在海明威获得诺贝尔文学奖的授奖词中,我们看到这样一段话

　　nobel prize acceptance speech
　　获诺贝尔文学奖致辞

　　delivered on dec. 10, 1954
　　发表于1954年12月10日

　　no writer who knows the great writers who did not receive the prize can accept it other than with humility. there is no need to list these writers. everyone here may make his own list according to his knowledge and his conscience.

　　没有一个作家，当他知道在他以前不少伟大的作家并没有获得此项奖金的时候，能够心安理得地领奖而不感到受之有愧。这里无须一一列举这些作家的名字。在座的每一个人，都可以根据他的学识和良心提出自己名单来。

　　it would be impossible for me to ask the ambassador of my country to read a speech in which a writer said all of the things which are in his heart. things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be forgotten.

　　要求我国的大使在这儿宣读一篇演说，把一个作家心中所有感受说出来那是不可能的。一个人作品中的一些东西可能不会马上被人理解，在这点上，他有时是幸运的；但是这一切终究会十分清晰起来，通过它们以及作家所具有的点石成金的本领之大小，他将青史留名或被人遗忘。

　　writing at its best is a lonely life. organizations for writers palliate the writer's loneliness, but i doubt if they improve his writing. he grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. for he does his work alone, and if he is a good enough writer, he must face eternity or the lack of it each day.

　　很多时候，写作是一种孤寂的生活。作家组织固然可以排遣他们的孤独，但是我怀疑它们是否能够促进作家的创作。一个在稠人广众之中成长起来的作家，自然可以免除孤苦寂寥之虑，但他的作品往往流于平庸。而一个在孤寂中工作的作家，如果他又确实不同凡响，那他就必须面对永恒或者面对缺乏永恒的每一天。

　　for a true writer, each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. he should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. then sometimes, with good luck, he will succeed.

　　对于一个真正的作家来说，每一本书都应该成为他继续探索那些尚未涉及的领域的一个新起点。他应该永远尝试去做那些从来没有人做过或者他人做过但却已经失败的事。这样他就会有幸获得成功。

　　how simple the writing of literature would be if it were only necessary to write in another way what has been well written. it is because we have had such great writers in the past that a writer is driven far out past where he can go, out to where no one can help him.

　　如果仅仅是将已经写好的作品换一种方式来重新诠释，那么文学创作就显得太轻而易举了。我们的前辈大师们留下了伟大的业绩，正因为如此，一个普通作家常被他们逼人的光辉驱赶到远离他可能到达的地方，陷于孤立无援的境地。

　　i have spoken too long for a writer. a writer should write what he has to say and not speak it.
　　作为一个作家，我讲的已经太多了。作家应当把自己要说的话写下来，而不是说出来。
　　again i thank you.
　　再一次谢谢大家。
　　海明威