How to tie your shoes | Terry Moore

翻译人员: Jiwei Qu 校对人员: Angelia King

I'm used to thinking of the TED audience

我以前一直认为TED的观众是很棒的一群人

as a wonderful collection of some of the most effective,

他们让人印象深刻，聪明

intelligent, intellectual, savvy,

善于思考，机智

worldly and innovative people in the world.

有世界观并且富有创造精神

And I think that's true.

当然，这是事实

However, I also have reason to believe that many, if not most, of you

但是，我同样有理由相信

你们中的很多人

are actually tying your shoes incorrectly.

其实系鞋带的方法是错误的

（笑声）

(Laughter)

Now I know that seems ludicrous.

现在我知道这看似有些可笑

我知道这看上去有些可笑

I know that seems ludicrous.

And believe me, I lived the same sad life until about three years ago.

但相信我，我的生活中不断重复着这个错误

直到三年前

And what happened to me

当时，我给自己

was I bought, what was for me, a very expensive pair of shoes.

买了一双很贵的鞋

But those shoes came with round nylon laces,

但是那双鞋的鞋带是尼龙的

and I couldn't keep them tied.

我不知道怎么系

So I went back to the store and said to the owner,

于是我回到鞋店跟老板说

"I love the shoes, but I hate the laces."

“我喜欢这双鞋，但我讨厌鞋带”

He took a look and said, "Oh, you're tying them wrong."

老板看了看说：“哦，你系鞋带的方法是错的”

直到那一刻

Now up until that moment,

I would have thought that, by age 50,

我都认为一个50岁的人

one of the life skills that I had really nailed

最擅长的技能莫过于

was tying my shoes.

系鞋带了

(Laughter)

But not so -- let me demonstrate.

但是，事实却并非如此--我来说明一下

现在这个系法

This is the way

就是我们大多数人一般系鞋带的方式

that most of us were taught to tie our shoes.

Now as it turns out -- thank you.

现在事实证明--谢谢

(Applause)

Wait, there's more.

等一下，还没完

As it turns out --

事实证明

(Laughter)

there's a strong form and a weak form of this knot,

这种打结的方式会有牢固和不牢固两种手法

我们以前学得是不牢固的手法

and we were taught the weak form.

And here's how to tell.

我来演示一下

If you pull the strands at the base of the knot,

如果你像这样撑开绳结的底部

you will see that the bow will orient itself

你可以看到鞋带

down the long axis of the shoe.

会自动的像这样呈长轴式的转过来

That's the weak form of the knot.

这就是不牢固的打结

But not to worry.

不过不用担心

If we start over

如果我们重来

and simply go the other direction around the bow,

并且仅仅是按原先反方向让右手从下面

绕过来打结

这就是牢固的打结方式

we get this, the strong form of the knot.

如果你还是这样拉开

And if you pull the cords under the knot,

you will see that the bow orients itself

你会看到鞋带

仍能保持原样呈横轴式

along the transverse axis of the shoe.

This is a stronger knot.

这就是更牢固的打结，不会轻易松开

It will come untied less often.

也会为你减少麻烦

It will let you down less, and not only that, it looks better.

不仅如此，它看起来也更美观了

We're going to do this one more time.

我再来演示一次

(Applause)

(鼓掌)

就像往常那样开始

Start as usual --

(Applause)

go the other way around the loop.

再反方向地绕过来系

This is a little hard for children,

这对小孩会有点难

but I think you can handle it.

但是我相信你们可以做到

Pull the knot.

拉一下这打结

There it is: the strong form of the shoe knot.

这样就完成了，鞋带的牢固系法

Now, in keeping with today's theme,

现在，为了符合今天的主题

I'd like to point out -- something you already know --

我想指出--有一些大家已经了解的东西--

that sometimes a small advantage someplace in life

在人生的某一阶段

有时一个小优势

can yield tremendous results someplace else.

可能会在别的地方给你带来意想不到的收获

(Laughter)

Live long and prosper.

活到老学到老

(Applause)

（掌声）