陈冲

E .B. White是美国一名著名的作家，1974年3月有一天他接到一封书迷的信，信中表达了他对人类对失望和他自己对无望。74岁的 E. B. White给书迷回了一封信，至今读来仍然让我深受感动和鼓舞。我觉得这封信是对人类精神的一种肯定和庆贺。（附译文）

Dear Mr. Nadeau:

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society – things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely,

E. B. White

尊敬的先生纳多：

只要还有一个正直的男人，一个富有同情心的女人，他们就会蔓延四方，世界就不会荒凉。在艰难的时候，我们唯有希望。星期天早上我仍将起床为我的时钟上发条，为生活的有序性和坚定性做出一点贡献。

水手们对天气有一种说法：天气常是个虚张声势的东西。我想这说法对我们人类社会来说也不假 - 有时你眼前的一切也许显得灰暗，但是只要耐心等一阵你也许就会看到云开日出，水绿山青。

很显然，人类已经把地球糟蹋得乱七八糟。但作为人，我们都怀有真善美的种子，等待着萌芽的时机。人的好奇心，他的义无反顾，他的创造性，他的巧思，导致他陷入深深的困境。我们只能希望，这些特质也将给他突围的出路。

在大风中紧紧抓住你的帽子，紧紧抓住你的希望，别忘了给你的钟上发条。明天是新的一天。

您忠诚的,

E. B. White

PS @姚晨热评: 在艰难的时候，我们唯有希望。

编辑：顾炜