德裔美籍人塞繆爾·厄爾曼70多年前寫的一篇只有四百多字的短文，首次在美國發表的時候，引起全美國轟動效應，成千上萬的讀者把它抄下來當作座右銘收藏，許多中老年人把它作為安排后半生的精神支柱。美國的麥克阿瑟將軍在指揮整個太平洋戰爭期間，辦公桌上始終擺著裝有短文《年輕》復印件的鏡框，文中的許多的詞句常被他在談話或開會作報告時引用。后來此文傳到日本，文章的觀點成為許多日本人生活哲學的基礎。松下公(gong)司(si)的創始(shi)人(ren)松下幸之助(zhu)說：“多(duo)年來，《年輕》始(shi)終(zhong)是(shi)我的座(zuo)右銘(ming)。”

年 輕

塞(sai)繆爾·厄(e)爾曼

　　年輕，并非人生旅程(cheng)的一段時光，也并非粉頰紅(hong)唇(chun)和(he)體魄的矯健(jian)。

　　它是(shi)(shi)心靈(ling)中的(de)(de)一種(zhong)狀態，是(shi)(shi)頭(tou)腦中的(de)(de)一個意念，是(shi)(shi)理(li)性思維中的(de)(de)創造潛(qian)力，是(shi)(shi)情(qing)感活動中的(de)(de)一股勃(bo)勃(bo)的(de)(de)朝(chao)氣，是(shi)(shi)人生春(chun)色(se)深處的(de)(de)一縷東風。

　　年輕(qing)，意(yi)味著甘愿(yuan)放棄(qi)溫馨浪漫的(de)愛情去闖(chuang)蕩生活，意(yi)味著超越羞澀、怯懦和(he)欲望的(de)膽識(shi)與氣質。而60歲的(de)男人(ren)(ren)可能比20歲的(de)小伙子更多(duo)地擁有這種膽識(shi)與氣質。沒有人(ren)(ren)僅僅因(yin)為時光的(de)流逝而變得衰(shuai)老，只(zhi)是隨著理想的(de)毀(hui)滅，人(ren)(ren)類才(cai)出現了老人(ren)(ren)。

　　歲(sui)月可以(yi)在皮膚上留下皺紋(wen)，卻無法為靈魂刻上一絲痕跡(ji)。憂(you)慮(lv)、恐懼、缺乏自信(xin)才使人佝僂(lou)于(yu)時間塵(chen)埃之中(zhong)。

　　無(wu)論(lun)是60歲(sui)還是16歲(sui)，每個人都(dou)會被未來所吸引，都(dou)會對人生競(jing)爭中的歡樂懷著(zhu)孩(hai)子(zi)般無(wu)窮無(wu)盡的渴望。

　　在你(ni)(ni)我(wo)(wo)心靈的(de)深處，同樣有(you)一(yi)個無(wu)線電(dian)臺(tai)，只要它(ta)不(bu)(bu)停地從(cong)人群中(zhong)(zhong)，從(cong)無(wu)限的(de)時間中(zhong)(zhong)接(jie)受美好、希望(wang)、歡欣、勇(yong)氣(qi)和(he)力量的(de)信息，你(ni)(ni)我(wo)(wo)就永(yong)遠年(nian)輕。一(yi)旦這無(wu)線電(dian)臺(tai)坍塌，你(ni)(ni)的(de)心便(bian)會被玩世不(bu)(bu)恭和(he)悲觀失望(wang)的(de)寒(han)冷酷雪所覆蓋(gai)，你(ni)(ni)便(bian)衰老了—即使(shi)你(ni)(ni)只有(you)20歲(sui)(sui)。但如(ru)果這無(wu)線電(dian)臺(tai)始終矗立在你(ni)(ni)心中(zhong)(zhong)，捕捉著每個樂觀向(xiang)上的(de)電(dian)波，你(ni)(ni)便(bian)有(you)希望(wang)超過年(nian)輕的(de)80歲(sui)(sui)。

　　所以只要勇于有(you)夢(meng)(meng)，敢于追(zhui)夢(meng)(meng)，勤于圓夢(meng)(meng)，我們就永遠年輕(qing)！

　　千萬不(bu)(bu)要動不(bu)(bu)動就說自(zi)己老了，錯誤引導自(zi)己！年輕就是(shi)力量，有夢(meng)就有未來！

英文全文如(ru)下：

Youth

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. It is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep spring of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often exits in a man of 60, more than a boy of 20.nobody grows merely by the number of years; we grow old by deserting our ideas. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust1 bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonders, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from infinite, so long as you are young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with the snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you’ve grown old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there’s hope you may die young at 80.

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. It is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep spring of life. These are what I have and what we have at this period of life. So, I'm still young, yes, definitely ! Come on my fellow friends, show your energy and passion to this god damn world ! Let the universe hear our voice, see our cheek, hug our enthusiasm and witness our maturity. We're going to create a brand new future !