作者 : 加拿大素人作家 沙姐
我從小喜歡的事物就與眾不同，墓誌銘是其中之一。到了國外，更對報紙上刊登的訃文(Obituary)非常喜愛，從短短的幾行字，就把一個人一生個性、喜好，完全如傳記表述， 雖未曾見面， 但看後有時也會起了敬意。
今天雜談中，我摘譯了最具深義的墓誌銘，可以從中明白人生是充滿矛盾。矛盾生損耗，也因為有損耗而感沮喪、無奈。為甚麼會感沮喪、無奈？答案其實很簡單：訂錯目標。因為不了解自己真正資源、於是緣木求魚、刻舟求劍。
“榮譽的塔尖”西敏市大教堂 (Westminster Abbey)，是英國國王即位加冕的地方、王室成員舉行婚禮的大禮堂，地底下還是許多王公貴族的國葬陵墓，和歷史上各個领域中最杰出的偉人，其中最具影響力的墓誌銘就是下面所述：
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits， I dreamed of changing the world.
年少時，意氣風發，胸懷大志，夢想改變世界。
As I grew older and wiser， I discovered the world would not change， so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
年事稍長，閱歷增多，發覺自己無力改變世界，于是我缩小志向，決定先改變我的國家。
But it， too， seemed immovable.
但这目標還是太遠了。
As I grew into my twilight years， in one last desperate attempt， I settled for changing only my family， those closest to me， but alas， they would have none of it.
步入中年，無奈之餘，只能試著從親密的家人身上開始改變。但為時已晚，他們還是维持原樣。
And now， as I lie on my deathbed， I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first， then by example I would have changed my family.
現我近黃昏，我終於明白：我應該先改變自己，用以身作則來影響家人。
From their inspiration and encouragement， I would then have been able to better my country， and who knows， I may have even changed the world
從家庭的改變，再家鄉，再國家，再世界。
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