Maybe you have heard of this funny saying / joke before :
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to79.mp3|titles=listen to]
要感谢的人太多了，就谢天吧；要改的坏习惯太多了，就改天吧。
(The people that I have to express gratitude to are so many, so I thank heaven; the bad habits that I need to correct are too many, so, (I will correct them) some other day.)
要 [have to, yāo] 感谢 [to thank, gǎn xiè] 的 [connecting particle to connect the attributive and the noun it modifies, de] 人 [people, rén] 太多 [too many, tài duō] 了 [modal particle intensifying preceding clause, le] ，就 [then,jiù] 谢 [to thank, xiè] 天 [heaven, tiān] 吧 [modal particle indicating suggestion, bā] ；要 [have to, yāo] 改 [to correct, gǎi] 的 [particle, de] 坏 [bad, huài] 习惯 [habit, xí guàn] 太多 [too many, tài duō] 了 [particle to show emotion, le] ，就 [then, jiù] 改 [to change, gǎi] 天 [day, tiān] 吧[particle to show suggestion, bā] 。（The people that I have to express gratitude to are so many, so I thank heaven; the bad habits that I need to correct are too many, so, I will correct them some other day.)
The phrase 謝 天 (thank heaven) comes from 陈之藩 Chen Zhifan’s article. It is a highly acclaimed meaningful writing which is well known in Chinese spoken world.
謝 天
Xie Tian
Thank Heaven
written by
陈之藩
Chen Zhifan
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to77.mp3|titles=listen to]
常到外國朋友家吃飯。當蠟燭燃起，菜餚布好，客主就位，總是主人家的小男孩或小女孩舉起小手，低頭感謝上天的賜予，並歡迎客人的到來。
我剛一到美時，常鬧得尷尬。因為在國內養成的習慣，還沒有坐好，就開動了。
以後凡到朋友家吃飯時，總是先囑咐自己，今天不要忘了，可別太快開動啊！幾年來，我已變得很習慣了。但我一直認為只是一種不同的風俗儀式，在我這方面看來，忘或不忘，也沒有太大的關係。
前年有一次，我又是到一家去吃飯。而這次卻是由主人家的祖母謝飯。她雪白的頭髮，顫抖的聲音，在搖曳的燭光下，使我想起兒時的祖母。那天晚上，我忽然覺得我平靜如水的情感翻起滔天巨浪來。
在小時候，每當冬夜，我們一大家人圍域個大圓桌吃飯。我總是坐在祖母身旁，祖母總是摸著我的頭說；「老天爺賞我們家飽飯吃，記住，飯碗裏一粒米都不許剩，要是糟蹋糧食，老天爺就不給咱們飯了。」
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to73.mp3|titles=listen to]剛上小學的我，正念打倒偶像，破除迷信，我的學校就是從前的關帝廟，我的書桌就是供桌。我曾給周倉畫上眼鏡，給關平戴上鬍子，祖母的話，老天爺也者，我覺得是既多餘，又落伍的。
不過，我卻很尊敬我的祖父母，因為這飯確實是他們掙的，這家確實是他們立的。
我感謝面前的祖父母，不必感謝渺茫的老天爺。
這種想法並未因年紀長大而有任何改變。多少年，就在這種哲學中過去了。
我在這個外國家庭晚飯後，由於這位外國老太太，我想起我的兒時；由於我的兒時，我想起一串很奇怪的現象。
祖父每年在「風裏雨裏的咬牙」，祖母每年在「茶裏飯裏的自苦」，他們明明知道要滴下眉毛上的汗珠，才能撿起田中的麥穗，而為什麼要謝天？我明明是個小孩子，混吃混玩，而我為什麼卻不感謝老天爺？
這種奇怪的心理狀態，一直是我心中的一個謎。
一直到前年，我在普林斯頓，瀏覽愛因斯坦的《我所看見的世界》，得到了新的領悟。
這是一本非科學性的文集，專載些愛因斯坦在紀念會上啦、在歡迎會上啦、在朋友的葬禮中，他所發表的談話。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to74.mp3|titles=listen to]我在讀這本書時忽然發現愛因斯坦想盡量給聽眾一個印象：即他的貢獻不是源於甲，就是由於乙，而與愛因斯坦本人不太相干似的。
就連那篇亙古以來嶄新獨創的狹義相對論，並無參考可引，卻在最後天外飛來一筆，「感謝同事朋友貝索的時相討論。」
其他的文章，比如奮鬥苦思了十幾年的廣義相對論，數學部分推給了昔年好友的合作；這種謙抑，這種不居功，科學史中是少見的。
我就想，如此大功而竟不居，為什麼？像愛因斯坦之於相對論，像我祖母之於我家。
幾年來自己的奔波，作了一些研究，寫了幾篇學術文章，真正做了一些小貢獻以後，才有了一種新的覺悟：即是無論什麼事，得之於人者太多，出之於己者太少。
因為需要感謝的人太多了，就感謝天罷。無論什麼事，不是需要先人的遺愛與遺產，即是需要眾人的支持與合作，還要等候機會的到來。越是真正做過一點事，越是感覺自己的貢獻之渺小。
於是，創業的人，都會自然而然的想到上天，而敗家的人卻無時不想到自己。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to75.mp3|titles=listen to]介之推不言祿，祿亦弗及。這是我們中國的一個最完美的人格所構成的一個最完美的故事。介之推為什麼不言祿，因為他覺得貪天之功以為己力，是君子所不屑為，也是君子所不應為的。
愛因斯坦剛到普林斯頓時，主任與他商量報酬問題，他說五千。主任說：「給你五千，如何給一個大學畢業生呢？還是算一萬五千元罷！」這不是外國的介之推嗎？
