Seven times have I despised my soul
——Kahlil Gibran
The first time when I saw her being meek that she might attain height.
The second time when I saw her limping before the crippled.
The third time when she was given to choose between the hard and theeasy, and she chose the easy.
The fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself thatothers also commit wrong.
The fifth time when she forbore for weakness, and attributed her patienceto strength.
The sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew notthat it was one of her own masks.
And the seventh time when she sang a song of praise, and deemed it avirtue.
第一次，当她本可进取时，却故作谦卑。
第二次，当她在腿残者眼前时，却跛行而过。
第三次，在困难与容易之间，她选择了容易。
第四次，她犯了错，却借由别人也会犯错来宽慰自己。
第五次，她因脆弱而忍让时，却认为是生命的坚韧。
第六次，当她鄙夷一张丑恶的嘴脸时，却不知那正是自己面具中的一副。
第七次，当她吟唱颂歌时，却自以为是一种美德。
作者纪伯伦以“自己灵魂”为名，看穿人性共有弱点，诗句简单却发人深省，呼吁人们涤荡自己灵魂，唾弃丑恶，追求高尚。
你曾经是否放弃过得来不易的机会，是否死要面子活受罪？
你曾经是否在他人面前故作姿态，撕裂她人伤口，往上撒盐？
你曾经是否在面临选择时，因自身惰性，放弃追求，而选择简单？
你曾经是否犯了错寻找借口，却没有反省自身，认识错误，改正错误？
你曾经是否正视过自己的忍让、懦弱、无能？
你曾经是否以貌取人，视他人为无物，自私傲慢？
你曾经是否自以为是，目中无人，妄自尊大？
何为善，何为恶？
坚持本心，不去做伤害他人之事，以一颗真诚之心善待他人，善待自己。
