Doris Kearns Goodwin: What we can learn from past presidents

譯者: Inder Peng(彭) 審譯者: Jeannie Cheng

So, indeed, I have spent my life

的確,我用我的一生精力

looking into the lives of presidents who are no longer alive.

來研究歷任總統們當他們還活在世上時的生涯軼事.

Waking up with Abraham Lincoln in the morning,

早晨是亞伯罕‧林肯總統陪我起床,

thinking of Franklin Roosevelt when I went to bed at night.

晚上當我要睡時,滿腦子還是富蘭克林 羅斯福總統 .

But when I try and think about what I've learned

但當我試著去探討我所懂的

about the meaning in life, my mind keeps wandering back

生命的意義時我的思緒一直回到

to a seminar that I took when I was a graduate student at Harvard

我在哈佛大學研究所時所參加的一個由

with the great psychologist Erik Erikson.

著名心理學家艾李克,艾里克森主持的研討會.

He taught us that the richest and fullest lives

他教導我們,最富足最充足的生命

attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms:

是盡可能的使三個領域 -

work, love and play.

工作,感情和娛樂,達至內在平衡.

And that to pursue one realm to the disregard of the other,

所以只有專注在其中的一項而忽略其它兩項,

is to open oneself to ultimate sadness in older age.

這樣的行為會為老年時的自己帶來無法彌補的傷痛.

Whereas to pursue all three with equal dedication,

但是如果致力使這三個領域都能達到平衡,

is to make possible a life filled not only with achievement,

那麼生命就會充滿成就

but with serenity.

和安寧.

So since I tell stories, let me look back

既然現在我在說故事,所以讓我用我研究過的

on the lives of two of the presidents I've studied to illustrate this point --

兩個以前總統的故事來證明這個論點.

Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson.

亞伯罕林肯和林頓詹森

As for that first sphere of work,

關於第一個領域--工作,

I think what Abraham Lincoln's life suggests

我認為林肯的生命告訴我們

is that fierce ambition is a good thing.

抱著強烈野心是一件好事.

He had a huge ambition.

林肯他有強烈巨大的野心.

But it wasn't simply for office or power or celebrity or fame --

但這不單單是為了權力地位和名聲,

what it was for was to accomplish something worthy enough in life

而是他要在他生命中完成一些有意義的事情,

so that he could make the world a little better place for his having lived in it.

為這世界因為有他而更美好.

Even as a child, it seemed, Lincoln dreamed heroic dreams.

即使還是個孩子時,林肯就抱著成為英雄的夢想

He somehow had to escape that hard-scrabble farm

他用盡方法從

from which he was born.

貧困的農場中逃脫.

No schooling was possible for him,

他沒有機會去上正式的學校,

except a few weeks here, a few weeks there.

只有斷斷續續的在這裡學一點; 在那裡學一點.

But he read books in every spare moment he could find.

但是只要他有時間,他就閱讀.

It was said when he got a copy of the King James Bible

據說,當林肯有機會得到欽定英譯本聖經這本書

or "Aesop's Fables," he was so excited he couldn't sleep.

或伊索預言這本書時,他常興奮的睡不著,

He couldn't eat.

也吃不下.

The great poet Emily Dickinson once said,

偉大的詩人艾蜜莉.狄金生曾說過:

"There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away."

"沒有任何交通工具像書一樣, 可以帶我們穿越時空到任何國土去旅遊."

How true for Lincoln.

對林肯而言這個形容是何等貼切!

Though he never would travel to Europe,

即使他從未親身去過歐洲,

he went with Shakespeare's kings to merry England,

但他的靈魂隨著莎士比亞書中的國王遊覽英國,

he went with Lord Byron's poetry to Spain and Portugal.

他的心也跟隨著拜倫爵士的詩歌去過西班牙和葡萄牙.

Literature allowed him to transcend his surroundings.

文學豐富了他的內在生命,使他掙脫超越了環境束縛.

But there were so many losses in his early life

但是由於當他年幼時曾失去許多至親,

that he was haunted by death.

所以死亡的陰影一直困擾著林肯.

His mother died when he was only nine years old;

他的媽媽在他只有9歲時就去世,

his only sister, Sarah, in childbirth a few years later;

而他唯一的姐姐也在幾年後因難產而死亡.

and his first love, Ann Rutledge, at the age of 22.

他的初戀情人-安若特里琦也在22歲死亡.

Moreover, when his mother lay dying,

更糟的是,當他的媽媽去世前

she did not hold out for him the hope

並沒給小林肯任何的希望.

that they would meet in an afterworld.

說他們來世將會再見面

She simply said to him,

她只是簡單的跟小林肯講

"Abraham, I'm going away from you now, and I shall never return."

"林肯, 我就要走了,從此不再回來."

As a result he became obsessed with the thought

因為這樣,林肯對死亡有一種無法釋懷的強烈迷惘.

that when we die our life is swept away -- dust to dust.

