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Why Integrity Matters誠信何以重要

What is Integrity?誠信是什么？

"Integrity" is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty." The key to integrity is consistency--not only setting high personal standards for oneself but also living up to those standards each day. One who has integrity is bound by and follows moral and ethical standards even when making life's hard choices, choices which may be clouded by stress, pressure to succeed, or temptation.對于"integrity"這個詞的定義是“堅守道德倫理原則，誠實”，達到誠信的關鍵是一致性：不僅給自己樹立高標準，更要堅持不懈遵守這些標準。誠信的人即使在面對人生中艱難的選擇時，比如飽受精神壓力、不許失敗的外部壓力或者充滿誘惑的選擇，他也能感到道德倫理的約束并遵守準則。

What happens if we lie, cheat, steal, or violate other ethical standards? We feel disappointed in ourselves and ashamed. But a lapse of integrity also affects our relationships with others. Trust is essential in any important relationship, whether personal or professional. Who can trust someone who is dishonest or unfair? Thus, integrity must be one of our most important goals.如果我們說謊了、騙人了、偷盜了、違背其他倫理準則了會如何？我們會對自己感到失望、感到羞愧。誠信的缺失對人際關系也會產生影響。在任何重要的人際關系中，不論是私人關系還是職業關系，信任都是必不可少的。可是誰能去相信一個不誠實、不公正的人呢？所以說，誠信絕對是我們最重要的目標之一。

Risky Business風險那些事

We are each responsible for our own decisions, even if the decision-making process has been undermined by stress or peer pressure. The real test of character is whether we can learn from our mistake, by understanding why we acted as we did, and then exploring ways to avoid similar problems in the future.我們每個人都需要對自己的決定負責，即便在做決定的過程中受到了精神壓力或同事施加的壓力的影響。對于性格的真正考驗是看我們能否從過錯中吸取經驗，解析自己為什么會犯下過錯，從而去探索方法，在將來避免類似問題。

Making ethical decisions is a critical part of avoiding future problems. We must learn to recognize risks, because if we can't see the risks we're taking, we can't make responsible choices. To identify risks, we need to know the rules and be aware of the facts. For example, one who doesn't know the rules about plagiarism may accidentally use words or ideas without giving proper credit, or one who fails to keep careful research notes may unintentionally fail to quote and cite sources as required. But the fact that such a violation is "unintentional" does not excuse the misconduct. Ignorance is not a defense.想要避免將來犯錯，做出合乎道德的決定至關重要。我們必須學會認識風險，因為看不到自己承擔的風險就做不出負責的決定。想要認識風險，我們需要知道事情的規則，并對實際情況有所察覺。比方說，一個不清楚剽竊規則的人可能不經意間沒有向作者守信便用了他的話或觀點，一個在研究過程中沒有仔細記錄資料來源的人可能無意中忘了將資料標注為引用而直接使用。這樣的違規雖然不是有意為之，但“無意”并不能作為行為不端的借口，無知不能作為辯護。

"But Everybody Does It"別說“每個人都這么干”

Most people who get in trouble do know the rules and facts, but manage to fool themselves about the risks they're taking by using excuses: "Everyone else does it," "I'm not hurting anyone," or "I really need this grade." Excuses can get very elaborate: "I know I'm looking at another's exam, even though I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own paper, but that's not cheating because I'm just checking my answers, not copying." We must be honest about our actions, and avoid excuses. If we fool ourselves into believing we're not doing anything wrong, we can't see the real choice we're making--and that leads to bad decisions.惹禍上身的人中絕大多數都知道規則和事實，但是他們總能找借口來忽悠自己，抹去所承擔的風險，比如“人人都這么干”、“我又沒害誰”、“我真的需要這個分數”。有些理由還很復雜：“我知道自己有偷看其他人的試卷，雖然我應該只把目光放在自己的卷子上。但那不是作弊，我不過是核對一下答案，沒有抄襲。”我們的行為必須誠實，不要給自己找借口。如果我們自欺欺人地讓自己相信沒有做錯事，那么我們將無法看清自己真正的選擇，而這會讓我們做出糟糕的決定。

To avoid fooling yourself, watch out for excuses and try this test: Ask how you would feel if your actions were public, and anyone could be watching over your shoulder. Would you feel proud or ashamed of your actions? If you'd rather hide your actions, that's a good indication that you're taking a risk and rationalizing it to yourself.想要避免自欺欺人，小心不要找借口，另外可以嘗試做這個測試：捫心自問，如果你的行為是公開的，每個人都可能在監視你的一舉一動，你是會感到驕傲呢還是羞愧呢？如果你想隱瞞自己的行為，那就明確意味著你是在冒風險并給自己找借口。

Evaluating Risks評估風險

To decide whether a risk is worth taking, you must examine the consequences, in the future as well as right now, negative as well as positive, and to others as well as to yourself. Those who take risks they later regret usually focus on immediate benefits , and simply haven't considered what might go wrong. The consequences of getting caught are serious, and may include a "0" on a test or assignment; an "F" in the class; Suspension or Dismissal from school; transcript notation; and a tarnished reputation. In fact, when you break a rule or law, you lose control over your life, and give others the power to impose punishment: you have no control over what that punishment might be. This is an extremely precarious and vulnerable position. There may be some matters of life and death, or highest principle, which might justify such a risk, but there aren't many things that fall in this category.要判斷一件事是否值得冒風險，你必須考慮各種后果：現在的將來的，積極的消極的，對己的對人的。那些冒了風險又后悔的人往往是只關注眼前利益，卻沒有考慮會造成什么影響。行為被發現的后果非常嚴重：考試和作業得零分，這門課不及格，被學校停課或開除，被記過，名譽從此有污點。事實上，一旦你違反了規則或法律，你就失去了對自己生活的控制權，同時給了別人懲罰你的權利，而你連對是何種懲罰也沒有掌控，這是極度危險脆弱的處境。也許有些理由可以為這一冒險辯護，什么事關生死、什么原則問題，但是沒有多少理由可以把你逼入這一境地。

