畢業(yè)季已經(jīng)過(guò)了,但畢業(yè)帶給我們的沖擊和思考卻沒(méi)有結(jié)束。畢業(yè)演講(commencement address)一直是美國(guó)各大高校畢業(yè)季的重頭戲。各個(gè)大學(xué),尤其是常春藤聯(lián)盟大學(xué)(Ivy League)都會(huì)邀請(qǐng)重量級(jí)嘉賓給畢業(yè)生們上“最后一課”。讓我們一起來(lái)欣賞近年來(lái)閃爍著智慧光芒的畢業(yè)演講片段吧。
2010年亞馬遜CEO Jeff Bezos 在普林斯頓大學(xué)的演講
Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy -- they're given after all. Choices can be hard. You can seduce yourself with your gifts if you're not careful, and if you do, it'll probably be to the detriment of your choices.
聰明是一種天賦,而善良是一種選擇。天賦得來(lái)很容易——畢竟它們與生俱來(lái)。而選擇則頗為不易。如果一不小心,你可能被天賦所誘惑,這可能會(huì)損害到你做出的選擇。
I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all.
我認(rèn)為自己不會(huì)為嘗試過(guò)后的失敗而遺憾,倒是有所決定但完全不付諸行動(dòng)會(huì)一直煎熬著我。
Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?
Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?
Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?
Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?
Will you bluff it out when you're wrong, or will you apologize?
Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?
Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?
When it's tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?
Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?
Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?
你們是被慣性所引導(dǎo),還是追隨自己內(nèi)心的熱情?
你們會(huì)墨守陳規(guī),還是勇于創(chuàng)新?
你們會(huì)選擇安逸的生活,還是選擇一個(gè)奉獻(xiàn)與冒險(xiǎn)的人生?
你們會(huì)屈從于批評(píng),還是會(huì)堅(jiān)守信念?
你們會(huì)掩飾錯(cuò)誤,還是會(huì)坦誠(chéng)道歉?
你們會(huì)因害怕拒絕而掩飾內(nèi)心,還是會(huì)在面對(duì)愛(ài)情時(shí)勇往直前?
你們想要波瀾不驚,還是想要搏擊風(fēng)浪?
你們會(huì)在嚴(yán)峻的現(xiàn)實(shí)之下選擇放棄,還是會(huì)義無(wú)反顧地前行?
你們要做憤世嫉俗者,還是踏實(shí)的建設(shè)者?
你們要不計(jì)一切代價(jià)地展示聰明,還是選擇善良?
2008年 知名媒體人 Oprah Winfrey 在斯坦福大學(xué)的演講
I think about one of the greatest compliments I've ever received: I interviewed with a reporter when I was first starting out in Chicago. And then many years later, I saw the same reporter. And she said to me, “You know what, you really haven’t changed. You’ve just become more of yourself. ”
我記得我受到的最大的贊揚(yáng)來(lái)自我剛在芝加哥開(kāi)始工作時(shí)采訪的一個(gè)記者。很多年以后我們又見(jiàn)面了。她對(duì)我說(shuō):“你知道嗎?你真的一點(diǎn)也沒(méi)變。你反而更加自我了。”
And that is really what we're all trying to do, become more of ourselves. And I believe that there's a lesson in almost everything that you do and every experience, and getting the lesson is how you move forward. It's how you enrich your spirit. And, trust me, I know that inner wisdom is more precious than wealth. The more you spend it, the more you gain.
這就是我們一直努力在做的,去做我們自己。我相信你們能從每一件做過(guò)的事上學(xué)到經(jīng)驗(yàn),這些經(jīng)驗(yàn)會(huì)助你們進(jìn)步。這樣你們豐富了心靈。相信我,內(nèi)在的智慧比外在的財(cái)富更加珍貴。你使用它越多,得到的就越多。
2011 著名脫口秀主持人 Conan O’Brien 在達(dá)特茅斯學(xué)院的演講
But the point is this : It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention.
不過(guò),重點(diǎn)是:正是既定想法的失敗最終定義了我們,并使我們與眾不同。這樣做并不簡(jiǎn)單,但如果你接受你的不幸并且正確地處理好它,失敗才會(huì)促成你偉大的轉(zhuǎn)型。
So, at the age of 47, after 25 years of obsessively pursuing my dream, that dream changed. For decades, in show business, the ultimate goal of every comedian was to host The Tonight Show. It was the Holy Grail, and like many people I thought that achieving that goal would define me as successful. But that is not true. No specific job or career goal defines me, and it should not define you. In 2000—in 2000—I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.
所以,當(dāng)我47歲時(shí),經(jīng)過(guò)了25年對(duì)夢(mèng)想的追逐,那個(gè)夢(mèng)改變了。多少年來(lái),在娛樂(lè)圈內(nèi),主持“今夜秀”都是喜劇演員的最終目標(biāo)。它就像圣盤(pán)。和許多人一樣,我認(rèn)為達(dá)到這個(gè)目標(biāo)就能被視作成功。但這是錯(cuò)的。沒(méi)有一個(gè)具體的工作或職業(yè)目標(biāo)能定義我,這些東西也不能定義你們。在2000年,我告訴畢業(yè)生們不要害怕失敗——這一點(diǎn)我依然相信。但今天我要告訴你們,不管你們是否害怕,失望總是會(huì)降臨。但可貴之處是通過(guò)失望你能透析自己,通過(guò)這些透析,你將獲得真正的信念和獨(dú)創(chuàng)力。
外研社官方博客:http://blog.sina.com.cn/fltrp19