三次比賽贏得另一種精彩

成功的真諦不在于贏得比賽，而在于領悟到：比勝利更為重要的東西還有很多。

An ancient fable told the story of a young athletic boy hungry for success， for whom winning was everything and success was measured by such a result.

One day， the boy was to compete in a running race with two other young boys. A large crowd gathered to watch the sporting spectacle1)， and a wise old man came to witness also.

The race began. All three boys were neck in neck2) almost at the finish line. However， the boy from our story called on his determination， strength and power and became the first. The crowd cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm， expressing no sentiment3). The little boy， however， felt proud and important.

A second race was called， and two new young， fit， challengers came forward， to run with the little boy. Sure enough the little boy came through and finished first once again. The crowd again cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man again remained still and calm， expressing no sentiment. The little boy again felt proud and important.

\"Another race， another race!\" pleaded the little boy. The wise old man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers， an elderly frail lady and a blind man. \"What is this?\" asked the little boy. \"This is no race，\" he exclaimed. \"Race!\" said the wise man. The race began and the boy was the only finisher， the other two challengers left standing at the starting line. The little boy was excited and he raised his arms in delight. The crowd， however， were silent， showing no sentiment toward the little boy.

\"What has happened? Why don't the people join in celebrating my success?\" he asked the wise old man. \"Race again，\" replied the wise man. \"This time， finish together， all three of you， finish together，\" continued the wise man. The little boy thought a little， stood in the middle of the blind man and the frail old lady， and then took the two challengers by the hand. The race began and the little boy walked slowly， ever so slowly， to the finish line and crossed it. The crowd cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man smiled， gently nodding his head. The little boy felt proud and important.

\"Old man， I don't understand! Who are the crowd cheering for? Which one of us three?\" asked the little boy. The wise old man looked into the little boy's eyes， placing his hands on the boy's shoulders， and replied softly. \"Little boy， in this race you have won much more than in any race you have ever run before， and in this race the crowd didn't cheer for any winner!\"