第8部分(第5/7 頁)

　decision…to　learn　to　open　or　close　one's　mind。

〃Look；　school　is　very；　very　important。　You　go　to　school　to　learn　a　skill　or　profession　so　as　to　be　a　contributing　member　of　society。　Every　culture　needs　teachers；　doctors；　mechanics；　artists；　cooks；　business　people；　police　officers；　firefighters；　soldiers。　Schools　train　them　so　our　culture　can　thrive　and　flourish；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Unfortunately；　for　many　people；　school　is　the　end；　not　the　beginning。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。　Rich　dad　was　smiling。　I　did　not　prehend　everything　he　said　that　day。　But　as　with　most　great　teachers；　whose　words　continue　to　teach　for　years；　often　long　after　they're　gone；　his　words　are　still　with　me　today。

〃I've　been　a　little　cruel　today；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Cruel　for　a　reason。　I　want　you　to　always　remember　this　talk。　I　want　you　to　always　think　of　Mrs。　Martin。　I　want　you　always　to　think　of　the　donkey。　Never　forget；　because　your　two　emotions；　fear　and　desire；　can　lead　you　into　life's　biggest　trap；　if　you're　not　aware　of　them　controlling　your　thinking。　To　spend　your　life　living　in　fear；　never　exploring　your　dreams；　is　cruel。　To　work　hard　for　money；　thinking　that　money　will　buy　you　things　that　will　make　you　happy　is　also　cruel。　To　wake　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　terrified　about　paying　bills　is　a　horrible　way　to　live。　To　live　a　life　dictated　by　the　size　of　a　paycheck　is　not　really　a　life。　Thinking　that　a　job　will　make　you　feel　secure　is　lying　to　yourself。　That's　cruel；　and　that's　the　trap　I　want　you　to　avoid；　if　possible。　I've　seen　how　money　runs　people's　lives。　Don't　let　that　happen　to　you。　Please　don't　let　money　run　your　life。〃

A　softball　rolled　under　our　table。　Rich　dad　picked　it　up　and　threw　it　back。

〃So　what　does　ignorance　have　to　do　with　greed　and　fear？〃　I　asked