what do i believe? what laws do i live by? there are so many answers - work, beauty, truth, love - and i hope i do live by them.

　　什么是我所信仰的？什么是我生活的準則？答案很多，比如工作、美麗、真理、愛心，但愿我能以它們為準則。

　　but in everyday things i live by the light of a supplementary set of laws. i'd better call them rules of thumb. rules of thumb aren't very grand, but they do make the wheels go round.

　　然而，生活中的我還履行著另外一套附加的法則，即經驗法則。這一法則雖然簡單，但卻能使事情順利地進行下去。

　　my father and mother sent me to good schools, but the finest thing they did for my education was to have seven children. i was the oldest, and my brothers and sisters were my best teachers.

　　父母把我送到一所很好的學校學習，但養育了7個孩子，才是他們為我的教育做的最好的事。我是家中長女，而弟弟妹妹就是我最好的老師。

　　i learned first to pull my own weight in the boat. kids making a bob-sled have no use for the loafer who wants a free ride. neither has the world. i learned to make the bed i slept in, and wash the glass i used, and mend what i broke, and mop up where i spilled. and if i was too lazy or too dainty or too busy, and left it for someone else, somebody else soon taught me different.

　　我最先學會了身為長女的責任。對一個想搭順風車的流浪者來說，會做雪橇的孩子毫無用處。對這些孩子而言，世界也是如此。我學會了睡覺前自己鋪床，洗自己用過的杯子，修補自己弄壞的東西，用拖布拖干自己濺到地上的水。如果我過于懶惰、挑剔或忙碌，而讓別人來做這些事，馬上就會有人教我不能這么做。

　　then, the same way, i learned that anger is a waste. it hurts nobody but me. a fit of the sullens got short shrift in our house. it wasn't pulling my weight in the boat. it was spoiling sport. and among seven children it got me nowhere. it might reduce four o'cat to three o'cat, but the game went on just the same, and where was i? out of it. better go in and join the group around the piano and forget my grievance. better still, next time don't fling down my bat in a tantrum; keep my temper, and stay in the game.

　　于是，我同樣也明白了生氣于事無補。除了我自己，它傷害不了任何人。在我們家里，悶悶不樂是不會有人搭理你的。盡管不是我的責任，但卻會讓人覺得掃興。何況在7個孩子中間生悶氣對我并沒有好處。沒有我，“4只小貓”的游戲變成“3只小貓”，一樣可以玩得很好。而我呢？只能被排除在外了。最好的辦法就是，忘掉自己的委屈，加入他們，和大家一起圍著鋼琴玩。還有，最好下次不要再亂發脾氣；控制好自己的情緒，繼續玩游戲。

　　here's a rule thumb that's important, and the older i get, the more important i think it is. when i can do something, and somebody wants me to do it, i have to do it. the great tragedy of life is not to be needed. as long as you are able and willing to do things for people, you will be needed. of course you are able; and if so, you can't say no. my mother is seventy-seven. in seventy-seven years she has never said no. today she is so much in demand by thirteen grandchildren and countless neighbors that her presence is eagerly contended for. when i want to see her i have to pretend emergency.

　　此外，還有一條經驗法則同樣重要。隨著慢慢長大，我也越來越認識到它的重要性。當我有能力做一件事，有人也希望我做時，我就必須去做。不為人所需是人生中最大的悲劇。只要你有能力并愿意為人們做一些事，人們就會需要你。你肯定能夠做到，那就不要推辭。我的母親已經77歲了。但77年來她從未說過 “不”字。如今，她的13個孫兒和無數的鄰居依然很需要她，希望她能在身邊。因此當我想見她時，不得不假裝有緊急的事情。

　　then there's the rule of curiosity. your body would die if you stopped feeling hunger and thirst, and your mind will die if you lose your curiosity. this i learned from my father. my father was a naturalist. he could see the beetle under the bark, and draw it forth unharmed for us to squint at through the magnifying glass. he sampled the taste of thirty-three different caterpillars. fired by his example, once, my sister ate an ant. in case you are wondering, caterpillars taste like the green leaves they eat, and ants taste of lemon. i personally haven't tasted any entomological specimens lately, but i am still rejoicing in the limitless curiosity, the draws me to books and people and places.i hope i never lose it. it would be like pulling down the blind.