名校勵(lì)志英語演講 第2期:給大學(xué)畢業(yè)生的幾個(gè)忠告
在哈佛大學(xué)畢業(yè)典禮上發(fā)表演說，還有一個(gè)難處，那就是有些畢業(yè)生可能有意見，不喜歡我重復(fù)前人演講中說過的話。
[00:08.17]as well from others. I ask that you forgive me for two reasons.
我請(qǐng)你們諒解我，有兩個(gè)理由。
[00:12.33]First, in order to be heard, it is important to deliver the same message more than once.
首先，為了能讓你們聽進(jìn)去，很重要的方法就是重復(fù)傳遞同樣的信息。
[00:18.29]Second, authors who borrow from others are following in the footsteps of the best.
其次，借鑒他人的作者，正走在一條前人開辟的最佳道路上。
[00:23.15]Ralph Waldo Emerson, who graduated from Harvard at the age of 18, noted “All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.”
拉爾夫·瓦爾多·愛默生18歲從哈佛大學(xué)畢業(yè)時(shí)曾寫過這樣的話：“我最好的一些思想曾被古人偷用過。”
[00:31.42]Picasso declared “Good artists borrow. Great artists steal.” Why should commencement speakers be held to a higher standard?
畫家畢加索宣稱：“優(yōu)秀的藝術(shù)家借鑒，偉大的藝術(shù)家偷竊。”那么，畢業(yè)典禮的演說者為什么就不適用同樣的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)呢?
[00:44.58]I also want to point out the irony of speaking to graduates of an institution that would have rejected me, had I the chutzpah to apply.
我還要指出一點(diǎn)，向哈佛畢業(yè)生發(fā)表演說，對(duì)我來說是有諷刺意味的，因?yàn)槿绻?dāng)年我斗膽向哈佛大學(xué)遞交入學(xué)申請(qǐng)，一定會(huì)被拒絕。
[00:53.11]I am married to “Dean Jean,” the former dean of admissions at Stanford. She assures me that she would have rejected me, if given the chance.
我的妻子迪恩·簡(jiǎn)，曾任斯坦福大學(xué)的招生辦公室主任，她明確告訴我，如果當(dāng)年我申請(qǐng)斯坦福大學(xué)，她會(huì)拒絕我。
[01:01.06]When I showed her a draft of this speech, she objected strongly to my use of the word “rejected.” She never rejected applicants;
我把這篇演講的草稿給她過目，她強(qiáng)烈反對(duì)我使用“拒絕”這個(gè)詞，她從來不拒絕任何申請(qǐng)者。
[01:10.26]her letters stated that “We are unable to offer an admission.” I have difficulty understanding the difference.
在拒絕信中，她總是寫：“我們無法給你提供入學(xué)機(jī)會(huì)。”我不知道這兩種說法有何差別。
[01:20.09]After all, deans of admissions of highly selective schools are in reality, “deans of rejection.” Clearly, I have a lot to learn about marketing.
說到底，那些熱門學(xué)校的招生辦公室與其說是“準(zhǔn)許他人入學(xué)的主任”，還不如說是“拒絕他人入學(xué)的主任”。很顯然，我需要好好學(xué)學(xué)怎么來推銷自己。
