Tranquility within, never desolate

内心安详，从不荒凉

Author: Wang Meng, a contemporary Chinese writer and scholar, former Minister of Culture of China, honorary chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, and author of nearly a hundred novels including the epic novel “Long Live Youth”.

作者：王蒙  中国当代作家、学者，中国文化部原部长、中国作家协会名誉主席，著有长篇小说【青春万岁】等近百部小说。

Tranquility

安详

A state that I really like and long for is called tranquility.

我很喜欢、很向往的一种状态，叫做—-安详。

“Living is a troublesome thing, with more moments of anxiety, impatience, and indignation, and fewer moments of peace, tranquility, and composure.”

活着是件麻烦的事儿，焦灼、急躁、愤愤不平的时候多，而安宁、平静、沉着稳定的时候少。

“People often complain about not being understood. Everyone longs to be understood, which shows that understanding is not easy, and being understood is even harder. Trying to seek understanding through endless complaints, explanations, debates, and shouting will only scare people away.”

 常常抱怨不理解自己的人糊涂了。人人渴望理解，这正说明理解并不容易，被理解就更难，用无止无休的抱怨、解释、辩论、大喊大叫去求得理解，更是只会把人吓跑。

 “Not understanding should be understandable. Understanding ‘not understanding’ is the first step to understanding and the premise of seeking understanding. If you can’t even understand why others don’t understand you, how can you understand others? How can a person who doesn’t understand others expect others to understand them?”

 不理解本身应该是可以理解的。理解“不理解”，这是理解的初步，也是寻求理解的前提。你连别人为什么不理解你都理解不了，你又怎么能理解别人？一个不理解别人的人，又怎么要求旁人的理解呢？

You should not overly rely on language. Don’t always try to gain the upper hand in language. Facts that cannot be explained in language can be explained. If language is unlocked but facts are not, language will lose its value and even add to the confusion. People who often think of letting facts speak are more peaceful than those who easily speak nonsense.

不要过分地依赖语言。不要总是企图在语言上占上风。语言解不开的事实可以解开。语言解开了而事实没有解开的话，语言就会失去价值，甚至于只能添乱。动辄想到让事实说话的人比起动不动就想说倒一大片的人更安详。

 Don’t assume that having this will lead to that. Don’t assume that having reputation means having credibility. Don’t assume that having achievements means having happiness. Don’t assume that having power means having prestige. Don’t assume that doing one thing well guarantees doing the next thing well.

不要以为有了这个就会有那个。不要以为有了名誉就有了信誉。不要以为有了成就就有了幸福。不要以为有了权利就有了威望。不要以为这件事做好了下一件事也一定做得好。

Some people worship famous brands, while others are more critical of them. Some people acknowledge achievements, while others are envious of the achievements of others. Some people crave power, and there are countless eyes watching how you use that power.

有人崇拜名牌，有人更喜欢挑剔名牌。有人承认成就，更有人因为旁人的成就而虎视眈眈。有人渴望权力。也有无数双眼睛盯着你的权力的运用。

  Success can bring a series of successes, but it can also lead to a disastrous defeat due to your arrogance and recklessness. Without considering both sides, there is no point in watching the show.

  一个成功可以带来一连串的成功，也可以因你的狂妄恣肆而大败特败。没有这一面的道理，只有那一面的道理，就没有戏看了。

Tranquility belongs to the strong, while impatience reveals immaturity. Tranquility belongs to the wise, while losing one’s temper is ridiculous. Tranquility belongs to confidence, while making a scene exposes a lack of conviction.

安详属于强者，骄躁流露幼稚。安详属于智者，气急败坏显可笑。安详属于信心，大吵大闹暴露了其实没有多少底气。