他深信人死如燈滅,像煙塵一樣散去, 全部都沒有了.

But only as he grew older did he develop

直到當他長大後,由於受到

a certain consolation from an ancient Greek notion --

古希臘哲學思想影響,心靈上得到適當慰藉--

but followed by other cultures as well --

當然也受到其他文化衝擊--

that if you could accomplish something worthy in your life,

這時他相信如果在世時能完成一些有意義的事情,

you could live on in the memory of others.

那麼就可永遠活在人們的記憶中.

Your honor and your reputation would outlive your earthly existence.

那麼你的事蹟及好名聲就會萬古流傳

And that worthy ambition became his lodestar.

這個信念變成林肯引路的北極星.

It carried him through the one significant depression that he suffered

這個信念讓他能在30歲時

when he was in his early 30s.

的嚴重的憂鬱症中走出來

Three things had combined to lay him low.

這有三件事件使他情緒失控:

He had broken his engagement with Mary Todd,

他要求跟他的未婚妻瑪麗塔德解除婚約,

not certain he was ready to marry her,

並不確定他想跟瑪麗塔德結婚,

but knowing how devastating it was to her that he did that.

雖然他知道這樣做對瑪麗是很殘酷的.

His one intimate friend, Joshua Speed, was leaving Illinois

他的摯友約書亞.斯皮德

to go back to Kentucky because Speed's father had died.

因為父殤而必須離開伊利諾州回到肯塔基去.

And his political career in the state legislature

還有他在州議會的政治生涯

was on a downward slide.

越來越黯淡.

He was so depressed that friends worried he was suicidal.

林肯是如此萎靡不振,所有的朋友都擔心他會自殺,

They took all knives and razors and scissors from his room.

他們拿走林肯房間裡所有的刀子刮鬍刀和剪刀.

And his great friend Speed went to his side and said,

而且他的好朋友約書亞.斯皮德回來他的身邊對他説:

"Lincoln, you must rally or you will die."

"林肯你必須振作,否則你會死."

He said that, "I would just as soon die right now,

林肯回答:"我其實現在就可以去死,

but I've not yet done anything to make any human being

但我還沒有完成任何的事情,讓人們

remember that I have lived."

記得這世界曾經有我過."

So fueled by that ambition, he returned to the state legislature.

所以他從新燃起他的雄心壯志,回到州議員的政壇上.

He eventually won a seat in Congress.

他後來終於贏得國會議員的位子,

He then ran twice for the Senate, lost twice.

也參加兩屆的美國參議員競選但兩次都落選.

"Everyone is broken by life," Ernest Hemingway once said,

大文毫海明威曾說:"每個人都會被生命折磨得千瘡百孔,

"but some people are stronger in the broken places."

但有人越挫越勇."

So then he surprised the nation with an upset victory

林肯最後以出乎意外的成功成為美國總統.

for the presidency over three far more experienced,

當時他的三個對手都是比他更有從政經驗,

far more educated, far more celebrated rivals.

更有學術地位,更有知名度.

And then when he won the general election,

然後當選美國總統後,

he stunned the nation even more

更令全國震驚的是

by appointing each of these three rivals into his Cabinet.

他邀請這三個政敵加入他的內閣

It was an unprecedented act at the time because everybody thought,

這是前所未有的做法, 而且大家都認為

"He'll look like a figurehead compared to these people."

"跟那些內閣委員比起來,林肯像是有名無實的傀儡."

They said, "Why are you doing this, Lincoln?"

所以有人問林肯:"林肯為什麼你要這麼做?"

He said, "Look, these are the strongest

他回答:"這三個人是我們國家目前最優秀,

and most able men in the country.

也是最有能力的人.

The country is in peril. I need them by my side."

我們的國家正瀕臨巨大考驗,我需要他們幫助我."

But perhaps my old friend Lyndon Johnson

但如果用我的老朋友林登囧森

might have put it in less noble fashion:

比較通俗的話來形容這行情,那就是

"Better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out,

:寧可讓你的敵人進入你的帳篷,向外小便;

than outside the tent pissing in."

也不要他們站在帳篷外向帳篷內射尿.

(Laughter)

笑聲

But it soon became clear that Abraham Lincoln

但很快的且清楚的顯示林肯

would emerge as the undisputed captain of this unruly team.

毫無疑問的是這個難以駕馭團隊的領袖.

For each of them soon came to understand

因為每個人很快的意識到,

that he possessed an unparalleled array of

林肯擁有無與倫比的

emotional strengths and political skills

熱忱及高超政治手段,

that proved far more important than the thinness of his external résumé.

比他非常薄弱的從政履歷來得重要

For one thing, he possessed an uncanny ability

舉例來說:他擁有冷靜且不可思議的能力,

to empathize with and to think about other peoples' point of view.

能很快的掌握及設身處在的瞭解別人不同的觀點.

He repaired injured feelings that might have escalated

他修復了人們受傷的心靈,阻止可能繼續惡化

into permanent hostility.

