O poema que aqui se apresenta inspirou várias publicações, foi adaptado e traduzido em mais de 20 línguas. Também foi uma inspiração para mim. Serviu de mote para a minha dissertação de mestrado. Hoje, nas minhas voltas, dei com uma versão portuguesa do poema no blog Terrear do professor José Matias Alves.
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .
BUT
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with , he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . . .
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendlienss, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .
Dorothy Law Nolte (1959)