羅琳2008年哈佛大學(xué)畢業(yè)演講(中英對照).doc

TheFringeBenefitsofFailure,andtheImportanceofImaginationHarvardUniversityCommencementAddressJ.K.RowlingTercentenaryTheatre,June5, 2008失敗的好處和想象力的重要性哈佛大學(xué)畢業(yè)典禮J.K. 羅琳2008年6月5日PresidentFaust,membersoftheHarvardCorporationandtheBoardofOverseers,membersofthefaculty,proudparents,and,aboveall,graduates,福斯特主席，哈佛公司和監(jiān)察委員會的各位成員，各位老師、家長、全體畢業(yè)生們：ThefirstthingIwouldliketosayisthankyou.NotonlyhasHarvardgivenmeanextraordinaryhonour,buttheweeksoffearandnauseaIveenduredatthethoughtofgivingthiscommencementaddresshavemademeloseweight.Awin-winsituation!NowallIhavetodoistakedeepbreaths,squintattheredbannersandconvincemyselfthatIamattheworldslargestGryffindorsreunion.首先請?jiān)试S我說一聲謝謝。哈佛不僅給了我無上的榮譽(yù)，連日來為這個(gè)演講經(jīng)受的恐懼和緊張，更令我減肥成功。這真是一個(gè)雙贏的局面。現(xiàn)在我要做的就是深呼吸幾下，瞇著眼睛看看前面的大紅橫幅，安慰自己正在世界上最大的魔法學(xué)院聚會上。Deliveringacommencementaddressisagreatresponsibility;orsoIthoughtuntilIcastmymindbacktomyowngraduation.ThecommencementspeakerthatdaywasthedistinguishedBritishphilosopherBaronessMaryWarnock.Reflectingonherspeechhashelpedmeenormouslyinwritingthisone,becauseitturnsoutthatIcantrememberasinglewordshesaid.ThisliberatingdiscoveryenablesmetoproceedwithoutanyfearthatImightinadvertentlyinfluenceyoutoabandonpromisingcareersinbusiness,laworpoliticsforthegiddydelightsofbecomingagaywizard.發(fā)表畢業(yè)演說是一個(gè)巨大的責(zé)任，至少在我回憶自己當(dāng)年的畢業(yè)典禮前是這么認(rèn)為的。那天做演講的是英國著名的哲學(xué)家BaronessMaryWarnock，對她演講的回憶，對我寫今天的演講稿，產(chǎn)生了極大的幫助，因?yàn)槲也挥浀盟f過的任何一句話了。這個(gè)發(fā)現(xiàn)讓我釋然，讓我不再擔(dān)心我可能會無意中影響你放棄在商業(yè)，法律或政治上的大好前途，轉(zhuǎn)而醉心于成為一個(gè)快樂的魔法師。Yousee?Ifallyourememberinyearstocomeisthegaywizardjoke,IvestillcomeoutaheadofBaronessMaryWarnock.Achievablegoals-thefirststeptoself-improvement.你們看，如果在若干年后你們還記得“快樂的魔法師”這個(gè)笑話，那就證明我已經(jīng)超越了BaronessMaryWarnock。建立可實(shí)現(xiàn)的目標(biāo)這是提高自我的第一步。Actually,IhavewrackedmymindandheartforwhatIoughttosaytoyoutoday.IhaveaskedmyselfwhatIwishIhadknownatmyowngraduation,andwhatimportantlessonsIhavelearnedinthe21yearsthathasexpiredbetweenthatdayandthis.實(shí)際上，我為今天應(yīng)該和大家談些什么絞盡了腦汁。我問自己什么是我希望早在畢業(yè)典禮上就該了解的，而從那時(shí)起到現(xiàn)在的21年間，我又得到了什么重要的啟示。Ihavecomeupwithtwoanswers.Onthiswonderfuldaywhenwearegatheredtogethertocelebrateyouracademicsuccess,Ihavedecidedtotalktoyouaboutthebenefitsoffailure.Andasyoustandonthethresholdofwhatissometimescalledreallife,Iwanttoextolthecrucialimportanceofimagination.我想到了兩個(gè)答案。