「好的性格比出色的才華更值得讚揚，大部分的才華，某種程度上，都是與生俱來的禮物。好的性格相較之下，不是天生就擁有，我們得慢慢建立它 – 透過思考、選擇、勇氣以及決心。」“Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece – by thought, choice, courage and determination.”

“Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece – by thought, choice, courage and determination.”
– John Luther Long, Writer

「好的性格比出色的才華更值得讚揚，大部分的才華，某種程度上，都是與生俱來的禮物。好的性格相較之下，不是天生就擁有，我們得慢慢建立它 – 透過思考、選擇、勇氣以及決心。」– 約翰‧隆恩 (作家)
outstanding (adj.) 凸出的，顯著的。to… extent 在… 程度上。例：Our destiny is influenced to a great extent by our character. (我們的性格對命運有很大的影響力。) contrast (n.) 對比，對照。
約翰‧隆恩 (1861-1927) 是美國律師及作家，他以妹妹出訪日本所見所聞，根據史實所改篇的短篇小說《蝴蝶夫人》為其最知名著作，後來改編為全球著名的歌劇之一。