Seven times have I despised my soul 《我曾七次鄙视自己的灵魂》

《我曾七次鄙视自己的灵魂》，纪伯以“自己的灵魂”为名，看穿人性所共有弱点的一首诗。诗句简单有力发人深省，督促人们拥有更高的精神境界，呼吁人们涤荡自己的灵魂，唾弃丑恶，追求高尚。

Seven times have I despised my soul

我曾经七次鄙视自己的灵魂

The first time when I saw her being meek that she might attain height.
第一次，是当我看到她本可进取，却故作谦卑时。

The second time when I saw her limping before the crippled.
第二次，是当我看到她在瘸子面前跛行而过时。

The third time when she was given to choose between the hard and the easy, and she chose the easy.
第三次，是当她在难易之间，却选择了容易时。

The fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself that others also commit wrong.
第四次，是当她犯了错，却借由别人也会犯错来宽慰自己时。

The fifth time when she forbore for weakness, and attributed her patience to strength.
第五次，是当她因为软弱而忍让，却声称为自己的坚韧时。

The sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of her own masks.
第六次，是当她鄙夷一张丑恶的嘴脸，却不知那正是自己面具中的一副时。

And the seventh time when she sang a song of praise, and deemed it a virtue.
第七次，是当她吟唱圣歌，却自诩为一种美德时。