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Thank you(谢谢)

I'm honored to be with you today for a commencement from one of the finest universities in the world.(我非常荣幸能够和各位参加今天的毕业典礼。这里是世界上最顶尖的大学之一。)

Truth be told, I never graduated from college and this is the closest I've ever gotten the college graduation.(说实话，我不曾从大学毕业。今天是我最贴近大学毕业典礼的经验。)

Today, I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it: No big idea, just three stories.(今天，我将和你分享我人生中的三个故事。不是什么大不了的事情，就只是三个故事罢了。)

The first story is about connecting the dots.(第一个故事是关于如何把生命中的点点滴滴串联起来。)

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit.(我在里德学院读了六个月就退学了。不过在那之后，我还经常去学校旁听。过了18个月后，才真正离开。)

So why did I drop out?(我为什么要退学呢？)

It started before I was born.(故事要从我还没出生前说起。)

My biological mother was a young, unwed graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption.(我的亲生母亲是一个年轻的未婚女研究生，她决定让别人领养我。)

She was adamant that I should be adopted by graduates from college, so everything was set in motion for my adoption at birth by a lawyer and his wife. However, when I was born, they decided to change their minds and wanted a girl instead. My parents, who were already on the waiting list, received a call late at night with the news of an unexpected baby boy and were asked if they wanted him. They immediately agreed without hesitation.

Later, it was revealed that my mother had never graduated from college, and my father had never obtained a high school diploma. Despite this, my biological parents refused to sign the final adoption papers. It wasn't until my parents promised that I would attend college that she relented. This decision marked the beginning of my life.

Despite the challenges that lay ahead, I am grateful for the love and support of my adoptive family. Their commitment to giving me a better life than they had was unwavering, even when faced with obstacles. As a result, I was able to pursue my dreams and achieve success in my academic and personal endeavors. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I am to have been given a second chance at life, thanks to the kindness and generosity of those who took me in as their own.

Seventeen years later, I did go to college. However, I made a naive decision to choose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford. All of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I found myself unable to see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. Here I was, spending all the money my parents had saved their entire life.

So, I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was scary at the time, but looking back, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. The minute I dropped out, I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me.

[LAUGHTER]

[笑声]

At Reed College, I took my first art class It was called Typography. I didn't know what it was at the time, but I soon found out that it was an exciting and new experience. I loved it so much that I decided to drop in on the ones that looked far more interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friend's rooms. I returned coke bottles for the 5-cent deposits to buy food with. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.

For example, let me give you one: Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand-calligraphed. It was obvious that everyone had taken a calligraphy class and wanted to keep it a part of their daily life. So when I went to college and couldn't afford to buy $300 worth of textbooks, I took out a $25 loan from the local bank to cover them. Then I used my artistic skills to make beautiful posters on my own using a typewriter.

I also began walking the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. It was a long walk, but I enjoyed it because I could listen to music or read books while doing it. Eventually, all those walks paid off when I met someone who became my lifelong friend.

Looking back, I realize that taking that first art class was a turning point in my life. It opened up new possibilities for me that I never would have discovered if I hadn't followed my curiosity and intuition. And even though it wasn't always easy or convenient, it was always worth it in the end.

Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this.

I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, and about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and found it fascinating. None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life at that time.

But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, my work as an artist would have been greatly impacted because I might not have known how to use the beautiful typography. The design is so beautiful, and people are fascinated by it.

The history behind the design also fascinates people. The story behind it is very interesting. We were trying to make a personal computer for everyone, but we couldn't afford to buy one for ourselves. So we went out and found some used computers from people who had already owned them. We put them together and made our own computer. This was a revolutionary moment in the world of technology. People didn't think they could make a computer like that before, but Steve Jobs did it. He was a true visionary and changed the world forever.

It's hard to imagine a world without the Mac, which wouldn't have had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows simply copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have these features either. [LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

If I hadn't dropped out of college, I might never have stumbled upon calligraphy class and personal computers might not have had the wonderful typography they do today. Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots when I was in college and plan for the future. But looking back, ten years later, it became very, very clear.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. Therefore, when you're planning for the future, it's important to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your life. So don't be afraid to take risks and explore new opportunities, even if they seem unrelated at first glance. Trust that everything happens for a reason, and you'll find that the pieces of your life will eventually come together in a beautiful way.

You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.

My second story is about love and loss. I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parent's garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We'd just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I'd just turned 30.

And then I got fired. It was a shock to me and many others. But like many entrepreneurs, I never gave up on my dreams. Instead, I used the lessons I learned from that experience to start another company, NeXT, which would later merge with Apple and become one of the most successful technology companies of all time.

Looking back, I realize that getting fired was actually a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to explore new opportunities and pursue my passions without being tied down by a traditional job. And while I may have missed out on certain financial benefits during my time at Apple, I gained something far more valuable: the freedom to be myself and follow my own path.

