How to Find Humor in Life's Absurdity | Maira Kalman | TED

翻译人员: Belle Heng 校对人员: Maple Dilidili

Every day

我每天都和住在以色列的 才貌双全的堂兄奥纳说话。

I speak to my beautiful and brilliant cousin Orna,

who lives in Israel.

In normal times, we talk about which cousin is the bigger idiot,

平时，我们会谈论 哪个堂兄更白痴，

which honey cake recipe to use,

该用哪种蜂蜜蛋糕食谱，

which books we're reading,

我们在读哪些书，

the family stories from Belarus --

来自白俄罗斯的家庭故事—

this is not Orna, these are other people in Belarus.

这不是奥纳， 这些是白俄罗斯的其他人。

The conversations are a beacon for me,

对话对我来说是一盏灯塔，

and they fill my soul and enter my books.

它们充斥着我的灵魂并进入我的书中。

The other day, Orna brought up a Romanian philosopher named Emil Cioran.

前几天，奥尔纳提到了一位 叫埃米尔·乔兰的罗马尼亚哲学家。

He was a miserable insomniac

他是一个悲惨的失眠者，

who drove everyone nuts because of this.

因此让所有人发疯了。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

That's actually my favorite book of his,

他的这本书实际上是我最喜欢的，

but the better title, the more accurate translation,

但更好的书名， 更加精准的翻译，

is "On the Inconvenience of Being Born."

是“论出生带来的不便”。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So he was relentless in talking about how horrible it was to be alive.

所以他坚持不懈地 谈论活着有多可怕。

And he did this until the age of 85, when he died, which is incredibly ironic.

他持续地做到他85岁去世， 而这极具讽刺意味。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But I must give him credit.

但我必须把功劳归于他。

He does bring up the essential dilemma:

他确实提出了本质的难题： 我们为什么在这里，目的是什么？

why are we here, for what purpose?

But today, I don't really want to dwell on the morose.

但是今天，我真的不 想详谈这种忧郁的情绪。

Let's talk about other things.

让我们来谈谈其他事情。

That's not the right slide.

那不是正确的幻灯片。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

That's the right slide.

这是正确的幻灯片。

[On death]

[死亡时]

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So here's Proust.

所以这是普鲁斯特。

Dead, obviously --

显然死了——

or you think he's sleeping, but he's dead --

或者你以为他在睡觉， 但他已经死了——

from a series of paintings that I’ve done called “Dead in Bed,”

来自我画的一系列名为 “死在床上” 的画作，

which includes Tolstoy and Chekhov, of course.

其中当然包括托尔斯泰 和契诃夫。

In normal times --

平时——

and these are not normal times,

这不是正常时期，

these are grim times when the world is awash in war and killing --

这是世界充斥着战争和杀戮的严峻时期——

but in normal times, I have a routine.

但在正常时期，我有例行公事。

In the early morning hours, with a strong cup of coffee,

清晨，喝了杯咖啡后，

I read the obituaries.

我读了讣告。

The infusion of coffee and biography affords me a way to reflect.

咖啡和传记的注入 为我提供了一种反思的方式。

And it might seem too soon in the day to start with such a tremendous topic.

现在开始讨论这样一个 精彩的话题似乎还为时过早。

But it is a jolt to action

但这让人大吃一惊，

because it reminds me how fragile

因为它提醒我我们所有人是多么脆弱，

and how vulnerable we all are,

多么容易受害，

and how quickly our lives can end.

以及我们的生命能以多快的速度结束。

The night is different.

夜晚不一样。

Then I watch an endless stream of murder mysteries,

然后我看了层出不穷 的谋杀之谜，

preferably British.

最好是英国的。

Watching them is the kind of solace.

看着他们是一种慰藉。

I call this the murder and mint chip portion of the day.

我称之为一天中的谋杀和 薄荷巧克力片冰淇淋部分。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

We have a problem, we solve the problem.

我们有问题，我们解决问题。

People seem briefly upset by the murders,

人们似乎短暂地对谋杀案感到不安， 每集都有很多谋杀案。

so many in every episode.

But there is no time to brood

但是没有时间沉思，

because they have to film the next episode.

因为他们必须拍摄 下一集。

And they all seem to say, “Get on with it.”

他们似乎都在说：“持续下去吧。”

And the idea of prevailing over evil

战胜邪恶的想法

is my lullaby, and I sleep.

是我的摇篮曲，我睡着了。

But what of the day that lies ahead?

但是即将到来的白天呢？

Every one of us invents the day.

我们每个人都在创造这一天。

Every single day is invented.

每一天都是被创造出来的。

The actual first day was 13.8 billion years ago, more or less.

实际的第一天或多或少是138亿年前。

And maybe with the information from the Webb telescope,

也许有了 来自韦伯望远镜的信息，

we can actually see the beginning of time,

我们就可以看到时间的开始，

which is an incomprehensible idea, of course.