Getting Away With It--Or Not僥幸逃脫了？不可能！

Those who don't get caught pay an even higher price. A cheater doesn't learn from the test, depriving him/herself of an education. Cheating undermines confidence and independence: the cheater is a fraud, and knows that without dishonesty, he/she would have failed. Cheating destroys self-esteem and integrity, leaving the cheater ashamed, guilty, and afraid of getting caught. Worst of all, a cheater who doesn't get caught the first time usually cheats again, not only because he/she is farther behind, but also because it seems "easier." This slippery slope of eroding ethics and bigger risks leads only to disaster. Eventually, the cheater gets caught, and the later he/she gets caught, the worse the consequences. Students have been dismissed from school because they didn't get this simple message: Honesty is the ONLY policy that works.那些沒被發現的人付出的代價其實更大。作弊者沒有通過考試學到東西，他們剝奪了自己受教育的意義。作弊會瓦解人的自信心和獨立性：作弊者是個騙子，他/她知道如果不是通過不誠實的手段，自己已經失敗了。作弊摧毀了自尊和誠信，讓作弊者陷入愧疚、罪惡感和害怕被發現的不安中。最糟糕的是，第一次作弊沒被發現的人往往還會進行第二次，不僅因為他/她在學習上更加落后了，也因為作弊看上去更容易。道德的侵蝕、風險的擴大只會導致災難，最終作弊者會被抓住，而且被抓得越晚，后果越糟。學生會被學校開除是因為不懂這個簡單的道理：誠實是唯一政策。

Cheating Hurts Others, Too作弊也傷及他人

Cheaters often feel invisible, as if their actions "don't count" and don't really hurt anyone. But individual choices have a profound cumulative effect. Cheating can spread like a disease, and a cheater can encourage others just by being seen from across the room. Recent statistics suggest 30% or more of college students cheat. If a class is graded on a curve, cheating hurts others' grades. Even if there is no curve, cheating "poisons" the classroom, and others may feel pressured to join in. Cheating also has a destructive impact on teachers. The real reward of good teaching is seeing students learn, but a cheater says, "I'm not interested in what you're trying to teach; all I care about is stealing a grade, regardless of the effect on others." The end result is a blatant and destructive attack on the quality of your education. Finally, cheating can hurt the reputation of the University, and harm those who worked hard for their degree.作弊者常認為自己的行為是無形的，對別人沒有什么意義，不會傷及他人。但其實個人的行為可以日積月累、產生深遠影響。作弊可以像疾病一樣傳播開來，其他人在教室另一邊看到了作弊者的行為，就可能受到鼓動而去作弊。最近的數據顯示有30%或以上的大學生都有作弊行為。如果一門課是采取曲線評分的方式，那么作弊就會影響到其他同學的成績。即便不是曲線評分，作弊也會毒害班級，讓其他同學感到壓力而加入其中。作弊對老師也有毀滅性的作用。老師用心教書的真正回報就是看到學生收獲知識，但是作弊者卻表示：“我對你教什么沒有興趣，我只想作弊得個好分數，不管對別人有什么影響。”最終的結果就是教育質量收到摧毀而顯著下滑。到了最后，作弊甚至影響一所學院的聲譽，影響那些為自己學業努力奮斗的人。

Why Integrity Matters誠信何以重要

If cheating becomes the norm, then we are in big trouble. We must rely on the honesty and good faith of others every day. If not, we couldn't put money in the bank, buy food, clothing, or medicine from others, drive across a bridge, get on a plane, go to the dentist--the list is endless. There are many examples of the vast harm that is caused when individuals forget or ignore the effect their dishonesty can have. The savings and loan scandal, the stock market and junk bond swindles, and, of course, Watergate, have undermined the faith of many Americans in the integrity of political and economic leaders and society as a whole. Such incidents take a tremendous toll on our nation's economy and our individual well-being. For example, but for the savings and loan debacle, there might be funds available to reduce the national debt and pay for education.如果欺騙成為了規范，那我們就麻煩大了。我們必須每天依賴別人的誠實和善意來生活，如果不是這樣，我們不敢將錢存入銀行，不敢從別人那里買食品、衣物或藥品，不敢開車過橋，不敢做飛機，不敢看牙醫……各種“不敢”數不勝數。生活中有很多實例，體現了個人忘記或無視自己不誠實行為后果所造成的巨大傷害。存貸款丑聞、股票和垃圾債券詐騙、當然還有水門事件，如此種種削弱了眾多美國公民對于政治領袖、經濟高層的信任，乃至對于整個社會的信任。這些事件對美國的國家經濟和個人福利都造成了巨大損害。比方說，倘若沒有存貸款丑聞，那國家就可能有資金緩解國債，滿足教育開支。

In sum, we all have a common stake in our school, our community, and our society. Our actions do matter. It is essential that we act with integrity in order to build the kind of world in which we want to live.總而言之，在學校、在社區、在社會，我們都有著共同的利害關系，我們的行為會產生影響。為了構建一個我們想要的世界，誠信行事至關重要。