第7部分(第4/6 頁)

eper；　herself　a　widow　with　seven　children。　“That；　considering　the　world　we　live　in；　death　is　not　the　worst　thing　that　can　happen　to　a　person。”

“One　thing　I　can’t　understand；”　a　politician　once　said　to　me；　“is　why　one’s　achievements　are　hardly　ever　in　proportion　to　the　time　and　energy　spent　on　a　project。　Ventures　I　give　my　heart　and　soul　to　e　to　nothing；　whereas　others；　to　which　I　pay　only　scant　attention；　fall　neatly　into　place。”

It　reminded　me　of　advice　given　many　years　ago　by　one　of　my　teachers　at　drama　school。　“Keep　going　to　auditions；”　she　told　the　group　of　prospective　actors。　“Send　out　your　details；　pester　producers。　You　may　never　get　the　parts　you　hope　for；　but　in　my　experience；　effort　is　always　rewarded。　An　offer　will　e　your　way　– though　often　from　a　direction　you　never　anticipated。”

Why　is　that　so？　I　wondered　then。　Now　I　say；　why　ever　not？　How　could　we　possibly　expect　to　gauge　in　advance　other　people’s　reactions？　It　would　be　curious　indeed　if　we　could；　since　they　have　motives　of　their　own；　of　which　we　know　nothing。

But　as　long　as　we　reach　out；　put　into　the　world　what　we　have　of　talents　and　mitment；　like　bread　upon　the　waters　it　will　e　back– in　one　shape　or　another。

The　thing　to　do　is　to　keep　trying；　unfazed　by　rejection　or　failure；　on　the　assumption　that　efforts　do　pay　off；　even　though　not　necessarily　in　the　way　we　expected。

Equality　of　opportunity　is　a　fine　ideal　generally　subscribed　to。　Who　wouldn’t　agree　that　everyone　should　be　given　the　same　fair　chance？

But　how　can　we　call　it　fair？　This　principle；　when　applied；　is　the　very　anti…thesis　of　equality：　a　cruel　weeding　out　of　those　unable　to　take　advantage　of　the　opportunities　extended。

It　would　be　different　if　all　contenders　started　at　the　same　base　line。