An Identity of One’s Own
英语课
In the eternal universe, every human being has a one-off chance to live---his existence is unique and irretrievable, for the mold with which he was made, as Rousseau said, was broken by God immediately afterwards.
Fame, wealth and knowledge are merely worldly possessions that are within the reach of anybody striving for them. But your experience of and feelings about life are your own and not to be shared. No one can live your life over again after your death. A full awareness 1 of this will point out to you that the most important thing in your existence is your distinctive 2 individuality or something special of yours. What really counts is not your worldly success but your peculiar 3 insight into the meaning of life and your commitment to it, which add luster 4 to your personality.
It is not easy to be what one really is. There is many a person in the world who can be identified as anything ---either his job, his status or his social role---that shows no trace about his individuality. It does do him justice to say that he has no identity of his own, if he doesn't know his own mind and all his things are either arranged by others or done on others' suggestions; if his life, always occupied by external things, is completely void of an inner world. You won't be able to find anything whatever, from head to heart, that truly belongs to him. He is, indeed, no more than a shadow cast by somebody else or a machine capable of doing business.
n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智
- There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
- Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的
- She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
- This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
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