It is not difficult to imagine a world short of ambition（野心，抱负） . It would probably be a kinder world: without demands, without abrasions（擦伤，磨损） , without disappointments. People would have time for reflection. Such work as they did would not be for themselves but for the collectivity（集体） . Competition would never enter in. Conflict would be eliminated, tension become a thing of the past. The stress of creation would be at an end. Art would no longer be troubling, but purely celebratory（快乐的） in its functions. Longevity would be increased, for fewer people would die of heart attack or stroke caused by tumultuous（吵闹的） endeavor. Anxiety would be extinct. Time would stretch on and on, with ambition long departed from the human heart.
Ah, how unrelieved（未减轻的） boring life would be!
There is a strong view that holds that success is a myth, and ambition therefore a sham（假装，骗子） . Does this mean that success does not really exist? That achievement is at bottom empty? That the efforts of men and women are of no significance alongside the force of movements and events now not all success, obviously, is worth esteeming, nor all ambition worth cultivating. Which are and which are not is something one soon enough learns on one’s own. But even the most cynical secretly admit that success exists; that achievement counts for a great deal; and that the true myth is that the actions of men and women are useless. To believe otherwise is to take on a point of view that is likely to be deranging（扰乱） . It is, in its implications, to remove all motives for competence, interest in attainment（成就） , and regard for posterity（子孙） .
We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch（新纪元） , the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing（教养） . We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death. But within all this realm（领域） of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live: courageously or in cowardice（怯懦） , honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or in drift. We decide what is
相关单词：abrasions
abrasions解释：n.磨损( abrasion的名词复数 )；擦伤处；摩擦；磨蚀（作用）
abrasions例句：
He suffered cuts and abrasions to the face. 他的脸上有许多划伤和擦伤。
The bacteria get into humans through abrasions in the skin. 细菌可以通过擦伤处进入人体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：purely
purely解释：adv.纯粹地，完全地
purely例句：
I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。
相关单词：longevity
longevity解释：n.长命；长寿
longevity例句：
Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。
相关单词：sham
sham解释：n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)
sham例句：
They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。
相关单词：esteeming
esteeming解释：v.尊敬( esteem的现在分词 )；敬重；认为；以为
esteeming例句：
相关单词：cynical
cynical解释：adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的
cynical例句：
The enormous difficulty makes him cynical
He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
相关单词：deranging
deranging解释：v.疯狂的，神经错乱的( deranged的过去分词 )；混乱的
deranging例句：
相关单词：motives
motives解释：n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )
motives例句：
to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
相关单词：competence
competence解释：n.能力，胜任，称职
competence例句：
This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。
相关单词：attainment
attainment解释：n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣
attainment例句：
We congratulated her upon her attainment to so great an age.我们祝贺她高寿。
The attainment of the success is not easy.成功的取得并不容易。
相关单词：posterity
posterity解释：n.后裔，子孙，后代
posterity例句：
Few of his works will go down to posterity.他的作品没有几件会流传到后世。
The names of those who died are recorded for posterity on a tablet at the back of the church.死者姓名都刻在教堂后面的一块石匾上以便后人铭记。
相关单词：epoch
epoch解释：n.(新)时代；历元
epoch例句：
The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。
相关单词：immediate
immediate解释：adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
immediate例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
相关单词：courageously
courageously解释：ad.勇敢地，无畏地
courageously例句：
Under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the army and civilians in flooded areas fought the floods courageously, reducing the losses to the minimum. 在中共中央、国务院的正确领导下，灾区广大军民奋勇抗洪，把灾害的损失减少到了最低限度。
He fought death courageously though his life was draining away. 他虽然生命垂危，但仍然勇敢地与死亡作斗争。
相关单词：cowardice
cowardice解释：n.胆小，怯懦
cowardice例句：
His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。
