这是真的吗？
我们先来看看此桥段诸多不尽相同的版本。其中以英文形式出现的版本中，频率较高的是：
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I
discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights
somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But it too seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate
attempt, I settled for changing only family, those closest to me,
but alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I
had only changed myself first, then by example I would have
changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have
been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even
changed the world.
Turning Up The Heat sermon, Turning Up The Heat sermon by Dan Cormie, Psalms, Mark
还有一些文采较差的，如
When I was young, I thought I could change the world.
when I was in my thirties, I thought I could change my country.when I got older, I thought I could only change my family. And now, when I was lying on the bed, I thought I could only change myself. I wondered if I knew and did it when I was young, I had already changed myself, my family, my country and even the world.
再如
When I was young I thought I could change the world. As I got older I realized that was not possible so I thought I could change my Country. As I grew older I realized that was not going to happen so I sought to change my City. As I grew older still, I realized that to was out of my reach. So I decided I could change my family only to learn that I couldn't. I am an old man now and I have learned to try and change myself.
Help!! i need the quote wrote on the graveyard in westminster cathedral?
还有
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."
I Wanted To Change The World
以及一些并不是很通畅的，比如这个夹杂汉语的版本
"When I was young, my dream to change the world when I matured later, I found that I can not change the world, I look a little shorter, I decided to change the country only when I entered the Munian later, I found that I We can not change the country, I just wish the last change, my family, but it can not. When I now lying in bed, Hangqiangjiumu, I suddenly realized: If I just start to change my own And then, I may change my family; his family's help and encouragement, I might do some things for the country and then, who knows «I may even change the world."
Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK Tourist Attractions and Travel
以及2001年12月出现的纯中文译文
太聪明的角落
一些来源声称此文刻在威斯敏斯特教堂地下室英国圣公会主教墓公元1100的墓碑上
比如这篇2002年1月，在达叩塔社区教堂的布道Turning Up The Heat sermon, Turning Up The Heat sermon by Dan Cormie, Psalms, Mark
网上还能搜到铭刻着碑文的石碑图像。
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
现在说说我为何觉得西敏寺没有这块碑。
一
从语言的角度看，公元1100年的英文不是上面任和一段文字的样子。那时的英语正在由古英语，也即盎格鲁萨克逊语，向中古英语转变。那时的英语语法与后世英语，特别是当代英语的差异是很大的。甚至连字母都长得不完全一样。比如这句印刷体的12世纪的英文 Icc was þær þær i crisstnedd was Orrmin bi name nemmnedd 的意思是 Where I was christened, I was named Ormin by name.
Early Middle English language -- Encyclopedia Britannica
Middle English
Ormulum
当然，上面的那些段落可能是经过翻译的。但我也试过在搜索的时候加上和中古英语、翻译相关的关键词，可也没有得到什么有用的结果。
二
从历史的角度看，那时的英格兰教会只是天主教版图上的一块，还没有异化为成为国教。所以不提主教的具体教区而直接说他是英格兰教会或圣公会主教就有点奇怪。而且，既然这位老主教死于1100年或更早的时候，那么就意味着他经历了诺曼征服事件，并且，极有可能就是来自法国诺曼地区的，说着诺曼法语的人。因为，当时英国本土的贵族，包括高级的神职人员，都在极短的时间内被诺曼人代替了。时至1096年主教职位已经没有英格兰人，英格兰人的修道院院长也变得罕有，特别是较大的修道院。（Norman conquest of England ）作为推动那次时代巨变的参与者与幸存者，他要么是本来就在支持征服者，要么是违心地顺应了征服者，屈居高位；可是，那样的话，他又如何能够恬不知耻地说 the world would not change？that "his country" seemed immovable?
三
从视觉分析的角度看，图中那块碑的铭文在只有散光照明的地下室中如何可以那么清晰？呵、呵。Westminster Abbey Crypt
四
最后，因为许多来源支持该段出自《心灵鸡汤》，而该书也未能给出更加可靠的来源，也就使得这件事更加不可信。
下面链接中提到西敏寺官网曾在常见问题部分指出西敏寺并无该段文字，系《心灵鸡汤》作品。
Westminster Abbey: Archbishop of Canterbury crowns English monarchs at this location
Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral
Help!! i need the quote wrote on the graveyard in westminster cathedral?
遗憾的是西敏寺官网上目前已经无法找到该问答。而且《心灵鸡汤》官网Search | Chicken Soup for the Soul也找不到。
不过，我找到了以下一些列佐证，证明该段出于《心灵鸡汤》：
START WITH YOURSELF
Sweet Memories和Start With yourself指出该段见于Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul. Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor, Hansen & Patty Hansen. Chicken Soup For The Soul 中也能找到。