演讲文本

Exactly 30 minutes into the problem-solving the researchers interrupted each group

在他们开始解决问题30分钟时 研究人员们会打断各组

They entered the room bearing a plate of cookies. Four cookies

他们会拿着一盘饼干进入房间

The team consisted of three people and there were these four cookies

总共四块 小组里有三个人 但却有四块饼干

Every team member obviously got one cookie but that left a fourth cookie, just sitting there

显然每个成员分到了一块 但还剩下第四块放在那儿

It should have been awkward. But it wasn't

这本应该是个尴尬的处境 但事实并非如此

With incredible consistency the person arbitrarily appointed leader of the group grabbed the fourth cookie, and ate it

每个组的表现难以置信的一致 那个被随机任命做组长的人 拿了第四块饼干 并把它吃了

Not only ate it, but ate it with gusto lips smacking, mouth open, drool at the corners of their mouths

不仅吃了 而且吃的津津有味咂咂做响 大嚼特嚼 口水横流

In the end all that was left of the extra cookie were crumbs on the leader's shirt

最后那块饼干剩下的 只有组长衣领上的饼干渣了

So this leader had performed no special task

这位组长没有任何丰功伟绩

He had no special virtue

也没有过人的美德

He'd been chosen at random, 30 minutes earlier

他只是30分钟前随机被选的

His status was nothing but luck

他的身份除了运气什么都没有

But it still left him with the sense that the cookie should be his

但他仍然觉得饼干应该是他的

This experiment helps to explain Wall Street bonuses and CEO pay and I'm sure lots of other human behavior

这个实验有助于解释华尔街的奖金和CEO薪酬 我也确信它还可以解释很多人类行为

This is how people behave when they blind there luck

这就是人们掩盖他们的幸运所做出的表现

But it also is relevant to you to new graduates of Princeton University

但它同时也和普林斯顿大学的 新毕业生有关

Because in a general sort of way

通过某种一般性的方式

you have been appointed the leader of the group

你已被任命为小组领袖

Your appointment may not be entirely arbitrary

你的任命不一定是完全随机的

But you must sense its arbitrary aspect you are the lucky few

但你必须意识到它的随机的那一面 你们是少数的幸运儿

Lucky in your parents lucky in your country lucky that a place like Princeton exists

幸运在于你有这样的父母 幸运在于你有这样的国家 幸运在于有普林斯顿这样的地方

that can take in lucky people introduce them to other lucky people and increase their chances of becoming even luckier

专门吸引幸运的人 把他们介绍给其他幸运的人 并增加他们更加幸运的机会

Lucky that you live in the richest society the world has ever seen in a time when no one actually expects you to sacrifice your interests to anything

幸运在于你正处于世界历史上最富饶的社会 处于一个没有人会要求你为任何事 牺牲自己的利益的时代

All of you have been faced with the extra cookie

你们都面对着那块多出来的饼干

All of you will be faced with many more of them

你们也将面对更多

In time you will find it easy to assume that you deserve the extra cookie

随着时间的推移 你会发现你很容易觉得 你本来就配得那块多出来的饼干

For all I know, you may deserve the extra cookie

就我所知 你可以这样认为

But you'll be happier, and the world will be better off if you at least pretend that you don't

但你可以更快乐 这个世界也可以变得更美好 如果你能够至少假装你不配

So never forget, In the nation's service

永远不要忘记 为国效力

In the service of all nations

为万国效力

Thank you. And good luck

谢谢 祝你们好运

人物简介和演讲视频

人物简介
当莘莘学子走出象牙塔，迈向社会，怎样做好从学子到社会人的华丽转变呢？我们可以从风云学长们的成长故事和忠告中获得些什么呢？面对一份收益优厚的工作，对于自己怀揣的梦想，你会做出怎样的抉择？或许，2012年普林斯顿大学Michael Lewis的毕业演讲能够让你有所收获。