The goal of life is not a problemless existence, which would be unbearably6 dull, but a way to handle problems creatively. That word “problem” may sound a little prickly, but it only means a question put forth for solution, and actually life consists of a series of problems-and-solutions, each different from the last.

　　生活的目标不是无忧无虑，那样会无聊得无法忍受，而应该是创造性的解决问题—解决问题构成的，每一个问题都与上一个不同。

　　Confidence is delight — delight6 in living, in being who you are, in what you do, in growing, in the endless and sometimes exasperating7 adventure of what it means to be human. The teacher who delights in teaching has no time for bogging down8 in a swamp of doubt that he or she is doing it “right,” and they are well aware that they can become a better teacher tomorrow, but only by doing their best today and enjoying today. So, too, the mother who delights in being a mother does not worry overmuch about whether she fits the rules. She is not the mother, after all, of something material but of a living child.

　　自信是喜悦，生活的喜悦，是自我的快乐，做事的快乐，成长的快乐，体验人类种种坎坷历程的快乐。以教学为快乐的老师，没有时间怀疑他做得是否对，通过今天的努力工作并感到满意，他们很清楚明天会做得更好。母亲也如此，她们也不会过多地担心她是否适合这个角色。她照顾的毕竟不是无生命的物质，而是一个活生生的孩子。

　　Rules can often be a guide to successful living, but they are not a substitute for living. Rules never quite keep up with reality, because rules come from experience, not the other way around. Life happens, and it is infinitely inventive. It will always outrun and outmaneuver9 any attempt to bottle it up10 in a cut-and-dried system, for life is perpetual becoming. When life turns your wisest plans or best rules upside down, throw out the plans and bend with the circumstance. You will find powers you did not suspect, and possibilities undreamed of.

　　规则是通往成功生活的向导，但不是生活的替代品。规则不是十分符合现实，因为规则来自于经验，而不是经验来自规则。生活的真谛远胜于发明创造。生活总会超越那些束缚它的一板一眼的制度，因为生活总在变化。当生活把你最聪明的计划或最好的准则推翻时，扔掉那些计划，适应环境，你会找到你意想不到的力量，以及你做梦也没想到的可能性。

　　Confidence is not always winning, not always victory. Indeed, it is that very quality in humanity which refuses to stay defeated. A kind of stubborn11 cheerfulness. Remember there are two things you can do with mistakes: you can run away and you can grow.

　　自信并不总能胜利，总能打赢。实际上，它是人类不甘于失败饿品质，一种绝不退让的快活。记住对于错误你可以采取两种态度：你可以逃避，也可以从中成长。

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（编辑：王美娇）