Desiderata

                                                             Desiderata
                                                             Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

你應該努力去追求幸福

在喧鬧而奔忙的世界中平靜地往前走
這是多麽和平、安寧
你要與周圍地所有的人友好相處
盡可能不要放棄這種努力和追求
你要輕輕卻要清晰地說出自己地真實思想
並且耐心傾聽別人含糊甚至煩人的想法
因為每個人都有他們自己的故事
你要遠遠避開那些吵鬧、具有侵略性的人
他們會使你的精神痛苦
如果你將自己與他人作比
那麽你將變得既自負又痛苦
因為這世上永遠有著比你強和比你弱的人們
你該享受你自己的成就和計劃
保持對你自己的事業的興趣
它們不管多麽細瑣、低下，都是你
在變化多端的時代能真正擁有的財產
在商業事務中你要小心謹慎
這世上到處都有陰謀和欺騙
你也不要讓自己對美德視而不見
世界上很多人為了崇高的理想在忍饑挨餓
生活中到處都有英雄主義存在
你對你自己要誠實
尤其不要無情裝有情
對愛情不要玩世不恭
在這幹旱、沒有希望的土地上
它是一片四季常青的綠洲
你要認真吸取流水年華的經驗
從容地向青春時光告別
你要培養自己的精神力量
以抗擊突如其來的不幸的打擊
但你千萬不要用想象使自己苦惱、憂傷
有很多恐懼產生於疲勞和孤獨
除去有益於身心健康的原則之外
你要善待你自己
你和樹林、星星一樣是這茫茫宇宙的一分子
你有權力生活在這裏
毫無疑問這世界已經完全為你打開
所以你要與上帝和平相處
不論你覺得他身在何方
也不論你作出何種努力、有什麽渴望
在喧鬧、混雜的生活中
你應該與你的心靈和平相處
盡管這世上有很多假冒和欺騙
有很多單調乏味的工作
和眾多破滅的夢幻
它仍然是一個美好的世界
記住：你應該努力去追求幸福