為什麼介之推與愛因斯坦專幹這類傻事？立過大功，而不居功若此。他們知道作事與立功，得之於眾人合作者多，得之於自己逞能者少。於是很自然的產生一種感謝眾人、感謝上天的感覺。
我們回頭想一想，五六十年來的中國比我七八歲時的思想能強幾何！史家如果寫這五六十年來的我國歷史時，一定命名為狂妄而幼稚，無法與無天的時代。
無論哪一行、哪一界，多是自吹自擂，自欺自騙。日子長了，連自己也信以為真了，而大禍至矣。
因為沒有做任何真正的事，沒有建任何真正的功，自然而然不會有謝天的感覺。
哲學家們知道這個症候最為可怕，所以造出許多知好知歹的人物與故事來。
有一個人問一位文學家，我記得是雨果罷，「如果世界上的書全需要燒掉，而只許留一本，應留什麼？」雨果毫不猶豫的說：「只留〈約伯記〉。」約伯是《聖經》裏面的介之推，富亦謝天，貧亦謝天，病亦謝天，苦亦謝天。
我們的思想界尚在混沌幼稚時期，需要約伯的精神，需要介之推的覺悟。這個覺悟即是：一粥一飯，半絲半縷，都是多少年、多少人的血汗結晶。感謝之情，無由表達，還是謝天罷。
一九六一年除夕於曼城
本文摘錄自《在春風裏》
Text with pinyin:
謝[xiè] 天[tiān]
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to76.mp3|titles=listen to]常[cháng] 到[dào] 外[wài] 國[guó] 朋友[péng you] 家[jiā] 吃[chī] 飯[fàn] 。當[dāng] 蠟燭[là zhú] 燃[rán] 起[qǐ] ，菜[cài] 餚[yáo] 布[bù] 好[hǎo] ，客[kè] 主[zhǔ] 就[jiù] 位[wèi] ，總是[zǒng shì] 主人[zhǔ rén] 家[jiā] 的[de] 小[xiǎo] 男孩[nán hái] 或[huò] 小[xiǎo] 女孩[nǚ hái] 舉起[jǔ qǐ] 小[xiǎo] 手[shǒu] ，低[dī] 頭[tóu] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 上[shàng] 天[tiān] 的[de] 賜[cì] 予[yú] ，並[bìng] 歡迎[huān yíng] 客人[kè ren] 的[de] 到[dào] 來[lái] 。
我[wǒ] 剛[gāng] 一[yī] 到[dào] 美[měi] 時[shí] ，常[cháng] 鬧[nào] 得[dé] 尷尬[gān gà] 。因[yīn] 為[wéi] 在[zài] 國內[guó nèi] 養成[yǎng chéng] 的[de] 習慣[xí guàn] ，還[hái] 沒有[méi yǒu] 坐好[zuò hǎo] ，就[jiù] 開動[kāi dòng] 了[le] 。
以[yǐ] 後[hòu] 凡[fán] 到[dào] 朋友[péng you] 家[jiā] 吃[chī] 飯[fàn] 時[shí] ，總是[zǒng shì] 先[xiān] 囑咐[zhǔ fù] 自己[zì jǐ] ，今天[jīn tiān] 不要[bú yào] 忘[wàng] 了[le] ，可[kě] 別[bié] 太[tài] 快[kuài] 開動[kāi dòng] 啊[ā] ！幾年來[jǐ nián lái] ，我[wǒ] 已[yǐ] 變得[biàn de] 很[hěn] 習慣[xí guàn] 了[le] 。但[dàn] 我[wǒ] 一直[yì zhí] 認為[rèn wéi] 只是[zhǐ shì] 一[yī] 種[zhǒng] 不同[bù tóng] 的[de] 風俗[fēng sú] 儀式[yí shì] ，在[zài] 我[wǒ] 這[zhè] 方面[fāng miàn] 看[kàn] 來[lái] ，忘[wàng] 或[huò] 不[bù] 忘[wàng] ，也[yě] 沒有[méi yǒu] 太[tài] 大[dà] 的[de] 關係[guān xi] 。
前年[qián nián] 有[yǒu] 一次[yī cì] ，我[wǒ] 又[yòu] 是[shì] 到[dào] 一[yī] 家[jiā] 去[qù] 吃[chī] 飯[fàn] 。而[ér] 這次[zhè cì] 卻[què] 是[shì] 由[yóu] 主人[zhǔ rén] 家[jiā] 的[de] 祖母[zǔ mǔ] 謝[xiè] 飯[fàn] 。她[tā] 雪白[xuě bái] 的[de] 頭髮[tóu fa] ，顫抖[chàn dǒu] 的[de] 聲音[shēng yīn] ，在[zài] 搖[yáo] 曳[yè] 的[de] 燭[zhú] 光[guāng] 下[xià] ，使[shǐ] 我[wǒ] 想[xiǎng] 起[qǐ] 兒[ér] 時[shí] 的[de] 祖母[zǔ mǔ] 。那[nǎ] 天[tiān] 晚上[wǎn shang] ，我[wǒ] 忽然[hū rán] 覺得[jué de] 我[wǒ] 平[píng] 靜[jìng] 如[rú] 水[shuǐ] 的[de] 情感[qíng gǎn] 翻[fān] 起[qǐ] 滔[tāo] 天[tiān] 巨[jù] 浪[làng] 來[lái] 。
在[zài] 小[xiǎo] 時候[shí hou] ，每[měi] 當[dāng] 冬[dōng] 夜[yè] ，我[wǒ] 們[men] 一[yī] 大家[dà jiā] 人[rén] 圍[wéi] 域[yù] 個[gè] 大[dà] 圓[yuán] 桌[zhuō] 吃[chī] 飯[fàn] 。我[wǒ] 總是[zǒng shì] 坐[zuò] 在[zài] 祖母[zǔ mǔ] 身[shēn] 旁[páng] ，祖母[zǔ mǔ] 總是[zǒng shì] 摸[mō] 著我的[wǒ de] 頭[tóu] 說[shuì] ；「老[lǎo] 天[tiān] 爺[yé] 賞[shǎng] 我[wǒ] 們[men] 家[jiā] 飽[bǎo] 飯[fàn] 吃[chī] ，記住[jì zhu] ，飯碗[fàn wǎn] 裏[lǐ] 一[yī] 粒[lì] 米[mǐ] 都[dōu] 不[bù] 許[xǔ] 剩[shèng] ，要是[yào shì] 糟蹋[zāo tà] 糧食[liáng shi] ，老[lǎo] 天[tiān] 爺[yé] 就[jiù] 不[bù] 給[gěi] 咱[zá] 們[men] 飯[fàn] 了[le] 。」
