The idea behind all this talk is first of all to train the mind to work in a scholarly way, to think and act as does a mature scholar. However, the scholarly mode of thinking and perception is not the exclusive copyright of the scholar. Its best features are seen in almost all the high achievers of all fields of activity. The first of these features is its emphasis on knowledge, or the state of being well-informed and up-to-date. Another feature is its methodial manner of doing things, being well-organized and following a rationale. The third feature, probably' the most important, is its striving tor originality, its determination to settle for nothing short of the best, which is the excellence of the highest order.
常耀信，
教授，
博士生导师，任教于南开大学及
美国关岛大学。毕业于南开大学英语专业，曾在
英国剑桥大学进修英语和英国文学，获美国坦普尔大学文学博士学位，长期从事英美文学的教学与科研工作，也进行一些文学创作。著作有《
美国文学简史》（英文）、《
英国文学简史》（英文）、《
漫话英美文学》（中文）、《美国文学史》（上/中文）、《精编美国文学教材》（中文）、《希腊罗马神话》（英文）、主编《美国文学选读》（上、下）、《美国文学评论选》（上、下）、《多种视角——文化与文学比较论文集》等。此外还在国内外刊物上发表过多篇论文。1988年入选英国国际传记中心编纂的《远东及太平洋名人录》，并多次入选《美国名师录》。自1986年起担任美国《文化杂志》（Paideuma）社外编辑。