文／林海音（1918～2001）

孤獨不算孤獨，貧窮不算貧窮，軟弱不算軟弱，

如果你日夜用快樂去歡迎他們，

生命便能放射出像花卉和香草一樣的芬芳：

使它更豐富，更燦爛，更不朽了。這便是你的成功。

得意失意

有人得意，看背影就可以知道；

有人失意，聽腳步聲就可以知道。

──選自《城南舊事》

Success

Lin Haiyin (1918 – 2001)

English translation: Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University and William Chong

Loneliness, poverty, and weakness are not what they seem. If you welcome them with joy at every moment, life would emit fragrances like those of flowers and vanilla: making it richer, more glorious, more enduring—and this, is your success.

Pleased and Frustrated

When someone is pleased,

you can tell by looking at his back;

When someone is frustrated,

you can tell by listening to his step.

— from Chengnan Jiushi

(My Memories of Old Beijing)