这当然是一个难以理解的想法。

But what does that perspective afford us

但是，这种视角能给我们带来什么？

when contemplating which tutu to wear

在当我们考虑穿哪件芭蕾舞短裙、

or which insult to respond to

回应哪种侮辱或写什么书的时候。

or what book to write?

Sometimes the day is too long, excruciatingly long,

有时候一天太长， 漫长得难以忍受。

and I get out of bed, I look longingly at the bed

我起床， 渴望地看着床

and I say to the bed,

然后对床说，

I will be back soon.

我很快就会回来。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And in between, there are things to know

在这两者之间有需要知道的事情

and things to not know.

和不知道的事情。

Here is a map of the United States

这是我母亲莎拉 根据记忆绘制的美国地图。

made from memory by my mother, Sarah.

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Sarah was the dean of American history at Harvard.

莎拉是哈佛大学 的美国历史系主任。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Actually not.

其实不是。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Her family fled the pogroms of Belarus for Palestine in the 1930s,

20世纪30年代，她的家人逃离了 白俄罗斯的大屠杀，前往巴勒斯坦

and in 1954 our family moved to New York City.

而在1954年，我们全家 搬到了纽约。

Her acute sense of the absurd permeated everything in our life

她敏锐的荒谬感以最好的方式 渗透到我们生活中的所有事物中。

in the best way possible.

This map for me is the gold standard of knowledge.

对我来说，这张地图是知识的黄金标准。

Knowledge as imagination, knowledge as humor,

知识即想象力，

知识即幽默，

knowledge as not giving a damn

知识即不被任何事情的 正确答案所束缚，永不。

what the correct answer is to anything, ever.

(Laughter and applause)

（笑声和掌声）

Sarah, this is Sarah, did not speak that much.

莎拉，这是莎拉， 没说那么多。

Really, she was of few words, and we really listened to her.

真的，她说得很少， 我们真的听了她的话。

And what are the obvious assets of not speaking?

不说话的显而易见 的优势是什么？

So many.

太多了。

No worries about repeating yourself or boring others.

不用担心重复 自己或让别人感到无聊。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Or boring yourself or being misunderstood.

或者令自己很无聊或者被误解。

No regrets of having said something inconsiderate or too considerate,

不后悔说了些不体贴或过于体贴、 过于平庸或过于挑衅的话，

or too banal or too provocative,

or just plain stupid and altogether insufferable.

或者只是愚蠢而完全无法忍受的话。

That is what happens when we speak,

这就是我们说话时发生的事情，

it is inevitable.

这是不可避免的。

No justification at all for saying much of what we say.

根本没有理由 说我们所说的大部分话。

And if we examine this notion to its ultimate conclusion,

而且，如果我们研究这个概念 得出最终结论，

obviously the answer is no more dinner parties.

答案显然是 不再有晚宴。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

“Wait,” you say, “None at all?

“等等，” 你说，“根本没有？

What if the Tolstoys invite me?” who are pictured here.

如果托尔斯泰家族邀请我怎么办？” 就如这图所显示。

“Sure, but have you hung out with the Tolstoys?”

“当然，但是你和托尔斯泰 一起玩过吗？”

"Or what if Antony and Cleopatra invite me?

“或者如果安东尼 和埃及艳后邀请我呢？

Should I attend?"

我应该参加吗？”

“OK,” I say. “But at your own peril.

我说：“好吧。但后果自负。

You know what happened to them.”

你知道他们发生了什么事。”

(Laughter)

（笑声）

On the other hand,

另一方面，

if you are invited,

如果你被邀请，

and let's just say, it's really lovely to be invited,

比方说， 被邀请真是太好了，

you never know what you're going to see that will be a painting,

你永远不知道你会看到 什么会是一幅画，

or hear, that might be a story,

也可能是一个故事，

some fragment, some gesture,

一些片段，某种手势，

an image of a dog sitting on a green chair

一只狗坐在萝卜和鲜花前 的绿色椅子上的画面。

in front of radishes and flowers.

And let's not forget connectedness, congeniality, conviviality,

我们不要忘记联系、

和蔼可亲、欢乐、

camaraderie,

友情、亲情、

bonhomie, merriment, laughter.

欢乐、欢笑。

What is wrong with that?

那有什么问题？

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

没问题，绝对没有。

(Applause)

（掌声）

I used to be ashamed of my inconsistencies.

我曾经为自己的不稳定性感到羞耻。

Now I revel in them.

现在我陶醉于他们。

Everything is in conflict,

一切都存在冲突，

everything has an opposite,

所有事物都有对立面，

you are not bound to be one thing,

你不一定得是一回事， 对我来说是一个真正解放的概念。

a truly liberating notion for me.