在這美好的一天，當(dāng)我們一起慶祝你們?nèi)〉脤W(xué)業(yè)成就的時(shí)刻，我希望告訴你們失敗有什么樣的益處；在你們即將邁向“現(xiàn)實(shí)生活”的道路之際，我還要褒揚(yáng)想象力的重要性。Thesemayseemquixoticorparadoxicalchoices,butbearwithme.這些似乎是不切實(shí)際或自相矛盾的選擇，但請先容我講完。Lookingbackatthe21-year-oldthatIwasatgraduation,isaslightlyuncomfortableexperienceforthe42-year-oldthatshehasbecome.Halfmylifetimeago,IwasstrikinganuneasybalancebetweentheambitionIhadformyself,andwhatthoseclosesttomeexpectedofme.回顧21歲剛剛畢業(yè)時(shí)的自己，對于今天42歲的我來說，是一個(gè)稍微不太舒服的經(jīng)歷?？梢哉f，我人生的前一部分，一直掙扎在自己的雄心和身邊的人對我的期望之間。IwasconvincedthattheonlythingIwantedtodo,ever,wastowritenovels.However,myparents,bothofwhomcamefromimpoverishedbackgroundsandneitherofwhomhadbeentocollege,tooktheviewthatmyoveractiveimaginationwasanamusingpersonalquirkthatcouldneverpayamortgage,orsecureapension.我一直深信，自己唯一想做的事情，就是寫小說。不過，我的父母，他們都來自貧窮的背景，沒有任何一人上過大學(xué)，堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為我過度的想象力是一個(gè)令人驚訝的個(gè)人怪癖，根本不足以讓我支付按揭，或者取得足夠的養(yǎng)老金。Iknowtheironystrikeslikewiththeforceofacartoonanvilnow,but我現(xiàn)在明白反諷就像用卡通鐵砧去打擊你，但.TheyhadhopedthatIwouldtakeavocationaldegree;IwantedtostudyEnglishLiterature.Acompromisewasreachedthatinretrospectsatisfiednobody,andIwentuptostudyModernLanguages.HardlyhadmyparentscarroundedthecornerattheendoftheroadthanIditchedGermanandscuttledoffdowntheClassicscorridor.他們希望我去拿個(gè)職業(yè)學(xué)位，而我想去攻讀英國文學(xué)。最后，達(dá)成了一個(gè)雙方都不甚滿意的妥協(xié)：我改學(xué)現(xiàn)代語言?？墒堑鹊礁改敢蛔唛_，我立刻放棄了德語而報(bào)名學(xué)習(xí)古典文學(xué)。IcannotremembertellingmyparentsthatIwasstudyingClassics;theymightwellhavefoundoutforthefirsttimeongraduationday.Ofallthesubjectsonthisplanet,IthinktheywouldhavebeenhardputtonameonelessusefulthanGreekmythologywhenitcametosecuringthekeystoanexecutivebathroom.我不記得將這事告訴了父母，他們可能是在我畢業(yè)典禮那一天才發(fā)現(xiàn)的。我想，在全世界的所有專業(yè)中，他們也許認(rèn)為，不會有比研究希臘神話更沒用的專業(yè)了，根本無法換來一間獨(dú)立寬敞的衛(wèi)生間。Iwouldliketomakeitclear,inparenthesis,thatIdonotblamemyparentsfortheirpointofview.Thereisanexpirydateonblamingyourparentsforsteeringyouinthewrongdirection;themomentyouareoldenoughtotakethewheel,responsibilitylieswithyou.Whatismore,IcannotcriticisemyparentsforhopingthatIwouldneverexperiencepoverty.Theyhadbeenpoorthemselves,andIhavesincebeenpoor,andIquiteagreewiththemthatitisnotanennoblingexperience.Povertyentailsfear,andstress,andsometimesdepression;itmeansathousandpettyhumiliationsandhardships.Climbingoutofpovertybyyourownefforts,thatisindeedsomethingonwhichtoprideyourself,butpovertyitselfisromanticisedonlybyfools.我想澄清一下：我不會因?yàn)楦改傅挠^點(diǎn)，而責(zé)怪他們。