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博闻通识，知古鉴今。一切历史都是当代史。
这是一封细致入微的家书，非常感人，贵为总统的奥巴马给女儿的信亲切、自然、朴实，没有大话、套话，说的全是家常。17条建议都非常具体，每一条都可以做得到，每一条都有益。行文的语气没有作为父亲或者总统的“谆谆教导”，从“不在外面吃饭”这类小事，到“这个世界是一个完全由大家分享的世界，你所做的每件事都会影响到别人”这类普世价值观，奥巴马都说得贴切、自然、优美。这次特别推出中英文对照版，希望在学习与做人方面，对您有所裨益。
以下为正文——
Life is short. It may feel like it takes forever sometimes, but the reality is that you live, and a short time later,you die. It happens so quickly, many people don’t even realize they had a life until it’s already over.
生命如此短暂。我们有时候觉得生命怎么也走不完，实际上，你现在活着，过不了多久，就会死去。人生真是转眼一瞬间的事情，很多人到临死前才意识到这一生已经结束。
If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will. Success starts in your mind, and if all you’re doing is putting yourself down and predicting failure, it’ll become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Insteadof doubting yourself, think positively. Not only will you be happier and more successful, you’ll spread it to everyone around you.
如果你自己都不相信自己，那没人会相信你。成功源于你的头脑，如果你所做的是不断地看扁自己，预言着未来的失败，这就真的会成为现实。与其怀疑自己，不如积极的考虑问题。不仅会让自己更加开心和成功，你还能够感染到周围的人。
Now that you’re done doubting yourself,stop doubting others. You don’t like when people are critical of you, so stopbeing critical of others. Think about how you make other people feel – even if you have good intentions, people don’t like hearing negativity.
现在你不要再怀疑自己了，也别再怀疑身边的人。你不希望被人对你挑剔，那么也不要再去挑剔身边的人。想想你给别人带来的什么样的感受吧——即使出发点是好的，别人也不想听到那么多消极的事情呀。
I don’t feel like procrastinating right now– I’ll do it tomorrow. When you procrastinate, you remain stagnant. Whateveryou’re putting off doesn’t go away; resolve the problem, and move on. You’ll bemuch happier in the long run.
我现在不想做，还是留到明天吧。一旦开始拖延，其实你已经停滞不前了。你拖延的事情不会自行解决。解决问题，继续前行吧。从长远角度来说你会更加快乐。
It’s completely possible to step on someone’s toes without meaning to – it happens all the time. There’s no need topile on by purposefully doing mean things, so make a conscious effort to stopbeing mean. If someone wrongs you, let it go. There’s no need to seek vengeanceunless that’s the type of person you want to be.
无意踩到别人的情况真的有可能会发生——常常会发生。但没必要去处心积虑地做一些不好的事情，所以要有意识地让自己不要那么刻薄。如果有人对你无理地对待，随他们去好了。没必要去报复，除非你也想成为那一类的人。
Eating out is the biggest waste of money.Every so often it’s nice to treat yourself, but eating out for every meal isthe quickest way to drain your bank account. Learn how to cook at least ahandful of foods you enjoy: It’ll save you money, keep you healthier, andoccasionally impress people.
在外面吃饭真的非常非常的浪费钱。也许每次对于你而言都是一次犒赏，但每顿都在外面吃反而是花光积蓄的最快方式。至少也去学学怎么做一些自己喜欢的菜：既能省钱，还能让你更健康，还会让其他人眼前一亮。
Lazy people are annoying – it’s likepulling teeth getting them to do anything. If I can’t do something as simple asgoing to a movie with you without having to factor in an hour of convincing youto get your lazy butt out of bed, I’d rather go alone. People have enoughtrouble motivating themselves; don’t make your friends and family waste theirvaluable energy motivating you as well.
懒人真的很招人烦——得像赶驴磨墨一样逼着他们做事情。如果我想跟你看一场电影，却不得不花一个小时说服你起床，那我宁愿一个人去看。给自己动力都不是件容易的事情，就别让朋友和家人浪费宝贵的精力再来给你动力了吧。
We all have problems, and sometimes we needto vent to someone. That’s acceptable, but pay attention to how often you’reventing. We all love helping our friends and family, but when all you get fromsomeone is negativity, it’s easier to cut them off than help, especially ifthey’re always complaining about the same things.
我们都有麻烦事，有时候总想跟别人倾诉。这可以理解，但要注意你吐槽的频率。我们都喜欢帮助朋友和家人，但如果从那个人身上我只能感知到负能量，那么还是离得越远越好吧，尤其是当他们在反复抱怨同一件事的时候。
If you only think about yourself, you’llsoon find yourself by yourself. Stop for a minute and think about how youractions affect other people – did you take the last cup of coffee from thebreak room? Refill it! Do you live with others? Don’t drink out the milkcarton. We share this world 100% of the time, so every action you take canaffect other people.
如果你只考虑你自己，那么很快你会发现身边只剩下你自己。停一分钟想想你的行为会给别人带来什么影响吧——你是不是从休息室拿了最后一杯咖啡?再倒满呀!你是不是和别人合租?不要喝光所有的牛奶，这个世界是一个完全由大家分享的世界，你所做的每件事都会影响到别人。
If you only think about yourself, you’llsoon find yourself by yourself. Stop for a minute and think about how youractions affect other people – did you take the last cup of coffee from thebreak room? Refill it! Do you live with others? Don’t drink out the milkcarton. We share this world 100% of the time, so every action you take canaffect other people.
如果你只考虑你自己，那么很快你会发现身边只剩下你自己。停一分钟想想你的行为会给别人带来什么影响吧——你是不是从休息室拿了最后一杯咖啡?再倒满呀!你是不是和别人合租?不要喝光所有的牛奶，这个世界是一个完全由大家分享的世界，你所做的每件事都会影响到别人。
Always under-promise and over-deliver. Whenyou make a promise, you’re adding responsibility to your plate that, despiteall your best intentions, you may not be able to deliver on. More often thannot, your promise is an absolute (i.e “I promise I’ll always love you”)， and onlySith deal in absolutes. Instead of making a promise with your words, simply bethere when people need you, and exceed their expectations with your actions.
总是做承诺，总是做不到。每次做承诺都是不禁给自己增添了责任，无论你的出发点有多好，你都不可能完成所有的部分。大部分时候，你的承诺都太过绝对(比如“我发誓我永远爱你”)，也只能在绝对环境中才能实现。与其用语言许下承诺，不如在别人需要你的时候出现，然后用行动达到他们的期望吧。
We live in a capitalistic society in which everyone’s trying to sell us something. Everyone’s looking out for themselves in one way or another, and you need to do the same. Stop putting yourself out because you’re too shy to say no.
No matter what you want to do in life,there’s always someone around to tell you why it can’t and won’t work. I cancome up with millions of reasons Twitter won’t work, and yet it’s one of themost popular social media sites on the web. My opinion didn’t stop Twitter’ssuccess any more than it convinced Kobe Bryant to quit the NBA or Josh Hartnettto stop acting. Why would you let someone’s opinion stop you?
无论你想干什么，总会有人告诉你不要这么做，没有用的。我可以想出成百万条推特不实用的理由，但它还是互联网上最流行的社交网站之一。我的想法不会阻止推特的成功，就像你无法劝科比退出NBA或乔什·哈奈特不要当演员了一样，都毫无意义。那么为什么要让别人的想法阻止你呢?
