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奥里森·斯威特·马登：向前进·摘录 315
奥里森·斯威特·马登《向前进》· Pushing to the Front · 领导
We must not jump to the conclusion that because a man has not succeeded in what he has really tried to do with all his might, he cannot succeed at anything. Look at a fish floundering on the sand as though he would tear himself to pieces. But look again: a huge wave breaks higher up the beach and covers the unfortunate creature. The moment his fins feel the water, he is himself again, and darts like a flash through the waves. His fins mean something now, while before they beat the air and earth in vain, a hindrance instead of a help.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21291
定位：Excerpt 315 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
不能因为一个人在某件事上拼尽全力仍没成功，就断定他什么都做不成。看那条在沙滩上扑腾的鱼，好像要把自己撕碎；可一个浪头打来，水一漫过，鱼鳍一碰到水，它立刻恢复活力，像闪电一样游走。鱼鳍在空气和沙土里拍打是白费力气，反而碍事；一回到水里，就成了帮助。这说明，失败有时不是能力不行，而是环境不对。换到适合的领域，同样的特质可能立刻变成优势。所以失败后要检查方向，而不是全盘否定自己。
上下文
马登在《奋力向前》中用鱼搁浅的比喻，说明失败可能只是放错了位置，而非能力不足。
今日一问
你最近一次失败，是因为能力不够，还是因为环境或方向不适合你？
公版作品；原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg，仅摘录段落并附全书链接。
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