成為無法逆轉的仇恨.

He shared credit with ease,

他樂意跟大家分享功勳,

assumed responsibility for the failure of his subordinates,

也勇於承擔屬下失敗的責任.

constantly acknowledged his errors and learned from his mistakes.

他總是承認錯誤並從自己的失誤中不斷學習及改進.

These are the qualities we should be looking for in our candidates in 2008.

這也是我們應該拿來檢視2008總統候選人必要的條件.

(Applause)

掌聲

He refused to be provoked by petty grievances.

他不被囉嗦無用的小感傷所干擾,

He never submitted to jealousy or brooded over perceived slights.

他也從來沒有屈服於自己的嫉妒心或是被瑣碎的壞情緒所控制.

And he expressed his unshakeable convictions

他用淺顯易懂的語言,比喻或

in everyday language, in metaphors, in stories.

故事傳遞他那不可動搖的信念.

And with a beauty of language -- almost as if

就像他小時被莎士比亞和那些動人

the Shakespeare and the poetry he had so loved as a child

美麗的詩篇所影響一樣,

had worked their way into his very soul.

他所說的話也深刻的影響打動每個人的心.

In 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed,

1863年林肯簽署解放奴隸宣言,

he brought his old friend, Joshua Speed, back to the White House,

那天他邀請他的老朋友約書亞.斯皮德來白宮觀禮.

and remembered that conversation of decades before, when he was so sad.

想起幾十年前當他極度憂鬱時跟斯皮德曾經談論過的往事,

And he, pointing to the Proclamation, said,

他於是指著解放奴隸宣言告訴他的老友:

"I believe, in this measure, my fondest hopes will be realized."

" 我相信透過這宣言我最深切的希望終於可以實現"

But as he was about to put his signature on the Proclamation

但是, 當他提起筆來簽署時,

his own hand was numb and shaking

他的手又麻又酸而且一直顫抖.

because he had shaken a thousand hands that morning at a New Year's reception.

這當然是因為那天早晨的新年慶典時,他已和上千個人握手過.

So he put the pen down.

所以他把筆放下.

He said, "If ever my soul were in an act, it is in this act.

他說, "如果我曾經用我畢生的心力去完成一件事, 那這宣言就是那件事

But if I sign with a shaking hand,

但是我如果簽字歪歪斜斜,

posterity will say, 'He hesitated.'"

那後代子孫就會說" 林肯有所懷疑."

So he waited until he could take up the pen

所以他等到手不再顫動時才清清楚楚

and sign with a bold and clear hand.

堅定的簽下他的名字在宣言上.

But even in his wildest dreams,

但是即使是林肯自己作夢

Lincoln could never have imagined

也決不會想到

how far his reputation would reach.

他的名聲遠播的程度.

I was so thrilled to find an interview with the great Russian writer,

當我發現1900年代,俄羅斯大文學家托爾斯泰

Leo Tolstoy, in a New York newspaper in the early 1900s.

接受紐約時報的採訪新聞時,我十分震驚.

And in it, Tolstoy told of a trip that he'd recently made

根據採訪報導,托爾斯泰告訴記者,他剛去

to a very remote area of the Caucasus,

偏僻的高加索山區旅遊,

where there were only wild barbarians,

在那地區只是低下及十分粗俗的鄉下人,

who had never left this part of Russia.

他們從來沒人離開過那山區.

Knowing that Tolstoy was in their midst,

知道大文學家托爾斯泰來到他們的鄉里,

they asked him to tell stories of the great men of history.

村落的人們就要求托爾斯泰講偉人的故事給他們聽.

So he said, "I told them about Napoleon

托爾斯泰說"我告訴那些鄉下人拿破侖,

and Alexander the Great and Frederick the Great

亞歷山大大帝, 腓特烈大帝

and Julius Caesar, and they loved it.

和凱撒大帝的豐功偉業" 村民都非常歡喜.

But before I finished, the chief of the barbarians stood up and said,

可是當我正打算停止演說時,村落的酋長站起來並且說,

'But wait, you haven't told us about the greatest ruler of them all.

"等一下, 你還沒告訴我們那最偉大領袖的故事.

We want to hear about that man who spoke with a voice of thunder,

我們想聽那人的故事,就是他的聲音大如雷,

who laughed like the sunrise,

他笑起來像旭日東升一樣,

who came from that place called America, which is so far from here,

他是來自於一個遙遠的國家--美國的那人.而美國那地方非常遙遠.

that if a young man should travel there,

如果一個年輕人想去,

he would be an old man when he arrived.

當他到達時已經是老人了.

Tell us of that man. Tell us of Abraham Lincoln.'"

告訴我們那個人的事跡! 告訴我們亞伯罕林肯的故事."

He was stunned.

托爾斯泰非常驚訝,

He told them everything he could about Lincoln.

於是他盡其所能的講他所知道有關林肯的故事

And then in the interview he said, "What made Lincoln so great?