In conclusion, having faith in yourself and your abilities is crucial for success. Even when things don't go as planned or you face setbacks, trusting that the universe has a plan for you can give you the strength to keep going. So don't be afraid to take risks, pursue your dreams, and trust that everything will work out in the end.

How can you get fired from a company you started?

你怎么能被你一手创办的公司炒了鱿鱼呢？

Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. And so at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating. I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly.

当时，我不得不向戴维·帕卡德和鲍勃·诺伊斯道歉，因为我把事情搞砸了。

我当时成了一个公众人物，而且甚至考虑过逃离硅谷。

但是，慢慢地，我开始明白自己仍然钟爱我从事的工作。

尽管苹果公司发生的事情并没有改变这一点，我还是被拒绝了，但我依然热爱着我所从事的工作。

因此，我决定重新开始。

虽然当时我没有意识到，但后来证明，被苹果公司辞退可能是我这辈子发生的最好的一件事。

成功所带来的沉重感已经被重新开始的轻松感所取代，一切都变得不确定。

这种感觉让我感到自由，我进入了生命中最具创造力的阶段之一。

在接下来的五年里，我创立了一家名为NeXT的公司和一家名为皮克斯的公司。

In 1988, Apple CEO John Sculley fired me The company was going through some tough times, and I had a reputation for being too risky. Despite this, I had always been passionate about technology and innovation. So when the opportunity arose to start my own company, I decided to take a chance.

My co-founder and I started a computer graphics company called Next Computer. We quickly became successful, and in 1995 we were acquired by Apple. This was a pivotal moment in my life. Not only did it provide me with financial stability, but it also gave me the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Pixar went on to create the world's first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. This was another remarkable accomplishment that I was able to be a part of. It showed me that innovation and creativity can lead to great success.

And then there was Laurene Powell. She was my colleague at NeXT, and we fell in love while working together on a project. She was an amazing woman who had a positive impact on my life in many ways. After we got married, we started our family together and built a happy life together.

In 2005, Apple bought NeXT, and I returned to Apple as its president. This was another turning point in my career, and it provided me with even more opportunities to innovate and create new products. And it was all thanks to the technology we developed at NeXT, which became the foundation of Apple's current renaissance.

Looking back, I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometime life's gonna hit you in the head with a brick. But I'm grateful for all the experiences that have led me to where I am today. And I'm excited to continue to innovate and create new things that will make a difference in people's lives.

Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking and don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is the great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is the great work.

You've got find what you love. And that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. And like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is the great work.

So keep looking. Don't settle. And if you haven't found it yet, keep looking and don't give up. You'll know when you find it, just like you'll know when you find love.

When I was 17, I read a quote that said something like:

"If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."

[LAUGHTER]

[笑声]

It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself:

"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"

And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I will soon be dead is the most important tool I have ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fade away in the face of mortality.

So it is important to ask yourself what is really important – not what others expect from you, not what you think you should do, but what really matters to you. When you find your answers, pursue them with everything you have. And never forget that the time you have on earth is limited.

The realization of death is a powerful lesson. It teaches us that the things we once thought were essential are, in fact, insignificant. Death makes us confront our own mortality and reminds us of what truly matters in life. When we accept this truth, we can stop worrying about losing our time on earth and start living our lives to the fullest. Remembering that we are going to die is the best way to avoid falling into the trap of thinking we have all the time in the world. We are already "naked" - there is no reason not to follow our heart.

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. The news came as a shock to me, and my world suddenly felt very different. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. At the time, I didn't even know what a pancreas was or how it related to my condition. The doctors told me that this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than 3 to 6 months. These words hit me hard, and I was left wondering how I would manage to get through the next few months of my life.

My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for preparing to die. This advice made me realize that I needed to take control of my life and make every moment count. I began by making a list of all the things I wanted to do before I died - from traveling the world to spending more time with loved ones. I also started speaking openly about my illness with friends and family, sharing my story and encouraging others to live their lives fully as well.

In many ways, my experience with cancer has been a blessing in disguise. It has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and to never take anything for granted. While I still have much left to do and accomplish, I am grateful for the opportunity to live each day as if it were my last. By following my heart and embracing life with passion and purpose, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

It means trying your best to convey everything you had planned or thought you would have the next 10 years to share with your kids in just a few short months.

那意味着尽你所能地向你的孩子传递那些原本打算或者计划在未来10年里与他们分享的信息。

It also involves ensuring that everything is in order so that your family can move forward as smoothly as possible after your departure.

这还包括确保一切事物都已妥善处理，在你离开后，你的家人可以尽可能顺利地应对一切。

Saying goodbye is an inevitable part of this process.