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to73.mp3|titles=listen to]剛[gāng] 上[shàng] 小[xiǎo] 學[xué] 的[de] 我[wǒ] ，正[zhēng] 念[niàn] 打倒[dǎ dǎo] 偶像[ǒu xiàng] ，破除[pò chú] 迷信[mí xìn] ，我的[wǒ de] 學校[xué xiào] 就是[jiù shì] 從前[cóng qián] 的[de] 關帝[dì] 廟[miào] ，我的[wǒ de] 書桌[shū zhuō] 就是[jiù shì] 供[gōng] 桌[zhuō] 。我[wǒ] 曾[céng] 給[gěi] 周[zhōu] 倉[cāng] 畫[huà] 上[shàng] 眼[yǎn] 鏡[jìng] ，給[gěi] 關平[píng] 戴[dài] 上[shàng] 鬍子[hú zi] ，祖母[zǔ mǔ] 的[de] 話[huà] ，老[lǎo] 天[tiān] 爺[yé] 也[yě] 者[zhě] ，我[wǒ] 覺得[jué de] 是[shì] 既[jì] 多[duō] 餘[yú] ，又[yòu] 落[là] 伍[wǔ] 的[de] 。
不[bù] 過[guò] ，我[wǒ] 卻[què] 很[hěn] 尊敬[zūn jìng] 我的[wǒ de] 祖父[zǔ fù] 母[mǔ] ，因[yīn] 為[wéi] 這[zhè] 飯[fàn] 確實[què shí] 是[shì] 他[tā] 們[men] 掙[zhēng] 的[de] ，這[zhè] 家[jiā] 確實[què shí] 是[shì] 他[tā] 們[men] 立[lì] 的[de] 。
我[wǒ] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 面前[miàn qián] 的[de] 祖父[zǔ fù] 母[mǔ] ，不必[bù bì] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 渺茫[miǎo máng] 的[de] 老[lǎo] 天[tiān] 爺[yé] 。
這種[zhè zhǒng] 想法[xiǎng fǎ] 並[bìng] 未[wèi] 因[yīn] 年[nián] 紀[jì] 長大[zhǎng dà] 而[ér] 有[yǒu] 任何[rèn hé] 改[gǎi] 變[biàn] 。多少[duō shao] 年[nián] ，就[jiù] 在[zài] 這種[zhè zhǒng] 哲[zhé] 學[xué] 中[zhōng] 過去[guò qu] 了[le] 。
我[wǒ] 在[zài] 這個[zhè gè] 外[wài] 國家[guó jiā] 庭[tíng] 晚[wǎn] 飯[fàn] 後[hòu] ，由[yóu] 於[yū] 這位[zhè wèi] 外[wài] 國[guó] 老[lǎo] 太太[tài tai] ，我[wǒ] 想[xiǎng] 起[qǐ] 我的[wǒ de] 兒[ér] 時[shí] ；由[yóu] 於[yū] 我的[wǒ de] 兒[ér] 時[shí] ，我[wǒ] 想[xiǎng] 起[qǐ] 一串[yī chuàn] 很[hěn] 奇怪[qí guài] 的[de] 現象[xiàn xiàng] 。
祖父[zǔ fù] 每年[měi nián] 在[zài] 「風[fēng] 裏[lǐ] 雨[yǔ] 裏[lǐ] 的[de] 咬[yǎo] 牙[yá] 」，祖母[zǔ mǔ] 每年[měi nián] 在[zài] 「茶[chá] 裏[lǐ] 飯[fàn] 裏[lǐ] 的[de] 自[zì] 苦[kǔ] 」，他[tā] 們[men] 明明[míng míng] 知道[zhī dao] 要[yāo] 滴下[dī xià] 眉毛[méi mao] 上[shàng] 的[de] 汗[hàn] 珠[zhū] ，才能[cái néng] 撿[jiǎn] 起[qǐ] 田中[zhōng] 的[de] 麥[mài] 穗[suì] ，而[ér] 為什麼[wèi shén me] 要[yāo] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] ？我[wǒ] 明明[míng míng] 是[shì] 個[gè] 小孩[xiǎo hái] 子[zǐ] ，混[hún] 吃[chī] 混[hún] 玩[wán] ，而[ér] 我[wǒ] 為什麼[wèi shén me] 卻[què] 不[bù] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 老[lǎo] 天[tiān] 爺[yé] ？
這種[zhè zhǒng] 奇怪[qí guài] 的[de] 心理[xīn lǐ] 狀態[zhuàng tài] ，一直[yì zhí] 是[shì] 我[wǒ] 心中[xīn zhōng] 的[de] 一[yī] 個[gè] 謎[mí] 。
一直[yì zhí] 到[dào] 前年[qián nián] ，我[wǒ] 在[zài] 普[pǔ] 林[lín] 斯[sī] 頓[dùn] ，瀏覽[liú lǎn] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 的[de] 《我[wǒ] 所[suǒ] 看[kàn] 見[jiàn] 的[de] 世界[shì jiè] 》，得到[dé dào] 了[le] 新[xīn] 的[de] 領[lǐng] 悟[wù] 。
這[zhè] 是[shì] 一[yī] 本[běn] 非[fēi] 科[kē] 學[xué] 性[xìng] 的[de] 文[wén] 集[jí] ，專[zhuān] 載[zǎi] 些[xiē] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 在[zài] 紀念[jì niàn] 會[huì] 上[shàng] 啦[lā] 、在[zài] 歡迎[huān yíng] 會[huì] 上[shàng] 啦[lā] 、在[zài] 朋友[péng you] 的[de] 葬[zàng] 禮[lǐ] 中[zhōng] ，他[tā] 所[suǒ] 發表[fā biǎo] 的[de] 談話[tán huà] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to74.mp3|titles=listen to]我[wǒ] 在[zài] 讀[dú] 這[zhè] 本[běn] 書[shū] 時[shí] 忽然[hū rán] 發現[fā xiàn] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 想[xiǎng] 盡[jìn] 量[liáng] 給[gěi] 聽眾[tīng zhòng] 一[yī] 個[gè] 印象[yìn xiàng] ：即[jí] 他[tā] 的[de] 貢獻[gòng xiàn] 不是[bú shì] 源[yuán] 於[yū] 甲[jiǎ] ，就是[jiù shì] 由[yóu] 於[yū] 乙[yǐ] ，而[ér] 與[yǔ] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 本人[běn rén] 不[bù] 太[tài] 相[xiāng] 干[gān] 似的[sì de] 。
