尹思捷

On December 7th afternoon， millions of Chinese peoples WeChat Moments were bombarded with the reports of Professor Youyou Tu making speech in Karolinska Institute of Sweden. Some marveled at the fact that an 85-year- old lady should win the Nobel Prize， others rejoiced over the tremendous accomplishment achieved by this Chinese scientist， but the majority of us neglect the truth that behind this glory， it is her 40 years of unremitting commitment and diligence that have paved the way for success.

Diligence means not dreading the fatiguing climb on the ladder of progress. If we aim to gain the numinous summit， we cannot go close with laziness. As Victor Hugo once wrote， “Laziness is a mother， she has a son： robbery， and a daughter： hunger. ” Luck and opportunity will never fall upon lazy bones because if one allows his faculties to rest， like the iron in the unused key， they will soon show signs of rust and， ultimately， cannot do the work required of them. However， diligence can make the most common variable opportunity opportunity on the ground that opportunity only favors those prepared minds.

Diligence keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement. Thomas Edison is diligent， if not， the light of hope in his heart could not illuminate the whole world； Madame Curie is diligent， if not， the chemical element radium could not be discovered； and Helen Keller is diligent， if not， the devil of blindness would have devoured her life and the world would not see her classic works. Hence， those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use， so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge， the gates that guard the entrances to the professions.

Diligence vanquishes all， while laziness destroys all. Like alcohol， diligence can burn the flame of wisdom. Like vinegar， laziness can soften the spirit of the calcareous. If you crave for a bumper harvest， you are encouraged to hold fast to diligence as it is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow. Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty， so is eternal diligence the price of noble and enduring success.