埋怨父母給你指錯(cuò)方向是有一個(gè)時(shí)間段的。當(dāng)你成長到可以控制自我方向的時(shí)候，你就要自己承擔(dān)責(zé)任了。尤其是，我不會因?yàn)楦改赶Ｍ也灰^窮日子，而責(zé)怪他們。他們一直很貧窮，我后來也一度很窮，所以我很理解他們。貧窮并不是一種高貴的經(jīng)歷，它帶來恐懼、壓力、有時(shí)還有絕望，它意味著許許多多的羞辱和艱辛。靠自己的努力擺脫貧窮，確實(shí)可以引以自豪，但貧窮本身只有對傻瓜而言才是浪漫的。WhatIfearedmostformyselfatyouragewasnotpoverty,butfailure.我在你們這個(gè)年齡，最害怕的不是貧窮，而是失敗。Atyourage,inspiteofadistinctlackofmotivationatuniversity,whereIhadspentfartoolonginthecoffeebarwritingstories,andfartoolittletimeatlectures,Ihadaknackforpassingexaminations,andthat,foryears,hadbeenthemeasureofsuccessinmylifeandthatofmypeers.我在您們這么大時(shí)，明顯缺乏在大學(xué)學(xué)習(xí)的動(dòng)力，我花了太久時(shí)間在咖啡吧寫故事，而在課堂的時(shí)間卻很少。我有一個(gè)通過考試的訣竅，并且數(shù)年間一直讓我在大學(xué)生活和同齡人中不落人后。Iamnotdullenoughtosupposethatbecauseyouareyoung,giftedandwell-educated,youhaveneverknownhardshiporheartbreak.TalentandintelligenceneveryetinoculatedanyoneagainstthecapriceoftheFates,andIdonotforamomentsupposethateveryoneherehasenjoyedanexistenceofunruffledprivilegeandcontentment.我不想愚蠢地假設(shè)，因?yàn)槟銈兡贻p、有天份，并且受過良好的教育，就從來沒有遇到困難或心碎的時(shí)刻。擁有才華和智慧，從來不會使人對命運(yùn)的反復(fù)無常有所準(zhǔn)備；我也不會假設(shè)大家坐在這里冷靜地滿足于自身的優(yōu)越感。However,thefactthatyouaregraduatingfromHarvardsuggeststhatyouarenotverywell-acquaintedwithfailure.Youmightbedrivenbyafearoffailurequiteasmuchasadesireforsuccess.Indeed,yourconceptionoffailuremightnotbetoofarfromtheaveragepersonsideaofsuccess,sohighhaveyoualreadyflownacademically.相反，你們是哈佛畢業(yè)生的這個(gè)事實(shí)，意味著你們并不很了解失敗。你們也許極其渴望成功，所以非常害怕失敗。說實(shí)話，你們眼中的失敗，很可能就是普通人眼中的成功，畢竟你們在學(xué)業(yè)上已經(jīng)達(dá)到很高的高度了。Ultimately,weallhavetodecideforourselveswhatconstitutesfailure,buttheworldisquiteeagertogiveyouasetofcriteriaifyouletit.SoIthinkitfairtosaythatbyanyconventionalmeasure,ameresevenyearsaftermygraduationday,Ihadfailedonanepicscale.Anexceptionallyshort-livedmarriagehadimploded,andIwasjobless,aloneparent,andaspoorasitispossibletobeinmodernBritain,withoutbeinghomeless.Thefearsmyparentshadhadforme,andthatIhadhadformyself,hadbothcometopass,andbyeveryusualstandard,IwasthebiggestfailureIknew.最終，我們所有人都必須自己決定什么算作失敗，但如果你愿意，世界是相當(dāng)渴望給你一套標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的。所以我承認(rèn)命運(yùn)的公平，從任何傳統(tǒng)的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)看，在我畢業(yè)僅僅七年后的日子里，我的失敗達(dá)到了史詩般空前的規(guī)模：短命的婚姻閃電般地破裂，我又失業(yè)成了一個(gè)艱難的單身母親。除了流浪漢，我是當(dāng)代英國最窮的人之一，真的一無所有。當(dāng)年父母和我自己對未來的擔(dān)憂，現(xiàn)在都變成了現(xiàn)實(shí)。按照慣常的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)來看，我也是我所知道的最失敗的人。