because they think that'll make them happy.

因為他們認為那會使他們快樂。

They can't imagine being happy without luxury—without the newest phone, game consoles, or some other

他們無法想象沒有奢侈品--沒有最新的手機、遊戲機或其他一些東西--就能獲得幸福。

piece of technology.

件技術。

They think that if they could get that designer purse or those fresh shoes, then they'd

他們認為，如果他們能得到那個設計師的錢包或那些新鮮的鞋子，那麼他們就會

finally be happy.

終於高興起來了。

But really, it's /our need/ for luxury that stands in the way of our happiness.

但實際上，是我們對奢侈品的需求阻礙了我們的幸福。

Only by ridding ourselves of /the desire/ for luxuries, by being content with a simple

只有消除我們對奢侈品的慾望，滿足於簡單的

life, can we find happiness.

幸福的生活，我們才能找到幸福。

And the life of Diogenes, an ancient Greek philosopher, is a testament to this truth.

而古希臘哲學家第歐根尼的一生就是這一真理的證明。

After being exiled from Sinope, Diogenes moved to Athens to become a philosopher.

在被放逐出西諾普之後，第歐根尼移居雅典，成為一名哲學家。

And for him, this didn't mean coming up with complex theories and ideas, but learning

對他來說，這並不意味著提出複雜的理論和想法，而是學習

to live well.

以達到良好的生活。

It has been said that Diogenes lived in a tub and carried around nothing but a knapsack

有人說，第歐根尼住在一個浴盆裡，除了一個揹包，什麼都不帶。

and a walking stick.

和一根手杖。

At one point he had a cup, which he threw away after watching a boy drink water with

有一次，他有一個杯子，在看到一個男孩喝水時，他把杯子扔掉了。

his hands, and a bowl, which he got rid of after seeing a boy scoop up food with a piece

他的手，和一個碗，在看到一個男孩用一塊石頭舀起食物後，他把它扔掉了。

of bread.

的麵包。

He begged statues for alms so that he could get used to rejection, and he even walked

他向雕像乞求施捨，以便他能習慣於被拒絕，他甚至走

barefoot in the winter.

冬日裡赤腳。

Modelling his life after Heracles, valuing freedom above everything else, he trained

他以赫拉克勒斯為榜樣，把自由看得比什麼都重要，他訓練了

his body and mind to survive only on what was necessary.

他的身體和思想只靠必要的東西生存。

And what did Diogenes get out of this philosophical lifestyle?

那麼第歐根尼從這種哲學的生活方式中得到了什麼？

When someone asked him that exact question, he said “if nothing else, I'm prepared

當有人問他這個確切的問題時，他說："如果不出意外，我已經準備好了。

for whatever happens.”

無論發生什麼事。"

He had mastered himself.

他已經掌握了自己。

When Diogenes was put up for sale as a slave, they asked him what he was good at.

當第歐根尼被作為奴隸出售時，他們問他擅長什麼。

He said, “ruling over men.

他說，"統治人。

Spread the word in case anyone wants to buy himself a master.”

傳播這個消息，以防有人想給自己買個主人。"

Diogenes was purchased by a well-off Corinthian named Xeniades and tasked with mentoring his

第歐根尼被一個名叫Xeniades的富裕的科林斯人買下，負責指導他的

sons.

兒子。

Diogenes taught his sons wisdom, to live ascetically, on plain water and food, with short hair,

第歐根尼教給他的兒子們智慧，讓他們過苦行僧式的生活，吃白水和食物，留短髮。

on barefeet and without tunics, to keep silent and listen, and to hunt.

光著腳，不穿外衣，保持沉默，傾聽，並進行狩獵。

Xeniades expressed gratitude and called Diogenes a kind, living god.

Xeniades表示感謝，並稱第歐根尼是一位善良的活神仙。

It was said that when Alexander the Great finally met Diogenes, he asked Diogenes what

據說，當亞歷山大大帝終於見到第歐根尼時，他問第歐根尼是什麼？

he would like from him: the most powerful man in the world.

他希望從他那裡得到：世界上最有權力的人。

Diogenes asked him to move out of the way because he was blocking the sun.

第歐根尼要求他讓開，因為他擋住了太陽。

This impressed Alexander who said, “Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes!”

這讓亞歷山大印象深刻，他說："如果我不是亞歷山大，我就是第歐根尼！"

And when Diogenes passed away, a bronze-statue was erected in his honour, with an inscription

當第歐根尼去世後，人們為他豎起了一座銅像，上面刻著

that read, “Bronze grows old with time, but all eternity, Diogenes, will not erase

這句話是："青銅器會隨著時間的推移而變老，但所有的永恆，第歐根尼，都不會抹去

your fame; for you alone gave Mortals the lesson of self-reliance and the Easiest path

你的名聲；因為只有你給凡人提供了自力更生的教訓和最簡單的道路。

through life.”

通過生活"。

Diogenes disciplined himself through rigorous ascetic training and learned to live life

第歐根尼通過嚴格的禁慾主義訓練來約束自己，並學會了如何生活

without any luxuries—physical or psychological.

沒有任何奢侈品--身體上或心理上的。

He learned to live simply, and what was the result?

他學會了簡單的生活，結果是什麼？

He mastered himself, became ready for any possibility, and was worshipped as a god among

他掌握了自己，為任何可能性做好了準備，並被當作神來崇拜。

men.

男人。

Diogenes proves to us that happiness is possible without luxury, and in fact, maybe it's

第歐根尼向我們證明，沒有奢侈品也能獲得幸福，事實上，也許它就是

/our desire/ for luxury that stands in the way of our happiness, wanting new and fancy

/我們對奢侈品的渴望阻礙了我們的幸福，想要新的和花哨的東西。

things, wanting more and more things that we don't need.

事情，希望得到越來越多我們不需要的東西。

And it's not that having nice things is bad, but if you can't be happy without nice

並不是說擁有好東西就不好，但如果沒有好東西你就不能快樂

things, you won't find happiness with them.

的事情，你不會在他們身上找到幸福。

Because if your happiness lies in new and fancy things, that desire will never be satisfied.

因為如果你的幸福在於新的和花哨的東西，這種慾望將永遠不會得到滿足。

Everything new becomes old, and once everything around you becomes old, you'll start looking

一切新事物都會變成舊事物，而一旦你周圍的一切都變成舊事物，你就會開始尋找

for the new again.

為新的再次。

But if you learn to be happy with only what's necessary, you can /stay/ happy with

但是，如果你學會只對必要的東西感到高興，你就能/保持/高興地接受

the addition of luxury.

奢華的增加。