杰夫·贝索斯普林斯顿大学毕业典礼致辞：选择塑造我们

As a kid, I spent my summers with my grandparents on their ranch in Texas.小时候，我每年夏天都会去德克萨斯州的农场，和外祖父母一起度过。

I loved my grandparents, and I especially admired my grandfather.我很爱我的外祖父母，尤其崇拜我的外祖父。

One summer, I was traveling with them on a road trip in their trailer.有一个夏天，我和他们一起开着拖挂房车踏上了一趟公路旅行。

My grandmother smoked the whole way, and I hated the smell.我的外祖母全程都在抽烟，我非常讨厌那个味道。

At that time, there was an advertisement campaign about the dangers of smoking.那时，社会上正好有一项关于吸烟危害的宣传活动。

I decided to do some math to impress my grandparents with my smartness.我决定做点数学计算，用我的聪明才智给外祖父母留下深刻印象。

I calculated the number of cigarettes per day and the minutes lost per puff.我计算了每天抽烟的数量，以及每一口烟所减少的寿命分钟数。

When I came up with a final number, I proudly tapped my grandmother on the shoulder.当算出最终数字后，我得意洋洋地拍了拍外祖母的肩膀。

I announced: "At two minutes per puff, you have taken nine years off your life!"我大声宣布：“按照每一口烟缩短两分钟寿命计算，你已经减少了九年寿命！”

I expected to be applauded for my cleverness and math skills.我本以为自己的聪明和数学天赋会赢得一片掌声。

Instead, my grandmother burst into tears, and I did not know what to do.然而，我的外祖母却突然掉下了眼泪，顿时让我不知所措。

My grandfather pulled the car over, got out, and opened my door.我的外祖父把车停在路边，走下车，帮我打开了车门。

He looked at me gently and said words that I have never forgotten.他温和地看着我，说出了一句让我终生难忘的话。

"Jeff, one day you will understand that it is harder to be kind than clever."“杰夫，总有一天你会明白，善良比聪明要难得多。”

Cleverness is a gift, but kindness is a choice.聪明是一种天赋，而善良则是一种选择。

Gifts are easy, because they are given to us after all.天赋是生来就有的，所以得来很容易。

Choices can be hard, and you can seduce yourself with your gifts if you are not careful.选择却很难，如果你不够小心，你的天赋甚至会诱导你做出错误的抉择。

Tomorrow, in a very real sense, your life—the life you shape entirely on your own—begins.从明天起，在极其真实的意义上，属于你自己的——由你自己完全塑造的人生，就要开始了。

How will you use your gifts, and what choices will you make?你将如何运用你的天赋？你又会做出怎样的选择？

Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?你会选择安逸舒适的人生，还是选择奉献与冒险的人生？

Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?面对外界的批判，你会退缩让步，还是坚守自己的信念？

When you are 80 years old, the narrative of your life will be a compact series of choices.当你在80岁高龄回首往事时，你的人生故事不过是一连串你所做出的选择。

In the end, we are our choices, so build yourself a great story.最终，是我们的选择塑造了我们自身，去为你自己书写一个伟大的故事吧。

Thank you, and congratulations to the Class of 2010!谢谢大家，祝贺2010届的全体毕业生！