文章第一段常常为人们所引用。本文是美国历史上最具传奇色彩的人物之一，美国内战时期南方联军统帅罗伯特·李将军写给儿子的信，其中包含深刻的为人处世的道理，令人受益匪浅。
You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do, on every occasion. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it, if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot. You would wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.
Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one. The man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates. You will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.
If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain. There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to do one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should say and do nothing to the injury of any one. It is not only a matter of principle, but also the path of peace and honor.
A Letter From Robert E. Lee to Mildred Childe Lee, dated Dec. 25, 1862
［参考译文］
坦诚
罗伯特·E. 李
在世间必须学会以真诚示人：坦诚乃是诚实与勇敢之子。无论在何种场合，都应该道出自己的真实想法。如果朋友对你有所求，对于合情合理之请，应该欣然同意，不然，应该明明白白地告诉朋友拒绝的缘由。任何模棱两可的话语都会让别人误解，也会使自己蒙受冤屈。
从来不要为了结交朋友或者挽留友情而做错一事。对你有这种要求的人也会付出沉重的代价。与同学真心相对，决不背叛。你会发现这是最有效的准则。最要紧的是，要以真实面目示人。
如果发现某人有任何缺点，直接告诉他你的意见，而不是诉之他人。人前一套，背后又是一套，没有什么比这更使你危机四伏。任何有损他人的言语或者事情我们都应该避免。这不仅是一种做人的原则，也是通向平和的人际关系、获得他人尊敬之道。
［注释］
-frankness [ˈfræŋknɪs] n. 坦白；率直 candidness; outspokenness
-occasion [əˈkeɪʒən] n. 时机 timely opportunity
-favor [ˈfeɪvə(r)] n. 恩惠；眷顾 kindness; friendly regard
-grant [ɡrɑːnt] v. 同意，允许；给 allow; give
-reasonable [ˈriːzənəbl] v. 正当的；合理的 proper; rational
-plainly [ˈpleɪnlɪ] adv. 坦白地 frankly
-wrong [rɒŋ] v. 得罪 do injustice to
-equivocationc [ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃn] n. 闪烁其词，模棱两可的话 using expressions of uncertain meaning
deal with ：对待
-wear [weə(r)] v. 持久 endure
above all ：首先，最重要
have any fault to find with ：指摘；责备
-experiment [ɪkˈsperɪmənt] v. 试验 practical test
undertake to do sth ：许诺做某事，同意做某事
-injury [ˈɪnʤərɪ] n. 损害 damage
-principle [ˈprɪnsəpl] n. 原则；道义 moral principles