日课｜美文：On Self-Reliance
Jessie老师英语美文朗读，一遍慢速，适合模仿，一遍快速，适合练语速和听力！纯正美音，适合模仿学习。
On Self-Reliance
A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.
—Marcus Aurelius
There’s no doubt that surrounding yourself with people who support your goals is helpful. It’s easier to exercise with a friend, diet along with your spouse, or belong to a community of frugal people.
However, as Marcus Aurelius says, you need to beware of relying too much on others.
If the only reason why you exercise is because you’re doing it with a friend, the moment they drop it, you’ll likely revert to the old ways, too.
If you’re on a diet only because you want to lose weight to attract this beautiful friend of a friend, the moment you learn they’re in a relationship or aren’t interested in you, your self-control will be gone.
If you’re productive at work only because you’re afraid of your boss, how likely will you be to exhibit productivity when they aren’t around?
Your motivators should always start with you and your own resolve to make changes. External support can be valuable, but just like a person recovering from an injury isn’t fully recovered if they can’t stand without a crutch, you aren’t self-disciplined enough unless you can still stick to your resolutions even without the help of other people.
论自立
一个人必须站直，而不是被别人保持直立。
——马库斯·奥雷利乌斯
毫无疑问，与支持你的目标的人在一起是有帮助的。和朋友一起锻炼，和你的配偶一起节食，或者加入一个节俭的群体，都会更容易。
然而，正如马库斯·奥雷利乌斯所说，你需要小心不要过度依赖他人。
如果你锻炼的唯一原因是你和一个朋友一起锻炼，那么在他们放弃锻炼的那一刻，你很可能也会恢复原来的锻炼方式。
如果你节食只是因为你想减肥来吸引一个朋友的美丽的朋友，那么当你得知他们在谈恋爱或对你不感兴趣时，你的自制力就会消失。
如果你只是因为害怕你的老板而提高工作效率，那么当他们不在的时候，你有多大可能表现出工作效率？
你的动力应该始于你和你自己做出改变的决心。外部支持是很宝贵，但就像一个人要从伤病中恢复，如果没有拐杖就站不起来，那就不算康复。你只有在没有别人的帮助下仍然能坚持自己的决心，自律性才足够强。
【注释】
self-Reliance 自主；自立;；力更生
erect 垂直的；竖直的；直立的
surround 围绕；环绕
spouse 配偶
frugal 节约的；节俭的
beware 当心；小心；提防
rely 依赖；依靠
revert 恢复；回复(到以前的状态、制度或行为)
productive 有效益的；富有成效的
exhibit 表现；显示；显出（感情、品质或能力）
productivity 生产率；生产效率
motivator 操纵机构；操纵装置；动力
resolve 决心;坚定的信念
external 外界的；外来的；在外的
valuable 很有用的；很重要的；宝贵的
recover 恢复健康；康复
crutch (腿或脚受伤的人用的)腋杖，拐杖
resolution 决心；决定