<1>
He was one of the greatest scientists the world has ever known,
阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦是世界上最伟大的科学家之一,
yet if I had to convey the essence of Albert Einstein in a single word,
但如果要我用一个词来描述他这个人，
I would choose simplicity. Perhaps an anecdote will help.
那我会选"质朴"，这个关于他的逸事也许会让我们略知一二。
Once, caught in a downpour, he took off his hat and held it under his coat.
有一次， 天降大雨，于是他摘下了帽子，把它夹在外衣下，
Asked why, he explained, with admirable logic,
当别人问他为什么要这么做时，他以一种让人钦佩的逻辑解释道：
that the rain would damage the hat,
雨水会弄坏他的帽子，
but his hair would be none the worse for its wetting.
但是他的头发湿了不会有什么大碍。
This knack for going instinctively to the heart of a matter was the secret of his major scientific discoveries—this and his extraordinary feeling for beauty.
他这种本能地把握事物本质的能力，正是他能够做出重大科学发现的秘诀所在，除此之外，还有他对美的那种非凡的感受。
<2>
There was something elusively whimsical about Einstein.
爱因斯坦身上也有让人难以捉摸的一面，
It is illustrated by my favorite anecdote about him.
一个我最喜欢的关于他的逸事很好的说明了这一点。
In his first year in Princeton,
他在普林斯顿大学的第一年，
on Christmas Eve, so the story goes, some children sang carols outside his house.
圣诞前夜，几个孩子在他的屋外唱起了圣诞节颂歌，
Having finished, they knocked on his door and explained they were collecting money to buy Christmas presents.
唱完之后，他们敲门告诉他，在筹钱买圣诞礼物。
Einstein listened, then said, “Wait a moment.”
爱因斯坦听了之后说："等一下"，
He put on his scarf and overcoat, and took his violin from its case.
他穿上外套，从琴盒里取出小提琴，
Then, joining the children as they went from door to door,
然后和孩子们一起走家串户，
he accompanied their singing of “Silent Night” on his violin.
孩子们唱"寂静的夜"，他用小提琴给他们伴奏。
<3>
How shall I sum up what it meant to have known Einstein and his works?
认识爱因斯坦这个人，了解他的工作，这对我们来说意味着什么呢？
Like the Nobel Prize winner who pointed helplessly at his watch,
和那个无助的指着自己手表的诺贝尔奖获得者一样，
I can find no adequate words.
我找不到合适的词句。
It was akin to the revelation of great art that lets one see what was formerly hidden.
就像是一件伟大的艺术作品给人的启示，让你看到了原来看不到的东西，
And when, for example, I walk on the sand of a lonely beach,
比如，当我走在一片人迹稀少的沙滩，
I am reminded of his ceaseless search for cosmic simplicity
想起他对简单宇宙的不懈追求，
—and the scene takes on a deeper, sadder beauty.
眼前的风景便具有了一种更为深沉的美。
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