It was a terrible blow to my faith when I learned that millions of my fellow creatures must labor all their days for food and shelter, bear the most crushing burdens and die without having known the joy of living. My security vanished forever, and I have never regained the radiant belief of my young years that earth is a happy home and hearth for the majority of mankind. But faith is a state of mind. The believer is not soon disheartened. If he is turned out of his shelter, he builds up a house that the winds of the earth cannot destroy.
当我得知数不清的同伴都在为他们的生计终日劳作,忍受着最沉重的压力,不曾享受生活的乐趣就黯然而逝的时候,我的信念遭到了严重的打击。我永远地失去了安 全感,也永远失去了儿时那令人欣喜的信仰:地球是多数人的幸福家园。但信念是精神的一种状态。人只要拥有信念,就不会轻言放弃。倘若他不得已颠沛流离,也 会再次建起一座房子,那是地球上任何飓风都无法摧毁的。
When I think of the suffering and famine, and the continued slaughter of men, my spirit bleeds, but the thought comes to me that, like the little deaf, dumb and blind child I once was, mankind is growing out of the darkness of ignorance and hate into the light of a brighter day.
当我想到人们依然遭受着苦难与饥荒,想到人类无休止的杀戮,我的心便会滴血。但我的脑海里会出现这样的想法:正如我曾经是个又聋又哑又盲的小女孩一样,人类也正在无知与憎恨的黑暗中慢慢成长,向更光明的明天走去。