A life of slothful ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack either of desire or of power to strive after great things, is as little worthy of a nation as an individual. We do not admire the man of timid peace. We admire the man who embodies victorious efforts, the man who never wrongs his neighbor, who is prompt to help a friend, but who has those virile qualities necessary to win in the stern strife of actual life. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to s...

A life of slothful ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack either of desire or of power to strive after great things, is as little worthy of a nation as an individual. We do not admire the man of timid peace. We admire the man who embodies victorious efforts, the man who never wrongs his neighbor, who is prompt to help a friend, but who has those virile qualities necessary to win in the stern strife of actual life. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to s...

I believe in the 50-percent theory. Half the time things are better than normal; the other half, they re worse. I believe life is a pendulum swing. It takes time and experience to understand what normal is, and that gives me the perspective to deal with the surprises of the future. Let’s benchmark the parameters: yes, I will die. I’ve dealt with the deaths of both parents, a best friend, a beloved boss and cherished pets. Some of these deaths have been violent, before my eyes, or slow and ago...

I believe in the 50-percent theory. Half the time things are better than normal; the other half, they re worse. I believe life is a pendulum swing. It takes time and experience to understand what normal is, and that gives me the perspective to deal with the surprises of the future. Let’s benchmark the parameters: yes, I will die. I’ve dealt with the deaths of both parents, a best friend, a beloved boss and cherished pets. Some of these deaths have been violent, before my eyes, or slow and ago...

出生于“70后”的自己，从小就在穷乡僻壤的农村长大，改革前的困苦窘迫、改革后的优裕富足，均给我留下了太多的印记，深刻见证着家乡的发展与变迁。 从吃不饱到吃得好 30多年前，我家共5口人，父母亲加上大姐、弟弟和我。当时自己家庭生活在全村来说，算是中等水平，但主要还是以吃蕨菜粑为主。那时，我因连续多天吃蕨菜粑导致消化不良，曾发生过脱肛病情，好在有当地的民间草医给予及时救治。可以说，当时吃不饱、穿不暖是常事……村里家家户户都有断粮的时候，出去讨饭或外来讨饭都见怪不怪。 “那年代好苦，为了争工分、得口白米饭你们姐弟吃，我是背着你弟弟参加小组劳动的。因劳动忙，只得任凭才三四岁的你在工地上玩泥巴、哭闹……”母亲的话，自己一直记心间，说是心寒，更多是体会到当时父母亲为家庭生活所付出的艰辛。

出生于“70后”的自己，从小就在穷乡僻壤的农村长大，改革前的困苦窘迫、改革后的优裕富足，均给我留下了太多的印记，深刻见证着家乡的发展与变迁。 从吃不饱到吃得好 30多年前，我家共5口人，父母亲加上大姐、弟弟和我。当时自己家庭生活在全村来说，算是中等水平，但主要还是以吃蕨菜粑为主。那时，我因连续多天吃蕨菜粑导致消化不良，曾发生过脱肛病情，好在有当地的民间草医给予及时救治。可以说，当时吃不饱、穿不暖是常事……村里家家户户都有断粮的时候，出去讨饭或外来讨饭都见怪不怪。 “那年代好苦，为了争工分、得口白米饭你们姐弟吃，我是背着你弟弟参加小组劳动的。因劳动忙，只得任凭才三四岁的你在工地上玩泥巴、哭闹……”母亲的话，自己一直记心间，说是心寒，更多是体会到当时父母亲为家庭生活所付出的艰辛。