Follow Your Own Course

Neil Simon

Don't listen to those who say,

"It's not done that way."

Maybe it's not, but maybe you will.

Don't listen to those who say,

"You're taking too big a chance."

Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine Floor,

and it would surely be rubbed out by today.

Most importantly, don't listen

When the little voice of fear inside of you

rear its ugly head and says,

"They're all smarter than you out there.

They're more talented,

They're taller, blonder, prettier, luckier and have connections..."

I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you,

Not to the exclusion¹ of love, sensitivity, and cooperation with others,

But with the strength of conviction,

That you can move others by your own efforts,

And do not make success or failure the criteria² by which you live,

The chances are you'll be a person worthy³ of your own respect.

走自己的路

尼尔·西蒙

别听那些人的话，

“这事不能那么做。”

也许是不能那么做，可是也许你就会那么做。

别听那些人的话，

“你这个险冒得太大了。”

米开朗琪罗可能在西斯廷教堂的地板上作过画，

到今天肯定已经被抹掉了。

最重要的是，

当你心中恐惧的声音，

抬起它丑陋的头说，

“那边那些人都比你聪明，

他们更有才华，

他们更高大、皮肤更白、更漂亮、更幸运，

并且认识各种各样的人…”

你可千万别理会。

我坚信只要选择一条你感兴趣的路，

不排除爱情、敏锐以及与别人的合作，

而是坚定地认为，

通过你自身的努力能够感动他人，

不把成功或者失败作为你生活的标准，

那么你就可能成为值得自己敬佩的人。