Now,Iamnotgoingtostandhereandtellyouthatfailureisfun.Thatperiodofmylifewasadarkone,andIhadnoideathattherewasgoingtobewhatthepresshassincerepresentedasakindoffairytaleresolution.Ihadnoideahowfarthetunnelextended,andforalongtime,anylightattheendofitwasahoperatherthanareality.現(xiàn)在，我不打算站在這里告訴你們，失敗是有趣的。那段日子是我生命中的黑暗歲月，我不知道它是否代表童話故事里需要?dú)v經(jīng)的磨難，更不知道自己還要在黑暗中走多久。很長一段時(shí)間里，前面留給我的只是希望，而不是現(xiàn)實(shí)。SowhydoItalkaboutthebenefitsoffailure?Simplybecausefailuremeantastrippingawayoftheinessential.IstoppedpretendingtomyselfthatIwasanythingotherthanwhatIwas,andbegantodirectallmyenergyintofinishingtheonlyworkthatmatteredtome.HadIreallysucceededatanythingelse,ImightneverhavefoundthedeterminationtosucceedintheonearenaIbelievedItrulybelonged.Iwassetfree,becausemygreatestfearhadalreadybeenrealised,andIwasstillalive,andIstillhadadaughterwhomIadored,andIhadanoldtypewriterandabigidea.AndsorockbottombecamethesolidfoundationonwhichIrebuiltmylife.那么為什么我要談?wù)撌〉暮锰幠?？因?yàn)槭∫馕吨鴦冸x掉那些不必要的東西。我因此不再偽裝自己、遠(yuǎn)離自我，而重新開始把所有精力放在對我最重要的事情上。如果不是沒有在其他領(lǐng)域成功過，我可能就不會找到，在一個(gè)我確信真正屬于的舞臺上取得成功的決心。我獲得了自由，因?yàn)樽詈ε碌碾m然已經(jīng)發(fā)生了，但我還活著，我仍然有一個(gè)我深愛的女兒，我還有一個(gè)舊打字機(jī)和一個(gè)很大的想法。所以困境的谷底，成為我重建生活的堅(jiān)實(shí)基礎(chǔ)。YoumightneverfailonthescaleIdid,butsomefailureinlifeisinevitable.Itisimpossibletolivewithoutfailingatsomething,unlessyoulivesocautiouslythatyoumightaswellnothavelivedatallinwhichcase,youfailbydefault.你們可能永遠(yuǎn)沒有達(dá)到我經(jīng)歷的那種失敗程度，但有些失敗，在生活中是不可避免的。生活不可能沒有一點(diǎn)失敗，除非你生活的萬般小心，而那也意味著你沒有真正在生活了。無論怎樣，有些失敗還是注定地要發(fā)生。FailuregavemeaninnersecuritythatIhadneverattainedbypassingexaminations.FailuretaughtmethingsaboutmyselfthatIcouldhavelearnednootherway.IdiscoveredthatIhadastrongwill,andmoredisciplinethanIhadsuspected;IalsofoundoutthatIhadfriendswhosevaluewastrulyaboverubies.失敗使我的內(nèi)心產(chǎn)生一種安全感，這是我從考試中沒有得到過的。失敗讓我看清自己，這也是我通過其他方式無法體會的。我發(fā)現(xiàn)，我比自己認(rèn)為的，要有更強(qiáng)的意志和決心。我還發(fā)現(xiàn)，我擁有比寶石更加珍貴的朋友。Theknowledgethatyouhaveemergedwiserandstrongerfromsetbacksmeansthatyouare,everafter,secureinyourabilitytosurvive.Youwillnevertrulyknowyourself,orthestrengthofyourrelationships,untilbothhavebeentestedbyadversity.Suchknowledgeisatruegift,forallthatitispainfullywon,andithasbeenworthmoretomethananyqualificationIeverearned.從挫折中獲得智慧、變得堅(jiān)強(qiáng)，意味著你比以往任何時(shí)候都更有能力生存。只有在逆境來臨的時(shí)候，你才會真正認(rèn)識你自己，了解身邊的人。這種了解是真正的財(cái)富，雖然是用痛苦換來的，但比我以前得到的任何資格證書都有用。