就[jiù] 連[lián] 那[nǎ] 篇[piān] 亙[gèn] 古[gǔ] 以[yǐ] 來[lái] 嶄新[zhǎn xīn] 獨[dú] 創[chuāng] 的[de] 狹[xiá] 義[yì] 相[xiāng] 對[duì] 論[lún] ，並[bìng] 無[wú] 參考[cān kǎo] 可[kě] 引[yǐn] ，卻[què] 在[zài] 最[zuì] 後天[hòu tiān] 外[wài] 飛[fēi] 來[lái] 一[yī] 筆[bǐ] ，「感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 同事[tóng shì] 朋友[péng you] 貝[bèi] 索[suǒ] 的[de] 時[shí] 相[xiāng] 討論[tǎo lùn] 。」
其他[qí tā] 的[de] 文章[wén zhāng] ，比如[bǐ rú] 奮鬥[fèn dòu] 苦[kǔ] 思[sī] 了[le] 十[shí] 幾年[jǐ nián] 的[de] 廣義[guǎng yì] 相[xiāng] 對[duì] 論[lún] ，數學[shù xué] 部分[bù fen] 推[tuī] 給[gěi] 了[le] 昔年[xī nián] 好[hǎo] 友[yǒu] 的[de] 合作[hé zuò] ；這種[zhè zhǒng] 謙[qiān] 抑[yì] ，這種[zhè zhǒng] 不[bù] 居[jū] 功[gōng] ，科[kē] 學[xué] 史[shǐ] 中[zhōng] 是[shì] 少[shǎo] 見[jiàn] 的[de] 。
我[wǒ] 就[jiù] 想[xiǎng] ，如此[rú cǐ] 大功[dà gōng] 而[ér] 竟[jìng] 不[bù] 居[jū] ，為什麼[wèi shén me] ？像[xiàng] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 相[xiāng] 對[duì] 論[lún] ，像[xiàng] 我[wǒ] 祖母[zǔ mǔ] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 我[wǒ] 家[jiā] 。
幾年來[jǐ nián lái] 自己[zì jǐ] 的[de] 奔波[bēn bō] ，作[zuò] 了[le] 一些[yī xiē] 研究[yán jiū] ，寫[xiě] 了[le] 幾[jī] 篇[piān] 學術[xué shù] 文章[wén zhāng] ，真正[zhēn zhèng] 做[zuò] 了[le] 一些[yī xiē] 小[xiǎo] 貢獻[gòng xiàn] 以[yǐ] 後[hòu] ，才[cái] 有[yǒu] 了[le] 一[yī] 種[zhǒng] 新[xīn] 的[de] 覺悟[jué wù] ：即[jí] 是[shì] 無論[wú lùn] 什[shén] 麼[mó] 事[shì] ，得[dé] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 人[rén] 者[zhě] 太多[tài duō] ，出[chū] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 己[jǐ] 者[zhě] 太少[tài shǎo] 。
因[yīn] 為[wéi] 需要[xū yào] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 的[de] 人[rén] 太多[tài duō] 了[le] ，就[jiù] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] 罷[bà] 。無論[wú lùn] 什[shén] 麼[mó] 事[shì] ，不是[bú shì] 需要[xū yào] 先[xiān] 人[rén] 的[de] 遺[yí] 愛[ài] 與[yǔ] 遺產[yí chǎn] ，即[jí] 是[shì] 需要[xū yào] 眾人[zhòng rén] 的[de] 支持[zhī chí] 與[yǔ] 合作[hé zuò] ，還[hái] 要[yāo] 等候[děng hòu] 機會[jī huì] 的[de] 到[dào] 來[lái] 。越[yuè] 是[shì] 真正[zhēn zhèng] 做[zuò] 過[guò] 一[yī] 點[diǎn] 事[shì] ，越[yuè] 是[shì] 感[gǎn] 覺[jiào] 自己[zì jǐ] 的[de] 貢獻[gòng xiàn] 之[zhī] 渺小[miǎo xiǎo] 。
於[yū] 是[shì] ，創業[chuàng yè] 的[de] 人[rén] ，都[dōu] 會[huì] 自然而然[zì rán ér rán] 的[de] 想到[xiǎng dào] 上[shàng] 天[tiān] ，而[ér] 敗[bài] 家[jiā] 的[de] 人[rén] 卻[què] 無[wú] 時[shí] 不[bù] 想到[xiǎng dào] 自己[zì jǐ] 。
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/listen-to75.mp3|titles=listen to]介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] 不[bù] 言[yán] 祿[lù] ，祿[lù] 亦[yì] 弗[fú] 及[jí] 。這[zhè] 是[shì] 我[wǒ] 們[men] 中[zhōng] 國[guó] 的[de] 一[yī] 個[gè] 最[zuì] 完美[wán měi] 的[de] 人格[rén gé] 所[suǒ] 構成[gòu chéng] 的[de] 一[yī] 個[gè] 最[zuì] 完美[wán měi] 的[de] 故事[gù shì] 。介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] 為什麼[wèi shén me] 不[bù] 言[yán] 祿[lù] ，因[yīn] 為[wéi] 他[tā] 覺得[jué de] 貪[tān] 天[tiān] 之[zhī] 功[gōng] 以[yǐ] 為[wéi] 己[jǐ] 力[lì] ，是[shì] 君子[jūn zi] 所[suǒ] 不屑[bù xiè] 為[wéi] ，也[yě] 是[shì] 君子[jūn zi] 所[suǒ] 不[bù] 應[yīng] 為[wéi] 的[de] 。
愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 剛[gāng] 到[dào] 普[pǔ] 林[lín] 斯[sī] 頓時[dùn shí] ，主任[zhǔ rèn] 與[yǔ] 他[tā] 商量[shāng liàng] 報酬[bào chóu] 問題[wèn tí] ，他[tā] 說[shuì] 五[wǔ] 千[qiān] 。主任[zhǔ rèn] 說[shuì] ：「給[gěi] 你[nǐ] 五[wǔ] 千[qiān] ，如何[rú hé] 給[gěi] 一[yī] 個[gè] 大[dà] 學[xué] 畢業生[bì yè shēng] 呢[ne] ？還是[hái shì] 算[suàn] 一[yī] 萬[wàn] 五[wǔ] 千[qiān] 元[yuán] 罷[bà] ！」這[zhè] 不是[bú shì] 外[wài] 國[guó] 的[de] 介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] 嗎[ma] ？
為什麼[wèi shén me] 介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] 與[yǔ] 愛因斯坦[ài yīn sī tǎn] 專[zhuān] 幹[gàn] 這類[zhè lèi] 傻[shǎ] 事[shì] ？立[lì] 過[guò] 大功[dà gōng] ，而[ér] 不[bù] 居[jū] 功[gōng] 若[ruò] 此[cǐ] 。他[tā] 們[men] 知道[zhī dao] 作[zuò] 事[shì] 與[yǔ] 立[lì] 功[gōng] ，得[dé] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 眾人[zhòng rén] 合作[hé zuò] 者[zhě] 多[duō] ，得[dé] 之[zhī] 於[yū] 自己[zì jǐ] 逞[chěng] 能[néng] 者[zhě] 少[shǎo] 。於[yū] 是[shì] 很[hěn] 自然[zì rán] 的[de] 產生[chǎn shēng] 一[yī] 種[zhǒng] 感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 眾人[zhòng rén] 、感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 上[shàng] 天[tiān] 的[de] 感[gǎn] 覺[jiào] 。
我[wǒ] 們[men] 回[huí] 頭[tóu] 想一想[xiǎng yī xiǎng] ，五[wǔ] 六十[liù shí] 年[nián] 來[lái] 的[de] 中[zhōng] 國[guó] 比[bǐ] 我[wǒ] 七[qī] 八[bā] 歲[suì] 時[shí] 的[de] 思想[sī xiǎng] 能[néng] 強[qiáng] 幾何[jǐ hé] ！史家[shǐ jiā] 如果[rú guǒ] 寫[xiě] 這[zhè] 五[wǔ] 六十[liù shí] 年[nián] 來[lái] 的[de] 我[wǒ] 國[guó] 歷史[lì shǐ] 時[shí] ，一定[yī dìng] 命名[mìng míng] 為[wéi] 狂妄[kuáng wàng] 而[ér] 幼稚[yòu zhì] ，無法[wú fǎ] 與[yǔ] 無[wú] 天[tiān] 的[de] 時代[shí dài] 。
無論[wú lùn] 哪[nǎ] 一行[yì xíng] 、哪[nǎ] 一[yī] 界[jiè] ，多[duō] 是[shì] 自[zì] 吹[chuī] 自[zì] 擂[léi] ，自[zì] 欺[qī] 自[zì] 騙[piàn] 。日子[rì zi] 長[cháng] 了[le] ，連[lián] 自己[zì jǐ] 也[yě] 信[xìn] 以[yǐ] 為[wéi] 真[zhēn] 了[le] ，而[ér] 大[dà] 禍[huò] 至[zhì] 矣[yǐ] 。
因[yīn] 為[wéi] 沒有[méi yǒu] 做[zuò] 任何[rèn hé] 真正[zhēn zhèng] 的[de] 事[shì] ，沒有[méi yǒu] 建[jiàn] 任何[rèn hé] 真正[zhēn zhèng] 的[de] 功[gōng] ，自然而然[zì rán ér rán] 不[bù] 會[huì] 有[yǒu] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] 的[de] 感[gǎn] 覺[jiào] 。
哲[zhé] 學家[xué jiā] 們[men] 知道[zhī dao] 這個[zhè gè] 症[zhēng] 候[hòu] 最[zuì] 為[wéi] 可怕[kě pà] ，所以[suǒ yǐ] 造[zào] 出[chū] 許多[xǔ duō] 知[zhī] 好[hǎo] 知[zhī] 歹[dǎi] 的[de] 人物[rén wù] 與[yǔ] 故事[gù shì] 來[lái] 。
有[yǒu] 一[yī] 個人[gè rén] 問[wèn] 一[yī] 位[wèi] 文[wén] 學家[xué jiā] ，我[wǒ] 記得[jì de] 是[shì] 雨[yǔ] 果[guǒ] 罷[bà] ，「如果[rú guǒ] 世界上[shì jiè shàng] 的[de] 書[shū] 全[quán] 需要[xū yào] 燒[shāo] 掉[diào] ，而[ér] 只[zhī] 許[xǔ] 留[liú] 一[yī] 本[běn] ，應[yīng] 留[liú] 什[shén] 麼[mó] ？」雨[yǔ] 果[guǒ] 毫不[háo bú] 猶豫[yóu yù] 的[de] 說[shuì] ：「只[zhī] 留[liú] 〈約伯記[yuē bó jì] 〉。」約[yāo] 伯[bó] 是[shì] 《聖經[shèng jīng] 》裏[lǐ] 面[miàn] 的[de] 介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] ，富[fù] 亦[yì] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] ，貧[pín] 亦[yì] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] ，病[bìng] 亦[yì] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] ，苦[kǔ] 亦[yì] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] 。
