纪伯伦*
《我曾七次鄙视自己的灵魂》

第一次，当它本可进取时，却故作谦卑

the first time when i saw her being meek that she might attain height

第二次，当它本可空虚时，用爱欲来填充

the second time when i saw her limping before the crippled

第三次，在困难和容易之间，它选择了容易

the third time when she was given to choose between the hard and the easy, and she chose the easy

第四次、它犯了错，却借由别人也会犯错来宽慰自己

the fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself that others also commit wrong

第五次、它自由软弱、却把它认为是生命的坚韧

the fifth time when she forbore for weakness, and attributed her patience to strength

第六次、当它鄙夷一张丑恶的嘴脸时，却不知那正是自己面具中的一副

the sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of her own masks