选择一位英雄作为偶像，你要赶超他，而非一味模仿他。世上有很多种杰出人物，他们是荣耀的活教材。人们应该在自己的领域中挑选一位顶级人物作为自己效法的对象。不是为了亦步亦趋地追随，而是为了激励自己做得更好。亚历山大曾在阿基里斯墓前痛哭流涕，不是为这位英雄已逝而哭(1)，而是为了自己尚未能像阿基里斯一样闻名于世而泣。世上最令人雄心勃发的，莫过于他人的盛名在心中吹起的号声。它可以加剧一个人的妒忌，也可助长一个人的大志。
choose a heroic ideal; but rather to emulate than to imitate. there are exemplars of greatness, living texts of honour. let everyone have before his mind the chief of his calling not so much to follow him as to spur himself on. alexander wept not on account of achilles dead and buried, but over himself, because his fame had not yet spread throughout the world. nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another's fame. the same thing that sharpens envy, nourishes a generous spirit.
(1) 阿基里斯为荷马史诗《伊利亚特》中的英雄。据说亚历山大曾在阿基里斯墓前哭泣，因嫉妒其名垂千古。
