威斯特敏斯特大教堂的一塊墓碑上，刻著這樣的一段話：

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits，I dreamed of changing theworld.

As I grew older and wiser， I discovered the world would not change， so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it， too， seemed immovable.

As I grewinto my twilight years， in one last desperate attempt， I settled for changing only my family， those closest to me， but alas， they would have none of it.

And now， as Ilie on my death bed， I suddenly realize：

If I had only changed myself first， then by example I would have changed my family.From their in spiration and encouragement， I would then have been able to better my country，and who knows， I may have even changed the world.

譯文：

當我年輕的時候，我的想象力從沒有受到過限制，我夢想改變這個世界。

當我成熟以后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)我不能改變這個世界，我將目光縮短了些，決定只改變我的國家。

當我進入暮年后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)我不能改變我的國家，我的最后愿望僅僅是改變一下我的家庭。但是，這也不可能。

當我躺在床上，行將就木時，我突然意識到：如果一開始我僅僅去改變我自己，然后作為一個榜樣，我可能改變我的家庭；在家人的幫助和鼓勵下，我可能為國家做一些事情。然后誰知道呢？我甚至可能改變這個世界。

在中國也有一句相似而且簡潔的一句話:修身、齊家、治國、平天下。