdifferenttoyou.Inthebeginningyoubelievedaferventloveforapersoncouldlastdefinitely.Byandby,however,“fervent”gavewayto“prosaic”.Preciselybecauseofthischangeitbecamepossibleforlovetolast.Thenwhatwasmeantbyaneverlastinglovewouldeventuallyendupinasortofinterdependence.Weusedtoinsistonthedifferencebetweenloveandliking.Theformerseemedmuchmorebeautifulthanthelatter.Oneday,however,itturnsoutthere’sreallynoneedtomakesuchdifference.Likingisactuallyasortoflove.Bythesametoken,theeverlastinginterdependenceisactuallyaneverlastinglove.IwishIcouldbelievetherewassomebodywhowouldlovemeforever.That’s,asweallknow,tooromantictobetrue.Passage10.RushSwallowsmayhavegone,butthereisatimeofreturn;willowtreesmayhavediedback,butthereisatimeofregreening;peachblossomsmayhavefallen,buttheywillbloomagain.Now,youthewise,tellme,whyshouldourdaysleaveus,nevertoreturn?Iftheyhadbeenstolenbysomeone,whocoulditbe?Wherecouldhehidethem?Iftheyhadmadetheescapethemselves,thenwherecouldtheystayatthemoment?Idon’tknowhowmanydaysIhavebeengiventospend,butIdofeelmyhandsaregettingempty.Takingstocksilently,Ifindthatmorethaneightthousanddayshavealreadyslidawayfromme.Likeadropofwaterfromthepointofaneedledisappearingintotheocean,mydaysaredrippingintothestreamoftime,soundless,traceless.Alreadysweatisstartingonmyforehead,andtearswellingupinmyeyes.Thosethathavegonehavegoneforgood,thosetocomekeepcoming;yetinbetween,howfastistheshift,insucharush?WhenIgetupinthemorning,theslantingsunmarksitspresenceinmysmallroomintwoorthreeoblongs.Thesunhasfeet,look,heistreadingon,lightlyandfurtively;andIamcaught,blankly,inhisrevolution.Thus—thedayflowsawaythroughthesinkwhenIwashmyhands,wearsoffinthebowlwhenIeatmymeal,andpassesawaybeforemyday-dreaminggazeasreflectinsilence.Icanfeelhishastenow,soIreachoutmyhandstoholdhimback,buthekeepsflowingpastmywithholdinghands.Intheevening,asIlieinbed,hestridesovermybody,glidespastmyfeet,inhisagileway.ThemomentIopenmyeyesandmeetthesunagain,onewholedayhasgone.Iburymyfaceinmyhandsandheaveasigh.Butthenewdaybeginstoflashpastinthesigh.WhatcanIdo,inthisbustlingworld,withmydaysflyingintheirescape?Nothingbuttohesitate,torush.WhathaveIbeendoinginthateight-thousand-dayrush,apartfromhesitating?Thosebygonedayshavebeendispersedassmokebyalightwind,orevaporatedasmistbythemorningsun.WhattraceshaveIleftbehindme?HaveIeverleftbehindanygossamertracesatall?Ihavecometotheworld,starknaked;amItogoback,inablink,inthesamestarknakedness?Itisnotfairthough:whyshouldIhavemadesuchatripfornothing!Youthewise,tellme,whyshouldourdaysleaveus,nevertoreturn?Passage11.ASummerDayOnedaythirtyyearsagoMarseilleslayintheburningsun.AblazingsunuponafierceAugustdaywasnogreaterrarityinsouthernFrancethanatanyothertimebeforeorsince.EverythinginMarseillesandaboutMarseilleshadstaredatthefervidsun,andhadbeenstaredatinreturn,untilastaringhabithadbecomeuniversalthere.Strangerswerestaredoutofcountenancebystaringwhitehouses,staringwhitestreets,staringtractsofaridroad,staringhillsfromwhichverdurewasburntaway.Theonlythingstobeseennotfixedlystaringandglaringwerethevinesdroopingundertheirloadsofgrapes.Thesedidoccasionallywinkalittle,asthehotairbarelymovedtheirfaintleaves.Theuniversalstaremadetheeyesache.TowardsthedistantblueoftheItaliancoast,indeed,itwasalittlerelievedbylightcloudsofmistslowlyrisingfromtheevaporationofthesea,butitsoftenednowhereelse.Farawaythedustyvinesoverhangingwaysidecottages,andthemonotonouswaysideavenuesofparchedtreeswithoutshade,droppedbeneaththestareofearthandsky.Sodidthehorseswithdrowsybells,inlongfilesofcarts,creepingslowlytowardstheinterior;sodidtheirrecumbentdrivers,whentheywereawake,whichrarelyhappened;sodidtheexhaustedlaborersinthefields.Everythingthatlivedorgrewwasoppressedbytheglare;exceptthelizard,passingswiftlyoverroughstonewalls,andcicada,chirpingitsdryhotchirp,likearattle.Theverydustwasscorchedbrown,andsomethingquiveredintheatmosphereasiftheairitselfwerepanting.Blinds,shutters,curtains,awnings,wereallclosedanddrawntodeepoutthestare.Grantitbutachinkorakeyhole,anditshotinlikeawhite-hotarrow.Passage12.NightNighthasfallenoverthecountry.Throughthetreesrisestheredmoonandthestarsarescarcelyseen.Inthevastshadowofnight,thecoolnessandthedewsdescend.Isitattheopenwindowtoenjoythem;andhearonlythevoiceofthesummerwind.Likeblackhulks,theshadowsofthegreattreesrideatanchoronthebillowyseaofgrass.Icannotseetheredandblueflowers,butIknowthattheyarethere.FarawayinthemeadowgleamsthesilverCharles.Thetrampofhorses'hoofssoundsfromthewoodenbridge.Thenallisstillsavethecontinuouswindorthesoundoftheneighboringsea.Thevillageclockstrikes;andIfeelthatIamnotalone.Howdifferentitisinthecity!Itislate,andthecrowdisgone.Youstepoutuponthebalcony,andlieintheverybosomofthecool,dewynightasifyoufoldedhergarmentsaboutyou.Beneathliesthepublicwalkwithtrees,likeafathomless,blackgulf.Thelampsarestillburningupanddownthelongstreet.Peoplegobywithgrotesqueshadows,nowforeshortened,andnowlengtheningawayintothedarknessandvanishing,whileanewonespringsupbehindthewalker,andseemstopasshimrevolvinglikethesailofawindmill.Theirongatesoftheparkshutwithajanglingclang.Therearefootstepsandloudvoices;—atumult;—adrunkenbrawl;—analarmoffire;—thensilenceagain.Andnowatlengththecityisasleep,andwecanseethenight.Thebelatedmoonlooksovertheroofs,andfindsnoonetowelcomeher.Themoonlightisbroken.Itlieshereandthereinthesquaresandtheopeningofthestreets—angularlikeblocksofwhitemarble.Passage13.PeaceandDevelopment:theThemesofOurTimesPeaceanddevelopmentarethethemesofthetimes.Peopleacrosstheworldshouldjoinhandsinadvancingtheloftycauseofpeaceanddevelopmentofmankind.Apeacefulenvironmentisindispensablefornational,regionalandevenglobaldevelopment.Withoutpeaceorpoliticalstabilitytherewouldbenoeconomicprogresstospeakof.Thishasbeenfullyprovedbyboththepastandthepresent.Intoday’sworld,theinternationalsituationis,onthewhole,movingtowardsrelaxation.However,conflictsandevenlocalwarstriggeredbyvariousfactorshavekeptcroppingup,andtensionstillremainsinsomeareas.Allthishasimpededtheeconomicdevelopmentofthecountriesandregionsconcerned,andhasalsoadverselyaffectedtheworldeconomy.AllresponsiblestatesmenandgovernmentsmustabidebythepurposesoftheUNCharterandtheuniversallyacknowledgednormsgoverninginternationalrelations,andworkforauniversal,lastingandcomprehensivepeace.Nobodyshouldbeallowedtocausetensionorarmedconflictsagainsttheinterestsofthepeople.Therearestillinthisworldafewinterestgroups,whichalwayswanttoseekgainsbycreatingtensionhereandthere.Thisisagainstthewillofthemajorityofthepeopleandagainstthetrendofthetimes.Anenormousmarketdemandcanbecreatedandeconomicprosperitypromotedonlywhencontinuedeffortsaremadetoadvancethecauseofpeaceanddevelopment,toensurethatpeoplearoundtheworldliveandworkinpeaceandcontentmentandfocusoneconomicdevelopmentandonscientificandtechnologicalinnovation.Ihopethatallofusheretodaywilljoinhandswithallotherpeace-lovingpeopleandworkforlastingworldpeaceandthecommondevelopmentandprosperityofallnationsandregions.Passage14.Self-EsteemSelf-esteemisthecombinationofself-confidenceandself-respect—theconvictionthatyouarecompetenttocopewithlife’schallengesandareworthyofhappiness.Self-esteemisthewayyoutalktoyourselfaboutyourself.Self-esteemhastwointerrelatedaspects;itentailsasenseofpersonalefficacyandasenseofpersonalworth.Itistheintegratedsumofself-confidenceandself-respect.Itistheconvictionthatoneiscompetenttoliveandworthyofliving.Ourself-esteemandself-imagearedevelopedbyhowwetalktoourselves.Allofushaveconsciousandunconsciousmemoriesofallthetimeswefeltbadorwrong—theyarepartoftheunavoidablescarsofchildhood.Thisiswherethecriticalvoicegetsstarted.Everyonehasacriticalinnervoice.Peoplewithlowself-esteemsimplyhaveamoreviciousanddemeaninginnervoice.Psychologistssaythatalmosteveryaspectofourlives—ourpersonalhappiness,success,relationshipswithothers,achievement,creativity,dependencies—aredependentonourlevelofself-esteem.Themorewehave,thebetterwedealwiththings.Positiveself-esteemisimportantbecausewhenpeopleexperienceit,theyfeelgoodandlookgood,theyareeffectiveandproductive,andtheyrespondtootherpeopleandthemselvesinhealthy,positive,growingways.Peoplewhohavepositiveself-esteemknowthattheyarelovableandcapable,andtheycareaboutthemselvesandotherpeople.Theydonothavetobuildthemselvesupbytearingotherpeopledownorbypatronizinglesscompetentpeople.Ourbackgroundlargelydetermineswhatwewillbecomeinpersonalityandmoreimportantlyinself-esteem.Wheredofeelingsofworthlessnesscomefrom?Manycomefromourfamilies,sincemorethan80%ofourwakinghoursuptotheageofeighteenarespentundertheirdirectinfluence.Wearewhowearebecauseofwherewe’vebeen.Webuildourownbrandsofself-esteemfromfouringredients:fate,thepositivethingslifeoffers,thenegativethingslifeoffersandourowndecisionsabouthowtorespondtofate,thepositivesandthenegatives.Neitherfatenordecisionscanbedeterminedbyotherpeopleinourownlife.Noonecanchangefate.Wecancontrolourthinkingandthereforeourdecisionsinlife.Passage15.StruggleforFreedomItisnotpossibleformetoexpressallthatIfeelofappreciationforwhathasbeensaidandgiventome.Iaccept,formyself,withtheconvictionofhavingreceivedfarbeyondwhatIhavebeenabletogiveinmybooks.IcanonlyhopethatthemanybookswhichIhaveyettowritewillbeinsomemeasureaworthieracknowledgmentthanIcanmaketonight.And,indeed,IcanacceptonlyinthesamespiritinwhichIthinkthisgiftwasoriginallygiven—thatitisaprizenotsomuchforwhathasbeendone,asforthefuture.WhateverIwriteinthefuturemust,Ithink,bealwaysbenefitedandstrengthenedwhenIrememberthisday.Iaccept,too,formycountry,theUnitedStatesofAmerica.Weareapeoplestillyoungandweknowthatwehavenotyetcometothefullestofourpowers.Thisaward,giventoanAmerican,strengthensnotonlyone,butthewholebodyofAmericanwriters,whoareencouragedandheartenedby