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塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯：自助论·摘录 221
塞缪尔·斯迈尔斯《自助论》· Self-Help · 领导
And here we would repeat what we have said before, that it is not men of genius who move the world and take the lead in it, so much as men of steadfastness, purpose, and indefatigable industry. Notwithstanding the many undeniable instances of the precocity of men of genius, it is nevertheless true that early cleverness gives no indication of the height to which the grown man will reach. Precocity is sometimes a symptom of disease rather than of intellectual vigour. What becomes of all the “remarkably clever children?” Where are the duxes and prize boys? Trace them through life, and it will frequently be found that the dull boys, who were beaten at school, have shot ahead of them. The clever boys are rewarded, but the prizes which they gain by their greater quickness and facility do not always prove of use to them. What ought rather to be rewarded is the endeavour, the struggle, and the obedience; for it is the youth who does his best, though endowed with an inferiority of natural powers, that ought above all others to be encouraged.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/935
定位：Excerpt 221 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
推动世界、引领潮流的，不是天才，而是坚定、有目标、勤奋不倦的人。虽然天才早慧的例子不少，但早年的聪明并不能预示成年后的高度。早熟有时是病态而非智力旺盛。那些“特别聪明的孩子”后来怎样了？跟踪调查会发现，常是当年被甩在后面的“笨孩子”后来居上。聪明孩子得到的奖励，未必对他们有用。真正该奖励的是努力、奋斗和服从。天资稍差但竭尽全力的年轻人，最值得鼓励。所以，不要迷信天赋，持续努力才是关键。
上下文
斯迈尔斯在《自助》中反驳天才决定论，强调毅力和勤奋的价值。
今日一问
你是否因为觉得自己“不够聪明”而放弃过什么？现在可以怎样用努力弥补？
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