我[wǒ] 們[men] 的[de] 思想[sī xiǎng] 界[jiè] 尚[shàng] 在[zài] 混沌[hùn dùn] 幼稚[yòu zhì] 時期[shí qī] ，需要[xū yào] 約[yāo] 伯[bó] 的[de] 精神[jīng shén] ，需要[xū yào] 介[jiè] 之[zhī] 推[tuī] 的[de] 覺悟[jué wù] 。這個[zhè gè] 覺悟[jué wù] 即[jí] 是[shì] ：一[yī] 粥[zhōu] 一[yī] 飯[fàn] ，半[bàn] 絲[sī] 半[bàn] 縷[lǚ] ，都是[dōu shì] 多少[duō shao] 年[nián] 、多少[duō shao] 人[rén] 的[de] 血汗[xuè hàn] 結晶[jié jīng] 。感[gǎn] 謝[xiè] 之[zhī] 情[qíng] ，無[wú] 由[yóu] 表[biǎo] 達[dá] ，還是[hái shì] 謝[xiè] 天[tiān] 罷[bà] 。
一[yī] 九[jiǔ] 六[liù] 一[yī] 年[nián] 除夕[chú xī] 於[yū] 曼[màn] 城[chéng]
本文[běn wén] 摘[zhāi] 錄[lù] 自[zì] 《在[zài] 春[chūn] 風[fēng] 裏[lǐ] 》
Chinese text with English translation:
謝 天
Thank Heaven
常到外國朋友家吃飯。當蠟燭燃起，菜餚布好，客主就位，總是主人家的小男孩或小女孩舉起小手，低頭感謝上天的賜予，並歡迎客人的到來。
I often went to foreign friends’ house for to eat meals. When the candle was lit, vegetable and meat dishes were placed, guests and hosts sat at the right places, it was always the host family’s little boy or little girl raised his or her little hands, bowed the head to thank heaven’s giving, and welcomed the arrival of the guests.
我剛一到美時，常鬧得尷尬。因為在國內養成的習慣，還沒有坐好，就開動了。
At the time when I just arrived the United States, I often caused awkward embarrassment. For the habit I acquired in my country — started eating without sitting well first.
以後凡到朋友家吃飯時，總是先咐囑自己，今天不要忘了，可別太快開動啊！幾年來，我已變得很習慣了。但我一直認為只是一種不同的風俗儀式，在我這方面看來，忘或不忘，也沒有太大的關係。
Afterwards, whenever I went to friends’ house for a meal, I always first reminded myself: today, do not forget, do not start eating too fast! Over the past few years, I have become very accustomed to this new habit. However, I always think it is just a different custom and ceremony, and for my opinion, forgot or did not forget, there is no much significance.
前年有一次，我又是到一家去吃飯。而這次卻是由主人家的祖母謝飯。她雪白的頭髮，顫抖的聲音，在搖曳的燭光下，使我想起兒時的祖母。那天晚上，我忽然覺得我平靜如水的情感翻起滔天巨浪來。
Once upon a time, in the year before last, again I went to a friend’s to eat a meal. This time it was the host family’s grandmother saying thanks for the meal. Her snow white hair, trembling voice, in the flickering candlelight, all of those reminded me of the grandmother of my childhood. That night, I suddenly felt that my smooth quiet water like emotion got turned into heaven high gigantic waves.
在小時候，每當冬夜，我們一大家人圍域個大圓桌吃飯。我總是坐在祖母身旁，祖母總是摸著我的頭說；「老天爺賞我們家飽飯吃，記住，飯碗裏一粒米都不許剩，要是糟蹋糧食，老天爺就不給咱們飯了。」
In childhood, whenever winter nights, all of us, a big family, sat and ate around a large round table. I always sat beside my grandmother. My grandmother always touched my head and said: “Heaven rewards our family enough rice meal so that we can eat till full ; remember, even one grain rice will not be allowed to remain in the rice bowl. If we waste foodstuff, heaven will not give us any meal to eat.”
