A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches indiameter.

　　课前，一位哲学教授站在讲台上，他面前的桌子上放了几样东西。上课后，教授什么也没说，他拿起一个又大又空的蛋黄酱罐子，然后往里面放入大概2英寸直径的小石块。

　　He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

　　然后，他问学生这个罐子是否已经满了?学生们都回答说是。

　　So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

　　然后教授就拿起一瓶小鹅卵石，然后把石头倒进罐子里，他轻轻地摇了摇罐子。这样小鹅卵石就进到石块的间隙中去。

　　He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

　　然后，他又问学生这个罐子是否已经满了?学生们都回答说是。

　　The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.

　　然后教授就拿起一瓶沙子，然后把沙子倒进罐子里，沙子又填充进了间隙中。

　　He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

　　然后，他又问学生们，这个罐子是否已经满了?学生们一致同意说：“已经满了。”

　　“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.”

　　教授说：“现在，我希望你们把人生看作是这个罐子，石头就是那些重要的事情--你们的家庭，爱人，健康，孩子，吐过把除了这些之外的其他东西都丢掉，你们的人生其实还是充实的。鹅卵石就是那些对你们不是最重要但也要紧的东西，比如你的工作、房子、车。而沙子就是那些其他的无关紧要的小事情。”

　　“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”

　　教授继续说：“如果你先把沙子放进这个罐子，那罐子里就没有地方放小鹅卵石和石块了，你们的人生也是这样。如果你将所有的时间和精力都放在那些小事情上，你就不会有精力关注那些真正对你重要的东西。将精力放在那些真正和你的幸福息息相关的事情上。和你的孩子一起玩耍。带你的爱人出去跳舞。而工作，打扫屋子，举办场宴会，修理东西，这些事情总是会有时间的。”

　　“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

　　“首先考虑岩石，即那些真正重要的事情。设置好你的优先事项。剩下的只是沙子。