Douglas MacArthur's Prayer for His Son
Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak; and brave enough to face himself
when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat and humble and gentle in victory.
Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee -- and that to know
himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and
challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.
Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he
seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.
And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be
serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the
simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.
Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain!"
麦克阿瑟为儿子祈祷文
主啊！求你使我的儿子
坚强到一个地步以致能知道自己的软弱，
勇敢到一个地步以致在恐惧中能面对自己。
使他成为一个败不馁、胜不骄的人。
求你使我的儿子
不作一个只有幻想而无行动的人，
使他认识你
——同时也知道认识自己是知识的基石。
我恳求你，
不要让他走上安逸舒适的路，
而是要接受重压、苦难与挑战。
让他学习在风暴中站起身来，
让他学习对于失败的人有切身的同情。
求你使我的儿子心地明朗，目标远大，
使他在指挥别人之前先会驾奴自己，
使他成为一个远瞻未来
但不忘记过去的人。
如果他能作到这一切，
主啊！我还要求你，
赐给他足够的幽默感，
使他在严肃中不为已甚；
赐给他谦卑的心，
使他时刻紧记伟大不一定要轰轰烈烈、
智慧必须加上开明，
以及勇力必须带有谦和。
如此，为父的我，
才敢轻声地说：“我没有虚度此生。”