告别是这个过程中不可避免的一部分。

For me, living with that diagnosis consumed my thoughts day and night.

对我来说，诊断结果占据了我的全部思绪，无论白天还是晚上。

Later that evening, I had a biopsy, where they inserted an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach, into my intestines, and then put a needle into my pancreas to obtain some cells from the tumor.

那天傍晚，我做了一次活切片检查。医生从我的喉咙讲一个内窥镜伸进去，通过我的胃，然后进入肠子，最后用一根针在我的胰腺肿瘤上取了几个细胞。

I was sedated for the procedure, but my wife, who was present, told me that when the doctors viewed the cells under a microscope, they started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that can be cured with surgery.

我当时是被麻醉的，但是我的妻子全程在场。她告诉我医生在显微镜下观察那些细胞时，他们开始尖叫。因为这是一种非常罕见的胰腺癌症细胞，可以通过手术治愈。

Having had the surgery and thankfully, I'm fine now. [APPLAUSE] [掌声] That was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades.

It was certainly a close call, but I'm grateful that I'm alive now. Looking back, I can see how my perspective on death has changed over time. In the past, I saw it as an abstract concept that was purely intellectual, something that wasn't really relevant to my life. But after experiencing what it felt like to be on the brink of death, I can say with much more certainty than before: No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there.

And yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now, the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.

So while we may not like to think about it or even want to believe it, death is a natural part of life. It's important for us to embrace it and understand that it's ultimately a journey towards something greater. We should focus on living each day to the fullest and making the most of every opportunity that comes our way. After all, life is short, and we never know when our time will come.

这段文本讲述了一个人在演讲中对新人们的话。他说，你们现在是新人，但是不久以后，你们将会逐渐的变成旧人，然后被淘汰掉。他知道这听起来相当戏剧化，但事实确实如此。

以下是重构后的段落：

你们现在是新人，但是不久以后，你们将会逐渐地变成旧人，然后被淘汰掉。Sorry to be so dramatic, but it's quite true.我知道这听起来相当戏剧化，但事实确实如此。Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.你的时间有限，不要浪费时间，按照别人的想法去生活。Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.不要被社会的教条所约束，也就是遵照他人的想法来过生活。Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.不要让其他人的观点淹没你内心的声音。And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.更重要的是，要有勇气听从心灵和直觉的召唤。They somehow already know what you truly want to become.它们在冥冥中已经知道你真正想要成为的样子。Everything else is secondary.其他的一切都是次要的。[APPLAUSE][掌声]When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation.在我年轻的时候，有一本非常了不起的刊物叫做《地球目录全编》。它被我们那一代人奉为圣经。It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch.它由一位名叫斯图尔特·布兰德(Stewart Brand)的人在门洛帕克附近创作而成，并用他的诗意风格使其栩栩如生。

《地球目录全编》是由斯图尔特·布兰德在离这里不远的门罗帕克市创办并发行于60年代末的杂志，这本刊物充满了诗意盎然的风格。在个人电脑和桌面排版尚未普及的年代里，它全部采用了打字机、剪刀和拍立得相机等传统印刷设备进行制作。

《地球目录全编》与当时的谷歌类似，但却比谷歌早了35年。它是一本充满理想主义色彩的杂志，里面汇集了许多有用的工具和伟大的想法。斯图尔特和他的团队共出版了几期该杂志，直到完成了它的使命后，才推出最后一期。

这份杂志正是在70年代中期发行的，而当时正值我的年龄段。在他们的最后一期杂志的封底上，有一张清晨乡村公路的照片，如果你足够勇敢，或许可以在这样的道路上搭便车旅行。

Stay Hungry Stay Foolish.

保持饥饿，保持愚昧。

这是他们离别时的告别语。在照片下面写着这句话，作为他们离开的标志。这句话的意义非常深远，它告诉我们要始终拥有一种积极向上的心态，不断追求进步和创新。这也是他们在人生道路上一直坚持的信念。

我也非常赞同这句话。在我们的成长过程中，我们需要时刻保持饥渴感和好奇心，不断学习和探索新的事物。只有这样，我们才能不断提高自己的能力和素质，实现自己的梦想。同时，我们也需要保持一定的愚昧心态，不断挑战自己的极限，勇于尝试新的事物。这样才能不断创新和突破现有的局限。

现在，看到你们即将毕业、开始新的旅程，我也希望你们能够继续坚持这种心态。无论你们将来从事什么职业，都需要保持饥渴感和好奇心，不断学习和探索新的领域。同时，也需要保持一定的愚昧心态，勇于接受挑战和改变。相信只要你们坚持这种心态，就一定能够取得更好的成绩和更高的成就。

最后，我想再次感谢你们的陪伴和支持。我相信你们一定会在未来的人生道路上取得更加辉煌的成就。祝愿你们一切顺利！