後來在訪談中他說:" 是什麼使林肯那麼受歡迎?

Not as great a general as Napoleon,

他並沒有拿破侖的軍事天賦,

not as great a statesman as Frederick the Great."

也不具有像腓特烈大帝一樣的政權手段"

But his greatness consisted, and historians would roundly agree,

歷史學家都會一至公認,林肯的偉大著力點在於

in the integrity of his character

他千錘百鍊,超然寬闊胸懷的個人特質

and the moral fiber of his being.

和堅定的道德信仰.

So in the end that powerful ambition

所以最後那些慘澹少年時的夢想

that had carried Lincoln through his bleak childhood had been realized.

想要活在人們記憶中的強烈企圖心終於實現.

That ambition that had allowed him to laboriously educate himself by himself,

這樣的企圖心策勵他辛辛苦苦不懈的自我教育,

to go through that string of political failures

鼓舞著他面對一連串的政壇失意

and the darkest days of the war.

及堅強走過戰爭時最黑暗的歲月.

His story would be told.

他的故事一定會千秋萬世永遠流傳.

So as for that second sphere, not of work, but of love --

接著讓我們討論第二個領域,不是工作而是感情-

encompassing family, friends and colleagues --

-包含家庭,朋友和同事--

it, too, takes work and commitment.

感情一樣須要經營和承諾.

The Lyndon Johnson that I saw in the last years of his life,

我在林頓.詹森總統死亡的前幾年

when I helped him on his memoirs,

幫他寫回憶錄,

was a man who had spent so many years in the pursuit of

他就是一個花許多年歲精力一直追逐

work, power and individual success,

事業,權力和個人成就的例子.

that he had absolutely no psychic or emotional resources left

所以當他退休後, 他的精神上和感情上

to get him through the days

已沒有所剩來幫助他

once the presidency was gone.

度過漫漫退休生涯.

My relationship with him began on a rather curious level.

我跟詹森總統的交情是始於一個很特別的情況,

I was selected as a White House Fellow when I was 24 years old.

我24歲被選為白宮實習生.

We had a big dance at the White House.

所以參加了正式大型歡迎舞會,

President Johnson did dance with me that night.

那晚詹森總統跟我跳舞了.

Not that peculiar --

但那一點也不希奇!

there were only three women out of the 16 White House Fellows.

因為16個白宮實習生中只有3個女生.

But he did whisper in my ear that he wanted me

但是他確實對我小聲耳語,希望我

to work directly for him in the White House.

未來在白宮直接聽命於他,為他工作.

But it was not to be that simple.

可是事情不是你想像的那麼單純.

For in the months leading up to my selection,

在我被選為白宮實習生的前幾個月,

like many young people, I'd been active

就像我們那代很多的年輕人一樣, 我是個活躍

in the anti-Vietnam War movement,

的反越戰者.

and had written an article against Lyndon Johnson,

甚至寫了一篇反詹森總統的文章

which unfortunately came out in The New Republic

而此篇文章不幸竟在白宮那場舞會後

two days after the dance in the White House.

的兩天被刊登在新共和主義報上.

(Laugher)

笑聲!

And the theme of the article was how to remove Lyndon Johnson from power.

而且文章的主題是:如何要詹森總統辭職下台.

(Laughter)

笑聲

So I was certain he would kick me out of the program.

我几乎可以確認我會被踢出白宮實習生的行列,

But instead, surprisingly, he said,

但是非常令人訝異的是詹森總統說:

"Oh, bring her down here for a year,

"讓她為我工作一年,

and if I can't win her over, no one can."

如果我無法改變她的想法, 沒有人能."

So I did end up working for him in the White House.

所以我最後留在白宮為他工作,

Eventually accompanied him to his ranch to help him on those memoirs,

然後等他退休後又跟他到他的農場幫他完成回憶錄.

never fully understanding why he'd chosen me to spend so many hours with.

我從來都無法完全瞭解為什麼他選擇我為他長期工作?

I like to believe it was because I was a good listener.

我寧可相信我是個優良的傾聽者

He was a great storyteller.

而他說故事的本領很高明.

Fabulous, colorful, anecdotal stories.

他的故事高潮跌起, 生動有趣,許多奇聞軼事.

There was a problem with these stories, however,

然而關於他的故事有一個困擾,

which I later discovered, which is that half of them weren't true.

那就是我後來發現有一半的情節是他自己虛構的.

But they were great, nonetheless.

雖然如此, 他的故事真的很精采.

(Laughter)

笑聲

So I think that part of his attraction for me was that I loved listening to his tall tales.

所以我想我喜歡跟他在一起有一部份的原因是由於我喜歡聽他講古說今.

But I also worried that part of it was that I was then a young woman.

那時我是個年輕的女孩,我也煩惱

And he had somewhat of a minor league womanizing reputation.

他不算少的沾花惹草壞名聲記錄.

So I constantly chatted to him about boyfriends,

所以我不斷的跟他提我跟男朋友的交往情況,

even when I didn't have any at all.

