Perhaps the most vital person I have ever met is an Italian professor of philosophy who teaches at the University of Pisa．Although I last met this man eight years ago， I have not forgotten his special qualities．First of all，I was impressed by his devotion to teaching． Because his lectures were always well-prepared and clearly delivered， students swarmed into his classroom． His followers appreciated the fact that he believed in what he taught and that he was intellectually stimulating．Furthermore， he could be counted on to explain his ideas in an imaginative way，introducing such aids to understanding as paintings， recordings，pieces of sculpture， and guest lecturers． Once he even sang a song in class to illustrate a point． Second， I admired the fact that he would confer with students outside of the classroom or talk with them on the telephone． Drinking coffee in the snack bar， he would easily make friends with students． Sometimes he would challenge a student to a game of chess． At other times， he would join groups to discuss subjects ranging from astronomy to scuba diving． Many young people visited him in his office for academic advice； others came to his home for social evenings． Finally，I was attracted by his lively wit． He believed that no class hour is a success unless the students and the professor share several chuckles and at least one loud laugh．Through his sense of humor， he made learning more enjoyable and more lasting．If it is true that life makes a wise man smile and a foolish man cry，then my friend is truly a wise man． Probably the best example of his wit is this bit of wisdom with which he once ended a lecture：“It is as dangerous for man to model himself upon his invention， the machine，as it would be for God to model Himself upon His invention．”
也许，我所遇见的最有活力的人要算一位在比萨大学教书的意大利哲学教授。虽然我还是八年前见过他，但我并没有忘记他的特点。首先，他给我的印象深刻的是他对教学热爱。因为他的课总是准备充分而且表达清楚，所以学生们总是蜂涌来听他讲课。他对自己所教授的内容深信不疑，他很能激发求知欲，这些受到他的追随者的赞赏。而且，他总是利用图片、录音、雕塑等工具，或者请来特约教师，以一种形象的方式来解释他的思想。有一次，他甚至在课堂上唱起一首歌来阐明一个论点。其次，我很欣赏他和同学生进行课外讨论或者进行电话交谈的作法。在快餐馆喝咖啡的时候，他能平易地与学生交朋友。有时，他会跟一个学生来一盘棋，有时又参加集体讨论，话题从天文学一直到海底。许多青年人常去他办公室请教学术问题；还有些人去他家参加社交晚会。最后，我常为他的机智所打动。他认为，师生在课堂中如果没有一些会意的微笑，没有一次开怀的大笑，那么这堂课就不能算成功。在他的幽默感染下，学习变得更为轻松愉快，也能更持久。生活使智者微笑，使愚者哭泣，如果此话当真，那我这位朋友肯定是个智者。关于他的机智，最好的例子可能就是有一次他结束讲课时所说的一句智语：“上帝模仿自己的发明是危险的，人类模仿自己的发明——机器——也是危险的。”
