1月2日

功不唐捐
胡適 (1891~1962)

生命本沒有意義,你要能給它什麼意義,
它就有什麼意義。
與其終日冥想人生有何意義,
不如試用此生做點有意義的事。

大膽的假設,小心的求證;
認真的做事,嚴肅的做人。

我們要深信:今日的失敗,
都由於過去的不努力。
我們要深信:今日的努力,
必定有將來的大收成。

朋友們,在你最悲觀最失望的時候,
那正是你必須鼓起堅強的信心的時候。
你要深信:天下沒有白費的努力。
成功不必在我,而功力必不唐捐。

昨日種種,皆成今我,切莫思量,更莫哀。
從今往後,要怎麼收穫,先怎麼栽。

──選自《胡適全集》

January 2nd

No Effort Goes In Vain
Hu Shih (1891 - 1962)
English translation: Miao Guang and Rosalyna Huang

Life on its own does not mean anything─it takes on any
meaning that you decide to give it. Instead of spending
all day contemplating the meaning of life, we may as well
attempt to do something that gives it one.

Be bold when making a case and cautious in seeking
evidence; be earnest with all matters, and solemn in your
conduct.

We must be firm, believing that today’s failure is
yesterday’s lack of hard work. We must be firm, believing
that today’s hard work will surely lead to tomorrow’s great
success.

O friends! The moments when you feel the most sadness
and disappointed are the times when you most need a
courageous, and strong faith. Firmly believe that no hard
work ever goes wasted in this world. I do not need to be
the one to succeed─no effort will be in vain.

Every part of yesterday makes up what I am today; do
not think too far ahead or grieve. From now on, I shall
reap as I sow.

── from Hushi Quanji (Complete Works of Hu Shih)