即使我根本沒有男朋友.

Everything was working perfectly,

每件事情都進行的很順利,

until one day he said he wanted to discuss our relationship.

直到有一天他告訴我他想要討論我們之間的關係.

Sounded very ominous when he took me nearby to the lake,

感覺起來好像不太妙的樣子, 他帶我去附近的湖,

conveniently called Lake Lyndon Baines Johnson.

就是以他命名的林頓.詹森湖.

And there was wine and cheese and a red-checked tablecloth --

在湖邊鋪著紅格子的野餐巾上面有酒和起司--

all the romantic trappings.

完全是羅曼蒂克的陷阱擺設.

And he started out,

然後他開始說:

"Doris, more than any other woman I have ever known ... "

"多麗絲,妳比我所有認識的女人都..."

And my heart sank.

我的心開始往下沉.

And then he said,

然後他說:

"You remind me of my mother."

" 妳讓我想起我媽媽."

(Laughter)

笑聲

It was pretty embarrassing, given what was going on in my mind.

實在是非常難為情,我腦袋裡竟在想他要向我求愛.

But I must say, the older I've gotten,

但是我必須承認, 隨著年齡的增長,

the more I realize what an incredible privilege it was

我越能體會這是一個難得的榮幸,

to have spent so many hours with this aging lion of a man.

能跟這個漸漸老去的強者共度那麼多時光.

A victor in a thousand contests,

他在千百次的競賽中奪標,

three great civil rights laws, Medicare, aid to education.

成功頒布了三個偉大的民權法案,老人健保和教育補助法.

And yet, roundly defeated in the end by the war in Vietnam.

但是最後卻因為越戰而賠上政治前途.

And because he was so sad and so vulnerable,

因為他太悲傷且太脆弱了.

he opened up to me in ways he never would have

所以他以一種當他是權高位重時

had I known him at the height of his power --

不可能發生的情況對我完全公開自己.

sharing his fears, his sorrows and his worries.

讓我知道他的恐懼, 他的悲哀, 他的憂慮.

And I'd like to believe that the privilege fired within me

我深信因為這個難得的榮幸, 點燃我的熱情

the drive to understand the inner person behind the public figure,

並激勵我,驅動我去研究公眾人物的內心世界.

that I've tried to bring to each of my books since then.

我也把公眾人物的內心世界忠實的記錄在我所有的書中.

But it also brought home to me the lessons

這也讓我更清楚深刻的瞭解

which Erik Erikson had tried to instill in all of us

艾李克,艾里克森試圖滲透灌溉我們的理念

about the importance of finding balance in life.

有關於達到生命平衡的重要性.

For on the surface, Lyndon Johnson should have had

從表面來看, 林頓.詹森在他的

everything in the world to feel good about in those last years,

晚年應該擁有所有他所想要的.

in the sense that he had been elected to the presidency;

畢竟他曾當過總統,

he had all the money he needed to pursue

他擁有足夠的金錢可以

any leisure activity he wanted;

過任何他想要的奢華的日子,

he owned a spacious ranch in the countryside, a penthouse in the city,

他在鄉村擁有廣闊的農莊,在城市有一間豪宅 ,

sailboats, speedboats.

好幾輛帆船,快艇.

He had servants to answer any whim,

他有眾多傭僕來完成他任何大大小小的要求,

and he had a family who loved him deeply.

他也有一個深愛他的家庭.

And yet, years of concentration solely on work and individual success

但是,即使是這樣,經過這麼多年只專住於工作,和追逐個人成就.

meant that in his retirement he could find no solace

這代表在他退休的歲月裡他無法

in family, in recreation, in sports or in hobbies.

從家庭,娛樂,體育活動或興趣中尋到任何慰藉

It was almost as if the hole in his heart was so large

彷彿是有一個大洞在他心中,而這個洞太大,

that even the love of a family, without work, could not fill it.

所以沒有了工作,即使是家庭的愛也無法填滿.

As his spirits sagged, his body deteriorated

隨著他的精神狀況越來越萎糜不振,他的身體狀況也每況愈下.

until, I believe, he slowly brought about his own death.

我相信,由於此他漸漸走向死亡之路.

In those last years, he said he was so sad

在他去世的前幾年,他告訴我

watching the American people look toward a new president and forgetting him.

看到全美國的人民忘記他,而只為新總統歡心鼓舞.使他非常的悲傷.

He spoke with immense sadness in his voice,

他的聲音飽含著無比的悲哀,

saying maybe he should have spent more time with his children,

他說他或許應該多花時間輪流

and their children in turn.

和孩子,孫子在一起.

But it was too late.

但是一切都太晚了,

Despite all that power, all that wealth,

僅管他擁有那麼大的權力, 那麼多的財富,

he was alone when he finally died --

他孤獨寂寞的死去.

his ultimate terror realized.

他最害怕的事還是成真.