GivenatimemachineoraTimeTurner,Iwouldtellmy21-year-oldselfthatpersonalhappinessliesinknowingthatlifeisnotacheck-listofacquisitionorachievement.Yourqualifications,yourCV,arenotyourlife,thoughyouwillmeetmanypeopleofmyageandolderwhoconfusethetwo.Lifeisdifficult,andcomplicated,andbeyondanyonestotalcontrol,andthehumilitytoknowthatwillenableyoutosurviveitsvicissitudes.如果給我一部時(shí)間機(jī)器，我會告訴21歲的自己，人的幸福在于知道生活不是一份漂亮的成績單，你的資歷、簡歷，都不是你的生活，雖然你會碰到很多與我同齡或更老一點(diǎn)的人今天依然還在混淆兩者。生活是艱辛的，復(fù)雜的，超出任何人的控制能力，而謙恭地了解這一點(diǎn)，將使你歷經(jīng)滄桑后能夠更好的生存。YoumightthinkthatIchosemysecondtheme,theimportanceofimagination,becauseofthepartitplayedinrebuildingmylife,butthatisnotwhollyso.ThoughIwilldefendthevalueofbedtimestoriestomylastgasp,Ihavelearnedtovalueimaginationinamuchbroadersense.Imaginationisnotonlytheuniquelyhumancapacitytoenvisionthatwhichisnot,andthereforethefountofallinventionandinnovation.Initsarguablymosttransformativeandrevelatorycapacity,itisthepowerthatenablesustoempathisewithhumanswhoseexperienceswehavenevershared.對于第二個(gè)主題的選擇想象力的重要性你們可能會認(rèn)為是因?yàn)樗鼘ξ抑亟ㄉ钇鸬搅藥椭?，但事?shí)并非完全如此。雖然我愿誓死捍衛(wèi)睡前要給孩子講故事的價(jià)值觀，我對想象力的理解已經(jīng)有了更廣泛的含義。想象力不僅僅是人類設(shè)想還不存在的事物這種獨(dú)特的能力，為所有發(fā)明和創(chuàng)新提供源泉，它還是人類改造和揭露現(xiàn)實(shí)的能力，使我們同情自己不曾經(jīng)受的他人苦難。OneofthegreatestformativeexperiencesofmylifeprecededHarryPotter,thoughitinformedmuchofwhatIsubsequentlywroteinthosebooks.Thisrevelationcameintheformofoneofmyearliestdayjobs.ThoughIwasslopingofftowritestoriesduringmylunchhours,Ipaidtherentinmyearly20sbyworkingintheresearchdepartmentatAmnestyInternationalsheadquartersinLondon.其中一個(gè)影響最大的經(jīng)歷發(fā)生在我寫哈利波特之前，為我隨后寫書提供了很多想法。這些想法成形于我早期的工作經(jīng)歷，在20多歲時(shí)，盡管我可以在午餐時(shí)間里悄悄寫故事，可為了付房租，我做的主要工作是在倫敦總部的大赦國際研究部門。ThereinmylittleofficeIreadhastilyscribbledletterssmuggledoutoftotalitarianregimesbymenandwomenwhowereriskingimprisonmenttoinformtheoutsideworldofwhatwashappeningtothem.Isawphotographsofthosewhohaddisappearedwithouttrace,senttoAmnestybytheirdesperatefamiliesandfriends.Ireadthetestimonyoftorturevictimsandsawpicturesoftheirinjuries.Iopenedhandwritten,eye-witnessaccountsofsummarytrialsandexecutions,ofkidnappingsandrapes.在我的小辦公室，我看到了人們匆匆寫的信件，它們是從極權(quán)主義政權(quán)被偷送出來的。那些人冒著被監(jiān)禁的危險(xiǎn)，告知外面的世界他們那里正在發(fā)生的事情。我看到了那些無跡可尋的人的照片，它們是被那些絕望的家人和朋友送來的。我看過拷問受害者的證詞和被害的照片。我打開過手寫的目擊證詞，描述綁架和強(qiáng)奸犯的審判和處決。Manyofmyco-workerswereex-politicalprisoners,peoplewhohadbeendisplacedfromtheirhomes,orfledintoexile,becausetheyhadthetemeritytothinkindependentlyoftheirgovernment.Visitorstoourofficeincludedthosewhohadcometogiveinformation,ortotryandfindoutwhathadhappenedtothosewhotheyhadleftbehind.