“古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国；欲治其国者，先齐其家；欲齐其家者，先修其身；欲修其身者，先正其心；欲正其心者，先诚其意；欲称其意者，先致其知；致知在格物。
物格而后知至，知至而后意诚，意诚而后心正，心正而后身修，身修而后家齐，家齐而后国治，国治而后天下平。”威斯特敏斯特大教堂内某一个墓志铭：
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable.As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.
And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.”《高效能人士的七个习惯》关于影响圈的描述：
“那些可以被掌控的事情组成了一个‘影响圈’，积极主动的人专注于‘影响圈’，他们专注做自己力所能及的事情，他们的能量是积极的，能够使影响圈不断扩大，扩张和成长。
无论是能直接控制的，间接控制的还是无法控制的问题，解决的第一步都掌握在我们自己的手里。我们可以改变习惯，手段和看法，而这些都属于影响圈范围。
令人鼓舞的是，在对环境选择回应方式的同时，我们对环境的影响力也得到增强。这就像一个化学方程式，改变其中的一部分，其结果都会随着改变。”
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一本东方古代哲学书，一个西方宗教的墓志铭和一本现代的成功励志书，居然讲了同一个道理：改变世界从改变自身做起。
