“Asia is one” was the opening sentenceof a book published just over a century ago by a Japanese art historian calledKakuzo Okakura, entitled “Ideals of the East”.

“亚洲是一体的”是《东洋的理想》一书的开篇第一句话，这本书出版于一个多世纪前，作者是日本的美术家冈仓天心。

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And everyone assumed and I think can still justify that we are in the Middle east with our high ideals, at least partly, because we are afraid of being deprived the oil that runs our industries.

每个人都假设，我还是觉得，中东有非常远大的理想，至少一部分理想是远大的，因为我们害怕支撑我们，工业的石油被剥夺。

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At the same time, the Guard began to export the ideals of the revolution throughout the Middle East.

NPR: The Evolution of Iran's Revolutionary Guard

Today, many in the Middle East and North Africa consider the Cairo speech a collection of lofty ideals that lacked sufficient follow-through, and they have been looking for Obama to signal substantive and concrete policies that support the aspirations of the region's people.

CNN: Obama announces 'new chapter' in U.S. Mideast diplomacy

Not all concrete ideals of the post-war building boom have survived, Alison and Peter Smithson's polemic Robin Hood Gardens in east London is not long for this life, despite the protestations of the architectural elite.

BBC: Viewpoint: Could people learn to love tower blocks?