世界的好坏，关键在家庭。家庭教育好，子女的前途就光明；家庭教育不好，子女的前途就黑暗。虽然不能一概而论，大致上是差不多的。

The family is the key factor that determines whether the world is good or bad. If children are brought up well at home, they will have a promising future to look forward to. If they aren't raised well, they will have a bleak future ahead of them. This is true in most cases.

所以身为父母的，一言一行，一举一动，都要谨慎，不可随便。父母的行为不检，很容易影响子女变坏。没有家教的儿童，将来就会成为社会的败类，国家的包袱。父母要负起教育的责任，以身作则，做子女的好榜样，所行所做，光明磊落，舍己为人，有悲天悯人的思想。这样子女受到熏习，自然成为优良的公民，有助于社会的安定，将来成为国家栋梁之材。

Therefore, parents should act and speak with great care and not be too casual. If parents don't reflect upon their own conduct, they may become bad influences on their children. If children aren't raised well, they become social failures and burdens to the country. Parents are responsible for teaching their children. They should practice what they preach and be good models for their children. In everything they do, they should be upright, honest, devoted to helping others, and filled with compassion for all people. Under their influence, the children will naturally grow up to become good citizens and leaders who contribute to the peace and stability of society. They will become pillars of society.

现在社会上一般无知的人，所做的事情，实在令人怵目惊心；引诱意志不坚的青年人堕入火坑而不自知，还认为是逢场作戏。哪知道：

In today's society, the things that ordinary people do are truly alarming. Easily impressionable young people land in deep trouble before they realize it. They think they are only having fun, acting out a play. How could they know that

一失足成千古恨，
再回头已是百年身。

Once you stumble and fall, you will
 regret it for a thousand years.
When you turn around again, a hundred
years will already have passed.

这种风气，坏到极点，父母若这样下流，必会影响子女也下流。

This describes the worst kind of behavior. If the parents are depraved, the children will surely be depraved as well.

凡是住在万佛圣城的人，都不可以同流合污，要洁身自爱，学正人君子的作风，把社会风气改变过来，绝对要安分守己，不参加不正当的聚会，不欣赏不正当的娱乐，这样才能影响他人改邪归正。

People who live at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas should not go along with the defiled trends of the world. We should purify ourselves, cherish ourselves, and learn to be proper and righteous people, so that we can reform the social trends. We should do what is proper and never take part in improper gatherings or amusements. Only then can we influence others to reform and become proper as well.