You might tell the truth or you might lie.

你可能会说实话，也可能撒谎。

You might be kind or unkind,

你可能善良或不友善，

selfish or generous, quick or thick.

自私或慷慨，敏捷或粗鲁。

And in the midst of that confusion and that tumult,

在那混乱和喧闹中，这部作品蓬勃发展。

the work blossoms.

To have meaningful work is a salvation,

有意义的工作是一种救赎，

and one of my greatest pleasures is to stare at things,

我最大的乐趣之一就是凝视事物，

and my children always say that I get too close to people, strangers on the street,

而我的孩子们总是说我离人太近了， 街上的陌生人，只盯着他们，

and just stare at them, at their features,

看着他们的特征，

because I'm so entranced.

因为我太着迷了。

So I have to be pulled away a little bit.

所以我必须稍微被拉开一点。

But then I can go into my studio and report on what I have encountered.

但是那样我就可以进入我的工作室 报道我所遇到的事情。

And then, as a bonus, the bliss of mixing colors,

然后，作为奖励， 可以享受混合色彩、

of being alone and listening to music and going into another world.

独处、听音乐 并进入另一个世界的美好。

Here is a painting from a visit that I did to Cézanne's studio.

这是我参观塞尚工作 室时画的一幅画。

The walls are painted gray.

墙壁被涂成灰色。

This is the recipe for any of those who need it:

这是给任何需要它的人的配方：

black, white, ochre and aquamarine.

黑色、白色、赭石和海蓝宝石。

Now, as a talisman,

现在，作为护身符，我创作的 每幅画都包括塞尚·格雷。

every painting I do includes Cézanne gray.

Writing, of course, is different.

当然，写作是不同的。

Finding the idea,

找到主意，

plucking a word out of the air.

从空中抽出一个词。

But which word?

但是哪个词？

And then a sentence, but which sentence?

然后是一句话，但是哪一句话？

And then a paragraph, and which paragraph?

然后是一个段落，哪个段落？

And it never stops, so many words.

而且它永远不会停止，太多词了。

I could not live without both painting and writing,

没有绘画和写作，我活不下去，

and one supports the other in obvious ways.

而这两项活动 显而易见地互相支持着。

In both, the struggle is invisible but palpable.

在这两者中，斗争都是看不见的， 但却是显而易见的。

I say the tears are invisible, but they're definitely there.

我说眼泪是看不见的， 但它们肯定在那里。

How do I deal with never good enough?

我该如何应对 “永远不够好”？

Easy.

很容易。

[On self-loathing]

[论自我厌恶] （笑声）

(Laughter)

“Self-loathing” is a truly ugly expression,

“自我厌恶” 确实是一种 丑陋的表情，

but it is an unavoidable condition.

但这是一种不可避免的状况。

The crushing anxiety of not getting it right,

对事情做得不对、找不到真相、 感到一文不值的极度焦虑。

of not finding the truth,

of feeling worthless.

If you look at it one way,

如果你从一个角度来看， 怀疑和沮丧可能会有所帮助。

it could be helpful to have doubt and dismay.

Plowing through the muck of despair

在绝望的泥土中挣扎会带来 人文主义和毅力。

leads to a sense of humanism and perseverance.

On the other hand,

另一方面，

how absurd and tedious to be in the grips of self-doubt.

面对自我怀疑是多么荒谬和乏味。

What a waste of time, that insidious insecurity.

那种阴险的不安全感真是在浪费时间。

What of finding your work and your place on Earth?

在地球上找到自己的工作 和位置会怎样？

What of self-confidence?

自信呢？

What of the bliss of finding the right color or the right word?

找到正确的颜色或正确的单词 的那美好的感觉呢？

What of sheer joy?

纯粹的快乐怎么样？

What is wrong with that?

那有什么问题？

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

没什么，绝对没有。

After reading the obituaries, I go for a walk,

看完讣告后， 我去散步，

which is a salvation.

这是一种救赎。

Here is Robert Walser,

这是罗伯特·沃尔瑟，

who wrote one of my favorite books called "The Walk,"

他写了我最喜欢的一 本书，名为 《错过时间的散步者》，我强烈建议你读这本书。

which I highly suggest you read.

Walking and not thinking is the favorite state.

走路而不思考 是最喜欢的状态。

An empty brain, which I call my best brain,

空虚的大脑，我称之为我最好的大脑，

is the only way to have any ideas, to allow surprises to appear.

是提出想法、 让惊喜出现的唯一途径。

“Solvitur ambulando,” they thought of this before I did, long ago.

“Solvitur ambulando”，很久以前， 他们在我之前就想到了这一点。

Walking solves all problems without trying.

步行可以毫无困难地解决所有问题。

Walking leads to the pleasure of sitting,

散步会带来一种乐趣， 那就是坐在沿着第五大道行驶的公共汽车上，

perhaps on a bus going down Fifth Avenue,

and looking at the entire world around you with a great sense of well-being.