剛上小學的我，正念打倒偶像，破除迷信，我的學校就是從前的關帝廟，我的書桌就是供桌。我曾給周倉畫上眼鏡，給關平戴上鬍子，祖母的話，老天爺也者，我覺得是既多餘，又落伍的。
At that time, I just entered elementary school, and was studying about overthrowing idols, breaking, getting rid of superstition. My school was the former temple, and my desk was the altar. I painted a pair of eyeglasses on Zhou Cang, painted a mustache on Guan Ping. Grandmother’s words about heaven this, heaven that; I thought those were both redundant and outdated.
(note: Zhou Cang is a character in Luo Guanzhong’s 罗贯中 historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Guan Ping (died 219) was the oldest son of the military general Guan Yu 關羽. He served under the warlord Liu Bei 刘备 during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.)
不過，我卻很尊敬我的祖父母，因為這飯確實是他們掙的，這家確實是他們立的。
However, I greatly respected my grandparents, because this rice meal indeed was earned by them, and the house indeed was established by them too.
我感謝面前的祖父母，不必感謝渺茫的老天爺。
I was grateful to the grandparents who were in front of my face, I did not have to give thanks to vague and distant heaven.
這種想法並未因年紀長大而有任何改變。多少年，就在這種哲學中過去了。
This kind of thinking hasn’t been changed a bit as my ages got older. Many years have passed in this kind of philosophy.
我在這個外國家庭晚飯後，由於這位外國老太太，我想起我的兒時；由於我的兒時，我想起一串很奇怪的現象。
After the dinner at this foreign country family, due to this foreign old lady, I recalled my childhood; because of my childhood, I remembered a bunch of very strange phenomenon.
祖父每年在「風裏雨裏的咬牙」，祖母每年在「茶裏飯裏的自苦」，他們明明知道要滴下眉毛上的汗珠，才能撿起田中的麥穗，而為什麼要謝天？我明明是個小孩子，混吃混玩，而我為什麼卻不感謝老天爺？
Every year grandfather ” bites the teeth in wind and rains,” every year grandmother ” self painstakingly works in tea and meal. ” They obviously know that they have to drizzle down the sweat from their eyebrows in order to pick up ears of wheat grains, and why they want to thank Heaven? I, obviously a child, thoughtlessly ate and thoughtlessly played, yet why did not I thank heaven?
這種奇怪的心理狀態，一直是我心中的一個謎。
This strange state of mind, has always been a mystery in my mind.
一直到前年，我在普林斯頓，瀏覽愛因斯坦的《我所看見的世界》，得到了新的領悟。
Until the year before, when I was at Princeton, I browsed Einstein’s “The world I Saw,” then I acquired new understanding.
這是一本非科學性的文集，專載些愛因斯坦在紀念會上啦、在歡迎會上啦、在朋友的葬禮中，他所發表的談話。
This is a non-scientific anthology. It specially records Einstein’s talks and speeches which he made in commemorative meetings, at welcome receptions, and at friends’ funerals.
我在讀這本書時忽然發現愛因斯坦想盡量給聽眾一個印象：即他的貢獻不是源於甲，就是由於乙，而與愛因斯坦本人不太相干似的。
In reading this book, I suddenly discovered that Einstein would like to try his best to give the audience an impression: that is if his contribution did not come from person A, then must from person B, and it seems it is nothing to do with Einstein himself.
就連那篇亙古以來嶄新獨創的狹義相對論，並無參考可引，卻在最後天外飛來一筆，「感謝同事朋友貝索的時相討論。」
It even includes that special relativity which is a brand new creativity throughout the time, and there is no reference that can be cited. However, at the end of article, he added one remark from outer sky and said : ” Thank to the constant discussion with my colleague, friend, Besso.
(note: Michele Angelo Besso (25 May 1873 Riesbach – 15 March 1955 Geneva) was a Swiss/Italian engineer of Jewish Italian descent. He was a close friend of Albert Einstein during his years at the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich.)
其他的文章，比如奮鬥苦思了十幾年的廣義相對論，數學部分推給了昔年好友的合作；這種謙抑，這種不居功，科學史中是少見的。
Other articles, such as general relativity which he struggled and thought hardly for ten more years, for the mathematics part of it, he pushed the achievement to the co operation with one of his old day’s friend; this humble, did not claim credit, is rare to see in the history of science.
我就想，如此大功而竟不居，為什麼？像愛因斯坦之於相對論，像我祖母之於我家。
Then I thought, such a great contribution, however, why he did not claim the achievement to himself? The way Einstein is to the theory of relativity is like my grandmother to my family.
幾年來自己的奔波，作了一些研究，寫了幾篇學術文章，真正做了一些小貢獻以後，才有了一種新的覺悟：即是無論什麼事，得之於人者太多，出之於己者太少。
During these several years of drifting, I did some research, and wrote several scholarly articles. After I really did some small contribution, then I had a new realization — that is, no matter what kind of thing, what we got from other people are too many, while what came out of ourselves are too few.
因為需要感謝的人太多了，就感謝天罷。無論什麼事，不是需要先人的遺愛與遺產，即是需要眾人的支持與合作，還要等候機會的到來。越是真正做過一點事，越是感覺自己的貢獻之渺小。
Since there are too many people that we feel grateful to, let’s thank heaven then. No matter what matter, either we need our ancestors’ bequeathed love and heritage or we need everyone’s support and cooperation, and we also have to wait for the arrival of the opportunity. When we really have done a bit of something, the more we feel the insignificance of our own contribution.