So as for that third sphere of play,

那麼對於第三部份娛樂,

which he never had learned to enjoy,

也是林頓.詹森在世時不曾學會享受的事情,

I've learned over the years

我經過多年的洗禮,

that even this sphere requires a commitment of time and energy --

瞭解到娛樂也須要投入許多的時間和心力去滋潤培養跟訓練.

enough so that a hobby, a sport, a love of music,

只有這樣,我們才能真正享受我們的愛好,

or art, or literature, or any form of recreation,

喜歡的體育活動,熱愛的音樂,藝術或文學或任何一種娛樂活動

can provide true pleasure, relaxation and replenishment.

所帶來的快樂,輕鬆感覺和心靈補給.

So deep, for instance, was Abraham Lincoln's love of Shakespeare,

舉個例子來說:要像林肯喜歡莎士比亞的文學一樣,

that he made time to spend more than a hundred nights in the theater,

他曾花上百個夜晚造訪劇院聽莎士比亞的歌劇,

even during those dark days of the war.

即使是在戰爭中最困窘的時刻.

He said, when the lights went down and a Shakespeare play came on,

林肯說,當燈光一暗,莎士比亞的歌劇一上場,

for a few precious hours he could imagine himself

在那珍貴的幾小時內他彷彿

back in Prince Hal's time.

回到亨利五世的年代.

But an even more important form of relaxation for him,

但對林肯而言更有效且重要的輕鬆方法

that Lyndon Johnson never could enjoy,

這是林頓.詹森從來不會,也從沒欣賞過的,

was a love of -- somehow -- humor,

是對幽默的喜愛,

and feeling out what hilarious parts of life can produce

和對生命歡樂面的感覺,可以

as a sidelight to the sadness.

在悲慟歲月中成為一盞盞的路燈.

He once said that he laughed so he did not cry,

他曾經說過他笑所以他可以不用哭.

that a good story, for him, was better than a drop of whiskey.

對他而言,一個好聽的故事比一杯的威士忌還有價值.

His storytelling powers had first been recognized

他說故事的能力聲名遠播

when he was on the circuit in Illinois.

是當他在伊黎諾洲巡迴法庭時,

The lawyers and the judges would travel

律師和法官們必須到處旅行,

from one county courthouse to the other,

從這鄉鎮法院到另外的鄉鎮法院.

and when anyone was knowing Lincoln was in town,

每當大家知道林肯來了,

they would come from miles around to listen to him tell stories.

即使路途很遙遙,他們也會進城聚在一起聽他說故事.

He would stand with his back against a fire

他會站立背對著營火

and entertain the crowd for hours with his winding tales.

對大家講好幾個小時的動人曲折故事,

And all these stories became part of his memory bank,

這些許許多多的故事存在他腦中的故事銀行,

so he could call on them whenever he needed to.

他隨時可以即興演說,滿足觀眾.

And they're not quite what you might expect from our marble monument.

而且這些故事很多是鄉間野史逸聞,(並不是我們以為的被正式記錄在歷史中的故事.)

One of his favorite stories, for example,

打個比方,有一個林肯愛說的故事之一是這樣:

had to do with the Revolutionary War hero, Ethan Allen.

這故事是跟美國獨立戰爭中的英雄伊桑·艾倫有關.

And as Lincoln told the story,

根據林肯說的故事,

Mr. Allen went to Britain after the war.

當戰後,艾倫先生到英國去時,

And the British people were still upset

英國人那時還生氣輸掉戰爭

about losing the Revolution,

讓美國贏得獨立.

so they decided to embarrass him a little bit

所以他們決定給伊桑·艾倫一點難堪,

by putting a huge picture of General Washington

他們把華盛顿的大畫像掛在唯一

in the only outhouse, where he'd have to encounter it.

的一間茅屋裡,所以當艾倫上廁所時一定會看到.

They figured he'd be upset about the indignity

他們認為他一定會因

of George Washington being in an outhouse.

華盛顿的畫像在茅屋而非常生氣.

But he came out of the outhouse not upset at all.

但是當他上完廁所後一點也沒動怒.

And so they said, "Well, did you see George Washington in there?"

所以他們忍不住的問他:" 你有看到喬治·華盛顿在裡面嗎?"

"Oh, yes," he said, "perfectly appropriate place for him."

艾倫說:"有啊!""非常適合! 沒有比那兒更完美的地方可掛他的畫像了."

"What do you mean?" they said.

英國人就問:" 你在說什麼?"

"Well," he said, "there's nothing to make an Englishman shit

伊桑·艾倫回答:"只要看到喬治·華盛顿將軍

faster than the sight of General George Washington."

的畫像, 英國人就會嚇得屁滾尿流!"

(Laughter)

笑聲

(Applause)

掌聲

So you can imagine, if you are in the middle of a tense cabinet meeting --

所以你可以想像,假如你是身處在緊張壓迫的內閣會議中-

and he had hundreds of these stories --

-而他有千百個這種故事-

you would have to relax.

你一定會放鬆下來.