我有很多的同事是前政治犯，他們已離開家園流離失所，或逃亡流放，因?yàn)樗麄兏矣趹岩烧?、?dú)立思考。來我們辦公室的訪客，包括那些前來提供信息，或想設(shè)法知道那些被迫留下的同志發(fā)生了什么事的人。IshallneverforgettheAfricantorturevictim,ayoungmannoolderthanIwasatthetime,whohadbecomementallyillafterallhehadenduredinhishomeland.Hetrembleduncontrollablyashespokeintoavideocameraaboutthebrutalityinflicteduponhim.HewasafoottallerthanIwas,andseemedasfragileasachild.IwasgiventhejobofescortinghimtotheUndergroundStationafterwards,andthismanwhoselifehadbeenshatteredbycrueltytookmyhandwithexquisitecourtesy,andwishedmefuturehappiness.我將永遠(yuǎn)不會忘記一個(gè)非洲酷刑的受害者，一名當(dāng)時(shí)還沒有我大的年輕男子，他因在故鄉(xiāng)的經(jīng)歷而精神錯(cuò)亂。在攝像機(jī)前講述被殘暴地摧殘的時(shí)候，他顫抖失控。他比我高一英尺，卻看上去像一個(gè)脆弱的兒童。我被安排隨后護(hù)送他到地鐵站，這名生活已被殘酷地打亂的男子，小心翼翼地握著我的手，祝我未來生活幸福。AndaslongasIliveIshallrememberwalkingalonganemptycorridorandsuddenlyhearing,frombehindacloseddoor,ascreamofpainandhorrorsuchasIhaveneverheardsince.Thedooropened,andtheresearcherpokedoutherheadandtoldmetorunandmakeahotdrinkfortheyoungmansittingwithher.Shehadjustgivenhimthenewsthatinretaliationforhisownoutspokennessagainsthiscountrysregime,hismotherhadbeenseizedandexecuted.只要我活著，我還會記得，在一個(gè)空蕩蕩的的走廊，突然從背后的門里，傳來我從未聽過的痛苦和恐懼的尖叫。門打開了，調(diào)查員探出頭請求我，為坐在她旁邊的青年男子，調(diào)一杯熱飲料。她剛剛給他的消息是，為了報(bào)復(fù)他對國家政權(quán)的批評，他的母親已經(jīng)被捕并執(zhí)行了槍決。Everydayofmyworkingweekinmyearly20sIwasremindedhowincrediblyfortunateIwas,toliveinacountrywithademocraticallyelectedgovernment,wherelegalrepresentationandapublictrialweretherightsofeveryone.在我20多歲的那段日子，每一天的工作，都在提醒我自己是多么幸運(yùn)。生活在一個(gè)民選政府的國家，依法申述與公開審理，是所有人的權(quán)利。Everyday,Isawmoreevidenceabouttheevilshumankindwillinflictontheirfellowhumans,togainormaintainpower.Ibegantohavenightmares,literalnightmares,aboutsomeofthethingsIsaw,heardandread.每一天，我都能看到更多有關(guān)惡人的證據(jù)，他們?yōu)榱双@得或維持權(quán)力，對自己的同胞犯下暴行。我開始做噩夢，真正意義上的噩夢，全都和我所見所聞?dòng)嘘P(guān)。AndyetIalsolearnedmoreabouthumangoodnessatAmnestyInternationalthanIhadeverknownbefore.同時(shí)在這里我也了解到更多關(guān)于人類的善良，比我以前想象的要多很多。Amnestymobilisesthousandsofpeoplewhohaveneverbeentorturedorimprisonedfortheirbeliefstoactonbehalfofthosewhohave.Thepowerofhumanempathy,leadingtocollectiveaction,saveslives,andfreesprisoners.Ordinarypeople,whosepersonalwell-beingandsecurityareassured,jointogetherinhugenumberstosavepeopletheydonotknow,andwillnevermeet.Mysmallparticipationinthatprocesswasoneofthemosthumblingandinspiringexperiencesofmylife.