10月27日

失敗是最好的時刻
蔣勳 ( 1947~ )

沒有經過失敗的人生，那真是遺憾，因為失敗的
時候是最好的時刻。

退稿時的沮喪，思考後重新再出發；愛一個人得
不到回應時，孤獨時刻回來做自己，反而把自己搞
清楚了。這些人生記憶最深刻的事，只有在失敗時
才能嘗到。

童年時，因為舌尖味蕾成熟所以愛吃糖，糖是寵
愛也是幸福；青少年發育後，舌的兩側酸性味蕾開
始成熟，所以青澀年少喜歡吃酸，因為酸是一種淡
淡的失落感；鹹是一種勞苦，它是血與汗的味道；
辣是一種熱情，也是瘋狂與叛逆，所以《紅樓夢》
人物王熙鳳精明幹練，別稱鳳辣子；苦則是一種莊
嚴，是舌根的味覺，也是最後成熟的味蕾。

由於苦最不容易理解，也最沉重，所以大家都不
要，但是苦卻是人生最後最穩定的力量。

──選自《人生要做痛的功課》

October 27

Failure Is the Best Moment
Chiang Hsun (1947 - )
English translation: Zhi Yue and Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University

A life without experiencing failure is a pity, because the
moment of failure is the best moment.

For example, the disappointment of having a manuscript
rejected pushes us to rethink and restart again. The loneliness
of unrequited love brings us back to ourselves, leading us to a
more thorough self-understanding. These profound memories
can only be tasted through moments of failure.

In childhood, the taste buds on the tip of our tongue mature,
resulting in a love for sweetness─the sweetness of pampering
and happiness. As teenagers, the taste buds on the sides of our
tongue mature, resulting in a love for tartness because tartness
gives a faint feeling of loss. Saltiness is a kind of hard labor─it
is the taste of blood and sweat. Spiciness is a kind of passion,
as well as madness and rebelliousness. Therefore, the character
of Wang Xifeng in the Dream of the Red Chamber, who is
astute and highly-capable, is also nicknamed Phoenix Pepper.
Bitterness is a type of stateliness; it is a taste experienced by the
back of the tongue, and its taste buds are also the last to mature.

As a result, bitterness is not easy to understand and is the
most solemn, therefore people do not want it. But in the end,
bitterness is the most stabilizing force in life.

── from Rensheng Yao Zuo Tong De Gongke (Life Requires Some Painful Lessons)