英语两分钟演讲

Small Kindness

Small kindnesses are those simple deeds of goodness that we perform in our daily life, not merely to our friends and kin, but also to complete strangers, not for the sake of receiving some remuneration in return, but sheerly out of a spirit of generosity and unselfish consideration for the

welfare of others.

When we read the daily newspapers, we are frequently appraised of the Big Kindnesses performed by well-to-do philanthropists who donate large sums of money for the establishment of schools, libraries, free hospitals for the poor, orphanages, and the like. These, of course, are laudable acts of charity that deserve wide public acclaim. But in my estimation, those many minor acts of kindness performed daily ion assorted situations by public-minded citizens who receive no recognition or plaudits from the mass media are equally commendable.

I think that in the eyes of the Almighty, the good-hearted white-collar worker who gives up his seat on a crowded commuter train to someone frail, aged or crippled, even though he himself is extremely tried after his day’s work, is just as deserving of praise, or maybe even more so, than

the billionaire philanthropist who has given away a million dollars for the establishment of a new old people’s home.

In the large cities of any country, where the general tendency of the people is “to look out only for one’s own interests”, the atmosphere is cold and miserable for those unable to keep up with the rapid pace of competition. Let us all try remedy the situation by launching a personal campaign to perform a small kindness each day, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, so that our society will be

a much better place to live in.

平凡的善行

平凡的善行就是一些我们在日常生活当中所做的、简单的好事。不只对我们的亲友，结全然陌生的人也一样；不是为了报酬，完全是出自一种为他人福祉的慷慨、无私的精神。

我们每天看报，常得知富有的慈善家所作“伟大的善行”。他们捐很多的钱盖学校、图书馆、免费为穷人看病的医院、孤儿院等等。当然这值得民众赞美的慈善行为。但我认为，那些没受到大众传播媒介褒奖或赞扬、具有服务大众热忱的市民所作较小的善行，一样值得赞赏。我认为在上帝眼中，一个好心的白领阶级，即使在工作一天后极度疲惫，在挤满通勤者的火车上让位给老弱或残障者，也一样值得赞美，甚至比那些捐一百万元建造一座新的老人院的亿万慈善家更值得表

扬。

在任何国家的大城市，居民的共同倾向就是“自扫门前雪”。对于那些无法赶上这种快速竞争步调的人，气氛是冷默无情的。让我们发起个人运动，试着来修正这促情形。无论事情多么微不足道，每天是行一善，那么我们的社会将会更适于居住。

remuneration n. 报酬

apprais v.报告，通知

philanthropist n. 慈善家

orphanage n. 孤儿院

laudable a. 值得赞美的

acclaim n. 称赞，喝采

plaudit n. 赞扬

commendable a. 值得称赞的

commuter n. 通勤者

crippled a. 残废的

atmosphere n. 气氛

inconsequential a.不重要的