於是，創業的人，都會自然而然的想到上天，而敗家的人卻無時不想到自己。
Thus, those who established a business naturally think of heaven, while those who dissipated their family fortune, think of themselves all the times.
介之推不言祿，祿亦弗及。這是我們中國的一個最完美的人格所構成的一個最完美的故事。介之推為什麼不言祿，因為他覺得貪天之功以為己力，是君子所不屑為，也是君子所不應為的。
Jie Zhitui did not ask for any recompense, and it so happened that none came to him. This is the most perfect story which is made of the most perfect personality. Why Jie Zhitui did not ask for any recompense? For he felt greedily took heaven’s contribution as one’s contribution is what gentlemen disdain, and it also should not have done by gentlemen.
(note: Jie Zhitui (7th century BC), legendary selfless subject of Duke Wen of Jin 晋文公. )
愛因斯坦剛到普林斯頓時，主任與他商量報酬問題，他說五千。主任說：「給你五千，如何給一個大學畢業生呢？還是算一萬五千元罷！」這不是外國的介之推嗎？
When Einstein arrived at Princeton, the director discussed compensation issues with him, Einstein said, five thousand dollars. The director, said: ” If I gave you five thousand dollars, then how should I give to an university graduate? I think I might as well give you fifteen thousand dollars.” Isn’t Einstein a foreign Jie Zhitui?
為什麼介之推與愛因斯坦專幹這類傻事？立過大功，而不居功若此。他們知道作事與立功，得之於眾人合作者多，得之於自己逞能者少。於是很自然的產生一種感謝眾人、感謝上天的感覺。
Why Jie Zhitui and Einstein particularly did such foolish things? They established great merit, yet they did not claim credit for themselves. They know to do whatever things and establish accomplishment, what we got from the cooperation of everyone is a lot, but what we got from showing off one’s ability is little. Thus, it is naturally to develop a sense of feeling grateful to everyone and heaven.
我們回頭想一想，五六十年來的中國比我七八歲時的思想能強幾何！史家如果寫這五六十年來的我國歷史時，一定命名為狂妄而幼稚，無法與無天的時代。
Let’s turn around and think a bit: The China of these fifty or sixty years is how much strong when it is compared with my thinking when I was seven or eight year old? If historians write these fifty or sixty years of history of our country, it definitely will be named — arrogant and childish, the era of without rule and heaven.
無論哪一行、哪一界，多是自吹自擂，自欺自騙。日子長了，連自己也信以為真了，而大禍至矣。
Regardless of which profession, which boundary, if there are a lot of blowing one’s own trumpet, and self deceiving and self cheating, when days are getting longer, even themselves will also believe those as truth, and then huge disasters will arrive.
因為沒有做任何真正的事，沒有建任何真正的功，自然而然不會有謝天的感覺。
For they did not do any real things, not to build any real achievement, naturally they won’t have the sense of feeling grateful to Heaven.
哲學家們知道這個症候最為可怕，所以造出許多知好知歹的人物與故事來。
Philosophers know this symptom is the most terrible, and so they created a lot of characters who know goodness or knows badness and stories.
有一個人問一位文學家，我記得是雨果罷，「如果世界上的書全需要燒掉，而只許留一本，應留什麼？」雨果毫不猶豫的說：「只留〈約伯記〉。」約伯是《聖經》裏面的介之推，富亦謝天，貧亦謝天，病亦謝天，苦亦謝天。
A man asked a man of letters; I remember it was Hugo : “If all the book in the world all need to be burned, and only one will be allowed to stay; what should stay?” Without hesitation Huge said: ” only
我們的思想界尚在混沌幼稚時期，需要約伯的精神，需要介之推的覺悟。這個覺悟即是：一粥一飯，半絲半縷，都是多少年、多少人的血汗結晶。感謝之情，無由表達，還是謝天罷。
Our intellectual is still in chaos and naive period. We need Job’s spirit, Jie Zhitui’s realization. This realization is: a bowl of porridge, one bowl of cooked rice rice porridge, and half silk strand, all of these are the blood and sweat crystallization of how many years and how many people. Lacking a way to express the gratitude, let’s thank heaven.
一九六一年除夕於曼城
1961 New Year’s Eve at Manchester City
本文摘錄自《在春風裏》
This article excerpt from “In the spring wind”
Translated by Shu
Background info about Chen Zhifan:
Chen Zhifan 陈之藩 is a famous Chinese writer whose essays include Thank Heaven and The Rootless Orchards. He died in Hong Kong at the age of 87.
Even though Chen came from a scientific background, his writing style is both concise and full of emotion, also with rationality and sensitivity. He had an intellectual’s passion about the fate of his country. Three of his essays — Thank Heaven, The Rootless Orchards and Philosopher Emperor — are used as textbook material in China and Taiwan.
For more info about his background, see http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1104&MainCatID=&id=20120227000079
Other info about this article.
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/shalinming/article?mid=-2&next=1283&l=f&fid=19
快乐天堂 Happy Heaven
for the pinyin, lyrics, and English translation of this song
see:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/?p=309
Bryan Adams – HEAVEN (w/ Lyrics)
2 Responses to Classic Chinese audio article 謝 天 Xie Tian 陈之藩 Chen Zhifan Chinese text, pinyin, English translation. How to say a wise and humorous saying ” The people that I have to express gratitude to are so many, so I thank heaven ” in Mandarin Chinese. Bryan Adams – HEAVEN