So between his nightly treks to the theater,

林肯除了夜晚大費周章去劇院外,

his story telling, and his extraordinary sense of humor

他喜歡說故事和他絕妙的幽默感,

and his love of quoting Shakespeare and poetry,

還有他對莎士比亞和古詩歌的喜愛,

he found that form of play which carried him through his days.

林肯找到可能陪伴一生的娛樂活動.

In my own life, I shall always be grateful

在我自己的生活中,我很高興

for having found a form of play in my irrational love of baseball.

我有一個娛樂那就是我熱愛棒球.

Which allows me, from the beginning of spring training

可以讓我從初春的訓練賽

to the end of the fall,

一直忙到秋末比賽,

to have something to occupy my mind and heart

所以這段時間我的心思

other than my work.

不是只有工作而已.

It all began when I was only six years old,

我熱愛棒球是從我6歲開始,

and my father taught me that mysterious art of keeping score

當家人一邊聽廣播的棒球賽時,

while listening to baseball games --

我的父親教我那神秘的計分藝術.

so that when he went to work in New York during the day,

這樣他白天去紐約上班時,

I could record for him the history of that afternoon's

我可以幫他記下那天下午的

Brooklyn Dodgers game.

布魯客林道奇的棒球賽分數.

Now, when you're only six years old,

試想如果你現在只有六歲,

and your father comes home every single night

你的父親每個夜晚回家後都聽

and listens to you -- as I now realize that I, in excruciating detail,

你的棒球賽報告--如今我瞭解,我是用一種極端折磨人

recounted every single play of every inning

的仔細去詳細報告每一個當天下午

of the game that had just taken place that afternoon.

比賽的任何微小細節.

But he made me feel I was telling him a fabulous story.

但他讓我覺得我是在說一個極有趣的故事.

It makes you think there's something magic about history

這讓你以為歷史有什麼神奇力量

to keep your father's attention.

可以強烈吸引起你父親的注意力.

In fact, I'm convinced I learned the narrative art

事實上, 我相信我學會說故事的技巧

from those nightly sessions with my father.

是由於那段每晚向我父親報告棒球賽的練習.

Because at first, I'd be so excited I would blurt out,

因為,剛開始我會很興奮的奪口而出,

"The Dodgers won!" or, "The Dodgers lost!"

"布魯客林道奇隊贏了" 或是"布魯客林道奇隊輸了"

Which took much of the drama of this two-hour telling away.

這樣一來就完全抹殺了這兩小時精彩球賽故事的戲劇性.

(Laughter)

笑聲

So I finally learned you had to tell a story

所以我最後終於學會說一個故事

from beginning to middle to end.

從開始到最後結束的敘述技巧.

I must say, so fervent was my love

因為當時對布魯客林.道奇

of the old Brooklyn Dodgers in those days

隊太狂熱的喜愛,

that I had to confess in my first confession

我後來對牧師作我第一次的告解時

two sins that related to baseball.

竟有兩個罪是有關這球隊的.

The first occurred because the Dodgers' catcher, Roy Campanella,

第一個罪是因為道奇隊的捕手羅.刊培尼拉

came to my hometown of Rockville Centre, Long Island,

到我們我鎮上,長島的羅客村,演講.

just as I was in preparation for my first Holy Communion.

就在我剛好正在準備我第一個聖餐禮時.

And I was so excited --

可是我好興奮喔--

first person I'd ever see outside of Ebbets Field.

他是我第一個不在愛拜球場遇見的棒球明星.

But it so happened he was speaking in a Protestant Church.

他要演講的地方剛好是在新教徒的教會.

When you are brought up as a Catholic, you think

假如你出生於虔誠天主教家庭,你就會相信

that if you ever set foot in a Protestant Church,

你若膽敢步入新教徒的教會大門一步,

you'll be struck dead at the threshold.

你會立刻被閃雷擊死.

So I went to my father in tears, "What are we going to do?"

所以我哭的跑去跟我父親講,"我們該怎麼辦?"

He said, "Don't worry. He's speaking in a parish hall.

他說, "別擔心,他是在大交誼廳演講,不是主廳.

We're sitting in folding chairs. He's talking about sportsmanship.

而我們坐的是臨行搭的椅子, 況且他說的全部是關於運動,

It's not a sin."

所以無罪"

But as I left that night, I was certain that somehow

但是那晚當我聽完演講候,我相信

I'd traded the life of my everlasting soul

我出賣我的永生靈魂

for this one night with Roy Campanella.

只為了要和羅.刊培尼拉在一起一晚.

(Laughter)

笑聲

And there were no indulgences around that I could buy.

而那時我沒有贖罪劵可買,

So I had this sin on my soul when I went to my first confession.

所以我帶著有罪是邪惡的心向牧師作我的第一次的告解.

I told the priest right away.

我立刻告訴牧師發生什麼事.

He said, "No problem. It wasn't a religious service."

他說,"放心,妳沒罪! 因為那不是一個宗教活動."