带着一种极好的幸福感看着周围的世界。

One day at a farmers market,

有一天，在一个农贸市场上，

I saw a woman carrying an absolutely gigantic cabbage.

我看见一位女士拿着一 块绝对巨大的卷心菜。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

When I asked to photograph her, she looked really annoyed.

当我要求给她拍照时， 她看上去很生气。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And for some reason, I was so delighted by her crankiness.

不知为什么，她的胡思乱想让我 非常高兴。

It seemed so authentic and true.

它看起来如此真实和真实。

Let's just say what we feel.

让我们说出我们的感受。

It made me think of all the things women hold,

这让我想起了女性所拥有的所有东西， 无论是字面意思还是隐喻。

literally and metaphorically.

Balloons and grudges.

气球和怨恨。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And heavy loads and cabbages.

沉重的东西和卷心菜。

And stupendous love and courage.

还有惊人的爱和勇气。

And the pink ukulele under a cherry tree.

还有樱桃树下的粉色尤克里里。

And from this a book was formed:

由此形成了一本书：

“Women Holding Things”.

《持有东西的女人》。

What do women hold?

女性持有什么？

The home and the family

家和家庭、孩子和食物。

and the children and the food.

The friendships, the work,

友谊、工作、

the work of the world and the work of being human,

世界的工作 和人类的工作、回忆、

the memories and the troubles and the sorrows

烦恼、悲伤、胜利和爱。

and the triumphs and the love.

Men do as well, but not quite in the same way.

男人也一样， 但方式不太一样。

Sometimes when I'm feeling particularly happy or content,

有时候，当我感到 特别快乐或满足时，

I think I can provide sustenance for legions of human beings.

我认为我可以为大批人类提供生计。

I can hold the entire world in my arms.

我可以将整个世界抱在怀里。

Other times, I can barely cross the room.

其他时候，我几乎无法穿过房间。

And I drop my arms, frozen.

然后我放下双臂，僵了。

There is never an end to holding,

持有任何东西是永无止境的，

and certainly there is often the feeling of never doing enough.

当然，往往 会有做得不够的感觉。

And then there is the next day and the next day.

然后就是另一天 又另一天。

And one holds on.

而每个人都坚持下去。

I dreamt

我梦见其他人犯傻 而不是我

someone else was stupid for a change.

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Such a relief.

真是松了一口气。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Albeit a fleeting one.

尽管是稍纵即逝。

A few years ago,

几年前，

I did an illustrated edition

我创作了由独一无二

of "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,"

的格特鲁德·斯坦 撰写的《爱丽丝·托克拉斯自传》的插图版。

written by the inimitable Gertrude Stein.

Alice and Gertrude lived a singular life,

爱丽丝和格特鲁德过着独特的生活，

one of intense creativity and equally intense domesticity,

一种充满创造力 和同样强烈的家庭生活，

and one could not exist without the other.

而没有了任何一种生活， 另一种就不可能存在。

That, to me, is the ideal of life, family and work.

对我来说，这就是生活、 家庭和工作的理想。

My son Alex and I made a short film called "My Name is Alice B. Toklas,"

我和儿子亚历克斯拍了一部名 为《我叫爱丽丝·托克拉斯》的短片

and for a brief day

而在短短的一天

I became Alice with two extra noses on my nose.

我变成了爱丽丝， 鼻子上多了两只鼻子。

Here is a short clip from the end of the film.

这是影片结尾 的简短片段。

[Picasso was an Idiot]

[毕加索是个白痴]

(Piano music in background)

（背景为钢琴音乐）

(Video) It took Picasso 90 sittings

（视频） 毕加索花了90次才画出格特鲁德·斯坦的肖像。

to paint Gertrude Stein's portrait.

Nobody thought it looked like her,

没人认为它长得像她，

but he said, "Don't worry, it will."

但他说：“别担心，会的。”

But actually, I don't know if he knew anything about what he was talking about

但实际上，我不知道他对自己 所说的话是否一无所知

oh, you know, Picasso, he was impossible.

哦，你知道，毕加索，他是不可能的。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Thank you very much.

谢谢。

Oh, this looks delicious.

哦，这看起来很好吃。

Absolutely delicious.

绝对好吃。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

(Piano music ends)

（钢琴音乐结束）

(Applause)

（掌声）

The hot dog was delicious,

热狗很好吃，

and dancing down Fifth Avenue was a complete joy.

在第五大道上跳舞真 是太高兴了。

And as we say in our family,

正如我们在家庭中所说的那样，

doing almost everything in the strangeness of life

在荒谬中行事，历经忧伤。 这就是生活。

through the sorrows of life, live.

Thank you very much.

非常感谢。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌声和欢呼）