新概念阅读：老者解读人生智慧

Isn’t it amazing how one person, sharing one idea at the right time and place, can change the course of another one’s life? This is what happened in my life.

如果有人在适当的时间和地点用自己的想法改变了另一个人的一生，那是多么不可思议啊!这样的事曾经发生在我身上。

When I was 14, I became a high school dropout with learning disabilities and was set out to follow my dream in Hawaii. I came across an old homeless man on the way. He stopped me as I passed by and asked me if I was running away from home. I said no, because before I left my father had given me his blessings.

14岁那年，我高中辍学，因为自己不是读书的料。我前往夏威夷追寻我的梦想，途中遇到一个流浪的老人。当我从他身旁走过时，他叫住了我，并问我是不是从家里偷偷跑出来的。我说不是，因为临走前爸爸祝福了我。

The old man then asked me if he could buy me a cup of coffee. I told him, "No, sir, but a soda would be great." So we sat down while we enjoyed our drinks. After talking for a few minutes, he said that he had something grand to share with me and led me to a library.

随后老人问是否能请我喝杯咖啡。我对他说："不，先生，一杯汽水就可以。"于是，我们坐下来喝饮料。闲聊几分钟后，老人说有重要东西与我分享，并带我来到了一家图书馆。

He went to the shelves, and a few moments later, he returned with some old books. He said, "There are two things I want to teach you, young man: Number one is to never judge a book by its cover, for a cover can fool you."

老人走向书架，不一会儿，他拿着几本旧书回来，对我说："年轻人，我想教你两件事：第一，不要从封面来判断一本书的好坏，因为封面会蒙骗你。"

He told me that he was actually one of the wealthiest men in the world. He had been reflecting upon life since his wife passed away. He realized there were certain things he had not yet experienced in life, one of which was to live like a homeless man.

他告诉我他其实是这个世上最富有的人之一。妻子死后，他便开始反思人生。他意识到生活中有些东西自己还没有体验过，其中之一就是当流浪汉。

"Number two is to learn how to read, for there is only one thing that people can’t take away from you--your wisdom," he continued.

他接着说："第二，要学会如何读书，因为只有一种东西是别人无法从你身上拿走的，那就是你的智慧。"

He then led me back on the street where we first met. His parting request was for me to never forget what he had taught me.

后来，他带我回到我们相遇的地方。分手之前，他嘱咐我说，永远不要忘了他教给我的东西。