雙語美文：有些金錢是人生不能承受之重
"Some money is too expensive."
“有些金錢的代價太過昂貴。”
When I got my first grown-up job after college my dad asked me how much money I'd be willing to embezzle.
大學畢業後，我得到了成年後的第一份工作，我爸問我願意貪污多少錢。
My dad was an aerospace engineer, one of the most straight-edge ethical men you can imagine. So I told him the truth, "You raised me to be honest. There is no amount of money that could induce me to steal.
"我爸是個航天工程師，是個你能想象的那種最正直最講道德的人。所以我告訴了他事實：“你從小教我要誠實。根本就沒有什麼錢能讓我去偷。”
But he wasn't having it. "A thousand dollars?" he asked, "Ten thousand?"
但是他並不接受這個回答。“一千美金？”他問道，“還是一萬？”
"Will I get caught?"
“我會被抓嗎？”
"No one who embezzles thinks they will get caught."
“沒有哪個貪污的人會認爲自己會被抓。”
"Ok, so it would have to be enough to escape the country and get a new identity."
“好吧，那這些錢足夠我逃到國外並且獲得另一個身份。”
"Which is?" he asked.
“要多少？”他問。
"Fifty million dollars." I said. "If they left fifty million with me and I thought I could get away scout free, I might take it."
“5000萬美金。”我說。“如果他們把5000萬給了我，我覺得我可以逃過檢查然後拿走它。”
"Excellent," he said. "Now never sell out for a box of pens and a three hole punch. If fifty million dollars is your price, never steal a penny less."
“好，”他說。“現在開始，永遠不要爲了一盒筆或者一個三孔的打孔機而出賣了自己。如果你要的是5000萬美金，那就一分都不能少。”