But then, unfortunately, he said, "And what else, my child?"

然後不幸的是他問,"孩子,妳還有做什麼不對的事嗎?"

And then came my second sin.

然後我暴露我的第二宗罪.

I tried to sandwich it in between talking too much in church,

我試著讓 "我在教堂時講太多話" 和.

wishing harm to others, being mean to my sisters.

"我對我的姐妹不好" 的句子中夾著"我希望別人受傷"

And he said, "To whom did you wish harm?"

但他發現了並問我" 你希望誰受傷害?"

And I had to say that I wished that various New York Yankees players

我只好老實告訴他我希望所很多紐約楊基棒球隊選手

would break arms, legs and ankles --

跌斷手,腳,或扭傷腳踝--

(Laughter)

笑聲

-- so that the Brooklyn Dodgers could win their first World Series.

-這樣布魯客林.道奇隊就可以贏得他們的第一個世界杯.

He said, "How often do you make these horrible wishes?"

他問我,"妳多頻繁許這種可怕個願望?"

And I had to say, every night when I said my prayers.

然後我又必須老實告訴他每晚睡前禱告我都有許這著個願望.

(Laughter)

笑聲

So he said, "Look, I'll tell you something.

所以他就告訴我," 聽著! 我要告訴妳一件事,

I love the Brooklyn Dodgers, as you do,

我跟妳一樣都喜歡布魯客林.道奇隊.

but I promise you some day they will win fairly and squarely.

但是我跟妳保證有一天布魯客林.道奇隊會很公平正當的贏得冠軍.

You do not need to wish harm on others to make it happen."

不須妳去希望別人受傷害才讓道奇隊贏."

"Oh yes," I said.

我只好回答" 喔, 好吧!"

But luckily, my first confession -- to a baseball-loving priest!

我非常幸運我的第一次的告解是向--一個熱愛棒球--的牧師

(Laughter)

笑聲

Well, though my father died of a sudden heart attack

雖然我的父親因為心肌梗塞去世時

when I was still in my 20s,

我才二十幾歲,

before I had gotten married and had my three sons,

我還未結婚也還沒有我的三個兒子.

I have passed his memory -- as well as his love of baseball -- on to my boys.

我把他的一生的事宜--包括他對 棒球賽的感情--全部告訴我的兒子們.

Though when the Dodgers abandoned us to come to L.A.,

後來當布魯客林.道奇隊拋棄我們投向洛杉磯城市的懷抱後,

I lost faith in baseball until I moved to Boston

我對棒球隊失去興趣. 直到我搬到波士頓後,

and became an irrational Red Sox fan.

我又變成紅襪隊狂熱的支持者.

And I must say, even now, when I sit with my sons

即使是現在,當用我們的球賽季票進場後,

with our season tickets,

坐在我兒子的 旁邊時,

I can sometimes close my eyes against the sun

有時我會合上我的雙眼, 仰頭對著白花花的陽光,

and imagine myself, a young girl once more, in the presence of my father,

想像我自己:還是個小女孩,跟我的父親在一起

watching the players of my youth on the grassy fields below:

看年輕的布魯客林.道奇隊在下面綠油油的球場比賽

Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, and Duke Snider.

傑克 羅勃森, 羅.刊培尼拉屋, 皮威.芮日,和迪克.司尼德.

I must say there is magic in these moments.

一切真像是有魔法一樣.

When I open my eyes and I see my sons

而當我睜開眼睛,看見我的兒子們

in the place where my father once sat,

坐在我父親曾坐過的位子上.

I feel an invisible loyalty and love

我可以感覺到一種看不見的忠誠和愛

linking my sons to the grandfather whose face they never had a chance to see,

連繫著我的兒子們和他們未曾謀面的祖父.

but whose heart and soul they have come to know

雖然沒有見過他們的祖父可是經由我的許多的故事中

through all the stories I have told.

他們早對自己祖父瞭如指掌.

Which is why, in the end, I shall always be grateful for this curious love of history,

這是為什麼最後我會很高興我有一個對歷史的好奇赤子心,

allowing me to spend a lifetime looking back into the past.

因為這份熱忱 使我願意用我的一生去研究過去的歷史

Allowing me to learn from these large figures

讓我能學習已故的偉人如何努力

about the struggle for meaning for life.

追求生活意義的軌跡

Allowing me to believe that the private people

讓我相信那些不為人知的個人,

we have loved and lost in our families,

那些我們曾鍾愛但已死去離開我們的親人

and the public figures we have respected in our history,

和那些我們曾敬佩的歷史公眾人物,

just as Abraham Lincoln wanted to believe,

就像是亞伯罕林肯總統相信的,

really can live on, so long as we pledge

真的可以長存,只要我們保證

to tell and to retell the stories of their lives.

去一再的傳揚他們在世的故事.

Thank you for letting me be that storyteller today.

謝謝今天讓我當的一個說故事者.

(Applause)

鼓掌!

Thank you.

謝謝!