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 the easy, and she chose the easy.
The fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself that others also commit wrong.
The fifth time when she forbore for weakness, and attributed her patience to strength.
The sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of her own masks.
And the seventh time when she sang a song of praise, and deemed it a virtue.
冰心译：
第一次是在她可以上升而却谦让的时候。
第二次是我看见她在瘸者面前跛行的时候。
第三次是让她选择难易，而她选择了易的时候。
第四次是她做错了事，却安慰自己说别人也也同样做错了事。
第五次是她容忍了软弱，而把她的忍受称为坚强。
第六次是当她轻蔑一个丑恶的容颜的时候，却不知道那是她自己的面具中之一。
第七次是当她唱一首颂歌的时候，自己相信这是一种美德。