英語短文：老者解讀人生智慧
Isn’t it amazing how one person, sharing one idea at the right time and place, can change the course of another one’s life? This is what happened in my life.
如果有人在適當的時間和地點用自己的想法改變了另一個人的一生，那是多么不可思議啊!這樣的事曾經發生在我身上。
When I was 14, I became a high school dropout with learning disabilities and was set out to follow my dream in Hawaii. I came across an old homeless man on the way. He stopped me as I passed by and asked me if I was running away from home. I said no, because before I left my father had given me his blessings.
14歲那年，我高中輟學，因為自己不是讀書的料。我前往夏威夷追尋我的夢想，途中遇到一個流浪的老人。當我從他身旁走過時，他叫住了我，并問我是不是從家里偷偷跑出來的。我說不是，因為臨走前爸爸祝福了我。
The old man then asked me if he could buy me a cup of coffee. I told him, "No, sir, but a soda would be great." So we sat down while we enjoyed our drinks. After talking for a few minutes, he said that he had something grand to share with me and led me to a library.
隨后老人問是否能請我喝杯咖啡。我對他說："不，先生，一杯汽水就可以。"于是，我們坐下來喝飲料。閑聊幾分鐘后，老人說有重要東西與我分享，并帶我來到了一家圖書館。
He went to the shelves, and a few moments later, he returned with some old books. He said, "There are two things I want to teach you, young man: Number one is to never judge a book by its cover, for a cover can fool you."
老人走向書架，不一會兒，他拿著幾本舊書回來，對我說："年輕人，我想教你兩件事：第一，不要從封面來判斷一本書的好壞，因為封面會蒙騙你。"
He told me that he was actually one of the wealthiest men in the world. He had been reflecting upon life since his wife passed away. He realized there were certain things he had not yet experienced in life, one of which was to live like a homeless man.
他告訴我他其實是這個世上最富有的人之一。妻子死后，他便開始反思人生。他意識到生活中有些東西自己還沒有體驗過，其中之一就是當流浪漢。
"Number two is to learn how to read, for there is only one thing that people can’t take away from you--your wisdom," he continued.
他接著說："第二，要學會如何讀書，因為只有一種東西是別人無法從你身上拿走的，那就是你的智慧。"
He then led me back on the street where we first met. His parting request was for me to never forget what he had taught me.
后來，他帶我回到我們相遇的地方。分手之前，他囑咐我說，永遠不要忘了他教給我的東西。
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