格。

我相信我們的未來！

I　Believe

Anonymous

For　my　part；　in　the　25　years　since　my　Harvard　graduation；　I　have　e　to　believe　in　hope　over　despair；　striving　over　resignation1；　faith　over　cynicism。

I　believe　in　the　power　of　knowledge　to　make　the　world　a　better　place。　Cynics　may　say，　human　beings　have　never　learned　anything　from　history。　All　that　is　truly　useful　about　knowledge　is　that　it　can　provide　you　with　advantages　over　the　pack。　But　the　cynics　are　wrong：　we　have　the　capacity　to　learn　from　our　mistakes　and　transcend2　our　past。　Indeed；　in　this　very　place　we　have　been　taught　that　truth—Veritas3—can　set　us　free。

I　believe　in　finding　fulfillment　in　family；　for　the　family　is　the　true　center　of　a　meaningful　life。　Cynics　may　say，　all　families　are　confining　and　ultimately　dysfunctional。　The　very　idea　of　family　is　outdated　and　unworkable。　But　the　cynics　are　wrong：　it　is　in　our　families　that　we　learn　to　love。

I　believe　in　working　to　achieve　social　justice　and　freedom　for　all。　Cynics　may　scorn　this　notion　as　naive；　claiming　that　all　our　efforts　for　equal　opportunity；　for　justice；　for　freedom　have　created　only　a　wasteland　of　failed　hopes。　But　the　cynics　are　wrong：　freedom　is　our　destiny；　justice　is　our　guide；　we　shall　overe。

I　believe　in　protecting　the　Earth’s　environment　against　an　unprecedented　onslaught4。　Cynics　may　laugh　out　loud　and　say　there　is　no　utility　in　a　stand　of　thousand　year　old　trees；　a　fresh　breeze；　or　a　mountain　stream。　But　the