“When I managed to gain the child’s confidence he told me the story I expected to hear － the story children almost invariably (=constantly; unchangingly) tell in such cases.
　　 “’Why don’t people like me,’ he asked, ‘the same as they like my brother? When he does anything they smile. When I do anything they scowl (=frown). I can’t ever seem to do anything as good as he does.’
　　 “ I separated those boys as much as possible,” said Dr. Wile. “I had them placed in different classes in school. I told their parents to stop using comparisons as a goad upon the backward one, and to praise him for his own little accomplishments. When I had him standing on his own feet he soon made headway (=made progress). He had just been withering in his brother’s shadow. [作文地带提示您注意：这句用了过去完成进行式].
　　 “In other cases brought to me I find it necessary to counteract a parental tendency toward overpraise. Too much praise may turn a child into a snob. When such children are brought to me I have to trim their sails (=adjust their attitude, as in adjusting sails to keep the ship in a proper balance), deflate (挫…的傲气)them . Usually it is the parents who really need deflating.”
　　 Today nearly every big business organization builds on the foundation of encouragement given by the head of the firm to the workers. The system pays (=is worth while). Ten years ago this was not the case.
　　 It requires experience, an attentive eye, and real knowledge of human nature to know just what to praise in another person and to choose just the right moment for doing it. Serious study is necessary and application. Flash criticism is much easier than intelligent praise; and, unlike flattery, real praise is much more than an indolent (=lazy) short cut to friendliness.
　　 The wises man I ever knew said once, “ If people did no more than they had to, life would come to a standstill tomorrow.” The bit over and above what we are obliged to perform counts (=matters; is important) most of all. Duty alone will never inspire that last, extra grind (=drudgery 苦活). Only devotion backed by self-respect can win it. And such devotion comes only to those whose judgments are just, yet whose praise is willing, quick, and generous.
liuxuepaper Note － Adapted from Liberty.