大赦動(dòng)員成千上萬沒有因?yàn)閭€(gè)人信仰而受到折磨或監(jiān)禁的人，去為那些遭受這種不幸的人奔走。人類同理心的力量，引發(fā)集體行動(dòng)，拯救生命，解放囚犯。個(gè)人的福祉和安全有保證的普通百姓，攜手合作，大量挽救那些他們素不相識，也許永遠(yuǎn)不會見面的人。我用自己微薄的力量參與了這一過程，也獲得了更大的啟發(fā)。Unlikeanyothercreatureonthisplanet,humanscanlearnandunderstand,withouthavingexperienced.Theycanthinkthemselvesintootherpeoplesminds,imaginethemselvesintootherpeoplesplaces.不同于在這個(gè)星球上任何其他的動(dòng)物，人類可以學(xué)習(xí)和理解未曾經(jīng)歷過的東西。他們可以將心比心、設(shè)身處地的理解他人。Ofcourse,thisisapower,likemybrandoffictionalmagic,thatismorallyneutral.Onemightusesuchanabilitytomanipulate,orcontrol,justasmuchastounderstandorsympathise.當(dāng)然，這種能力，就像在我虛構(gòu)的魔法世界里一樣，在道德上是中立的。一個(gè)人可能會利用這種能力去操縱控制，也有人選擇去了解同情。Andmanyprefernottoexercisetheirimaginationsatall.Theychoosetoremaincomfortablywithintheboundsoftheirownexperience,nevertroublingtowonderhowitwouldfeeltohavebeenbornotherthantheyare.Theycanrefusetohearscreamsortopeerinsidecages;theycanclosetheirmindsandheartstoanysufferingthatdoesnottouchthempersonally;theycanrefusetoknow.而很多人選擇不去使用他們的想象力。他們選擇留在自己舒適的世界里，從來不愿花力氣去想想如果生在別處會怎樣。他們可以拒絕去聽別人的尖叫，看一眼囚禁的籠子；他們可以封閉自己的內(nèi)心，只要痛苦不觸及個(gè)人，他們可以拒絕去了解。Imightbetemptedtoenvypeoplewhocanlivethatway,exceptthatIdonotthinktheyhaveanyfewernightmaresthanIdo.Choosingtoliveinnarrowspacescanleadtoaformofmentalagoraphobia,andthatbringsitsownterrors.Ithinkthewilfullyunimaginativeseemoremonsters.Theyareoftenmoreafraid.我可能會受到誘惑，去嫉妒那樣生活的人。但我不認(rèn)為他們做的噩夢會比我更少。選擇生活在狹窄的空間，可以導(dǎo)致不敢面對開闊的視野，給自己帶來恐懼感。我認(rèn)為不愿展開想像的人會看到更多的怪獸，他們往往更感到更害怕。Whatismore,thosewhochoosenottoempathisemayenablerealmonsters.Forwithoutevercommittinganactofoutrightevilourselves,wecolludewithit,throughourownapathy.更甚的是，那些選擇不去同情的人，可能會激活真正的怪獸。因?yàn)楸M管自己沒有犯下罪惡，我們卻通過冷漠與之勾結(jié)。OneofthemanythingsIlearnedattheendofthatClassicscorridordownwhichIventuredattheageof18,insearchofsomethingIcouldnotthendefine,wasthis,writtenbytheGreekauthorPlutarch:Whatweachieveinwardlywillchangeouterreality.我18歲開始從古典文學(xué)中汲取許多知識，其中之一當(dāng)時(shí)并不完全理解，那就是希臘作家普魯塔克所說：我們內(nèi)心獲得的，將改變外在的現(xiàn)實(shí)。Thatisanastonishingstatementandyetprovenathousandtimeseverydayofourlives.Itexpresses,inpart,ourinescapableconnectionwiththeoutsideworld,thefactthatwetouchotherpeopleslivessimplybyexisting.那是一個(gè)驚人的論斷，在我們生活的每一天里被無數(shù)次證實(shí)。它指明我們與外部世界有無法脫離的聯(lián)系，我們以自身的存在接觸著他人的生命。Buthowmuchmoreareyou,Harvardgraduatesof2008,likelytotouchotherpeopleslives?Yourintelligence,yourcapacityforhardwork,theeducatio