If we were fully aware of the closely linked meanings and implications of the ideas we encounter, we could easily sort out the sound ones from the unsound, the wise from the foolish, and the helpful from the harmful. But we are seldom fully aware. In many cases, we take ideas at face value and embrace them with little or no thought of their associated meanings and implications. In the course of time, our actions are shaped by those meanings and implications, whether we are aware of them or not.

如果我們充分認識到我們所接觸的想法的相關內(nèi)涵，我們就能輕易識別出什么是正確的，什么是荒謬的，什么是聰明的，什么是愚蠢的，什么是有幫助的，什么是沒益處的想法。但我們很少有完全清醒的認識，很多時候我們只認識到那些想法的表層意思卻沒有認識到它們的內(nèi)涵。一段時間下來，我們的行動，被這些想法的內(nèi)涵所塑造，不管我們有沒有意識到

our experiences can work a kind of self-hypnotism on us, suggesting a conclusion about ourselves and then urging us to make it come true.

我們的經(jīng)驗能夠使我們自我催眠，它暗示了一個關于我們的結論，然后促使我們真的變成那樣

Individuality begins in the realization that it is impossible to escape being influenced by other people and by circumstance. The essence of individuality is vigilance.

個性始于意識到無法逃脫他人和環(huán)境的影響，個性的關鍵是警覺。