麦克斯·埃尔曼(Max Ehrmann，1872 – 1945)，美国作家、诗人和律师。《我们最需要的》（Desiderata）作于1927年，是他最有名的一首诗歌。
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先介绍来自知乎晓灵书屋推荐的宗石翻译
DESIDERATA
我们最需要的
【美国】麦克斯·埃尔曼 ‖ 宗石 译
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
在嘈杂和匆忙中，平静地前行吧，
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
也别忘了在寂静中，能找到多好的安宁。
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
可以的话，尽量不放弃原则而与所有人和睦相处。
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
细语清晰地说出你的肺腑之言，也聆听别人的说话，
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
别人的话纵然又枯燥又无知，总会有他们的故事。
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
避开大声吵闹和好斗的人；他们是扰乱心性的人。
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
不要跟其他人比较，否则可能变得虚荣自负或忿忿不平，
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
因为一定有人比你伟大，也一定有人比你渺小。
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
享受计划，也享受成就。
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
无论自己的事业有多卑微，维持对它的兴趣；
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
在一生多变的命运中，它是你真正拥有的东西。
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
谨慎处理生意，因为这世界充斥着欺诈。
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
但是，不要因此而看不见人间美德；
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
很多人为崇高理想而奋斗，生命到处都有英勇的事迹。
Be yourself.
做你自己。
Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love;
尤其不要虚情假意。但也不要把爱视为虚伪；
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
因为尽管生命有时枯燥乏味，有时令人迷醉，
it is as perennial as the grass.
爱，却如青草般日久常在。
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
不轻视因年老而获得的阅历，
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
并得体地舍弃年轻时拥有的东西。
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
培育心灵上的力量，以面对突然而来的不幸。
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
但不要杞人忧天以致心神不宁。
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
众多的恐惧，源自疲乏和孤独。
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
要既不逾矩，又善待自己。
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
你是宇宙的孩子，身份不次于树木和星星；
you have a right to be here.
身处这里是你的权利。
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
不管你是否明白它的奥秘，毫无疑问宇宙在展现着原本应有的样貌和规律。
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
因此，不管在你心中上帝是什么模样，和他和睦相处吧。
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
也不管你怎样劳累和胸怀大志，在生命的烦器和困惑中，要保持心灵上的安宁。
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
不管经历了多少伪善、苦役、破碎的梦，世界依然是美丽的。
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
要保持轻松开朗，努力保持快乐。
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麦克斯·埃尔曼（Max Ehrmann，1872.9.16-1945.9.9），美国学者、诗人，出生于印第安纳州特雷霍特。1894年毕业于印第安纳州格林卡斯尔的DePauw大学，然后在哈佛大学学习法律和哲学。在当了几年律师后，埃尔曼进入了家族企业。在商界工作10年后，退休，并把所有的时间都投入到文学创作上。
埃尔曼默默创造，写了很多诗，但直到他去世后才为人所知，最著名的两首诗是《Desiderata》（1927）和《A Prayer》（1906）。他的遗孀Bertha Ehrmann于1951年为他写了传记。
《Desiderata》，是一首散文哲理诗，写于1927年。传说Desiderata来自“老圣保罗教堂”，它在17世纪晚期被刻在教堂的墙上。真实的故事是，1956年至1961年担任该教会教区长的牧师Frederick Ward Kates在一本油印的小册子中使用了“Desiderata”的字眼，这本小册子是他送给教区居民阅读的。小册子的封面上写着该教堂的名字和成立年份：“Old Saint Paul 's church, Baltimore, 1692。”1927年1月3日，埃尔曼以“印第安纳州出版公司”的名义获得了“Desiderata”（当时为无标题）的联邦版权；1945年去世时，埃尔曼将版权留给了妻子Bertha Ehrmann；1954年，Bertha续签了版权；1962年去世时，Bertha将版权遗赠给了她的侄子Richmond Wight；1971年，Richmond将版权有偿转让给Robert L. Bell。
全诗及本文版本的中文翻译：
《Desiderata 一生所需》
by Max Ehrmann （1927）
中译：湯安
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
在繁嚣与匆忙中默默前行，
请记住孤寂中也有安详。
我们尽可能地不屈，
与他人和睦共处。
谈话要真挚平和，
悉心倾听，
即使他们乏味无知；
人人都会有故事叙述。
远离咄咄逼人的人，
避免苦恼精神。
不与他人攀比，导致虚荣抱怨；
有人比你伟大，有人差你很远。
享受自己的成就、计划，
永葆对事业的兴趣，
不管它多不起眼，
都会因光阴而繁华。
世间充满欺诈，处事处处小心，
切勿因此遮蔽美德。
无数人追求高尚，
让生命角落闪烁英雄光芒。
就做你自己，而不是虚假矫情。
但是不要放弃爱情，变成愤世嫉妒；
在所有的枯燥和失望之中，
爱像青草常驻。
接受岁月的教诲，得体舍弃年轻。
培养心灵的力量，以对突然的不幸。
不要让孤独黑暗折磨自己。
恐惧来自这样的疲劳孤寂。
不去逾矩，同时善待自己。
牢记你是宇宙之子，
不亚于一切树木繁星；
始终拥有存在的权利。
无论宇宙是否向你展示未来，
它都在为你展开。
与神灵和平相处，无论你怎样看祂，
在生命的喧嚣混乱里，确保平静心怀。
世界虽有虚假、劳苦、梦想破灭，
她却依然美好。
努力保持快乐，
活出兴高采烈。
