名校励志英语演讲 03:给大学毕业生的几个忠告

 　　My address will follow the classical sonata¹ form of commencement addresses. The first movement, just presented, were light-hearted remarks. This next movement consists of unsolicited advice, which is rarely valued, seldom remembered, never followed. As Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.”So, here comes the advice.

　　毕业典礼演讲都遵循古典奏鸣曲的结构，我的演讲也不例外。刚才是第一乐章——轻快的闲谈。接下来的第二乐章是送上门的忠告。这样的忠告很少被重视，几乎注定被忘记，永远不会被实践。但是，就像奥斯卡·王尔德说的：“对于忠告，你听能做的，就是把它送给别人，因为它对你没有任何用处。”所以，下面是我的忠告。

　　First, every time you celebrate an achievement, be thankful to those who made it possible. Thank your parents and friends who supported you, thank your professors who were inspirational, and especially thank the other professors whose less-than-brilliant lectures forced you to teach yourself. Going forward, the ability to teach yourself is the hallmark of a great liberal arts education and will be the key to your success. To your fellow students who have added immeasurably to your education during those late night discussions, hug them. Also, of course, thank Harvard. Should you forget, there's an alumni association to remind you.

　　第一，每次庆祝你取得成就的时候，不要忘记所有助你一臂之力的人。要感谢你的父母和支持你的朋友，要感谢那些启发过你的教授，尤其是要感谢那些演讲拙劣的教授，因为他们迫使你自学。从长远看，自学能力是优秀的文科教育中必不可少的，将成为你成功的关键。你还要去拥抱你的同学，感谢他们同你进行过的许多次彻夜长谈，这为你的教育带来了无法衡量的价值。当然，你还要感谢哈佛大学。不过即使你忘了这一点，校友会也会来提醒你。

　　Second, in your future life, cultivate a generous spirit. In all negotiations², don’t bargain for the last, little advantage. Leave the change on the table. In your collaborations, always remember that “credit” is not a conserved⁴ quantity. In a successful collaboration³, everybody gets 90 percent of the credit.

　　第二，在你们未来的人生中，做一个慷慨大方的人。在任何谈判中，都把最后一点点利益留给对方，不要把桌上的钱都拿走。在合作中，不要把荣誉留给自己。成功合作的任何一方，都应获得全部荣誉的90%。

　　sonata

　　n.奏鸣曲

　　eg.He played a piano sonata of his own composition.

　　他演奏了一首自己创作的钢琴奏鸣曲。

　　unsolicited

　　adj.主动提供的

　　eg.Giving unsolicited advice to others—regardless of how much you feel that they need it—is a waste of time and energy.

　　不管你是如何觉得他们会需要这个建议，给他们未经请求的建议都在浪费时间和精力。

　　Oscar Wilde

　　奥斯卡·王尔德，美国唯物主义运动的倡导者，爱尔兰著名剧作家、诗人、散文家，是19世纪与萧伯纳齐名的英国才子，也是才华横溢的学者。

　　inspirational

　　adj.鼓舞人心的；给予灵感的

　　eg.His inspirational shows were broadcast on hundreds of radio and TV stations.

　　他那鼓舞人心的节目在数百个广播电台和电视台播放。

　　hallmark

　　n.特点；标志

　　eg.Sleep disruption is already a hallmark of depression.

　　睡眠崩解已经是抑郁的一个特点。

　　collaboration

　　n.合作

　　eg.There is substantial collaboration with neighboring departments.

　　相邻的几个院系进行了通力合作。

1 sonata   

n.奏鸣曲

参考例句：

• He played a piano sonata of his own composition.他弹奏了一首自作的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• The young boy played the violin sonata masterfully.那个小男孩的小提琴奏鸣曲拉得很熟练。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

4 conserved   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He conserved his energy for the game. 他为比赛而养精蓄锐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Under these conditions, the total mechanical energy remains constant, or is conserved. 在这种条件下，总机械能保持不变或机械能保存。 来自辞典例句