现实的造梦者2013年汕头大学毕业典礼致词

英文原文：https://www.lksf.org/speech-by-mr-li-ka-shing-shantou-university-commencement-ceremony-2013/ 日期：2013 年 6 月 28 日

官方中文版

尊敬的陈云贤主席、徐冰教授、各位领导、老师们、同学们：

今天是我们 2,599 名同学毕业的大日子，很高兴，大家一起分享这快乐时刻。

最近我因为急性胆囊炎，进行了手术，我已完全康复，依然积极向前。

在医院期间，我静静思考，世界改变的步伐不断加快，虽然过往经验是人生无价之宝，但传统应对困难与挑战的智慧和观点，今天是否依然适用？古书古语，劝人苦心志、劳筋骨、坚毅奋斗这些励志的话语，是否足够提升我们的韧力？如何迎战改变，是世界上每一个人要思考的问题。

很多道理，说者容易，听者难——血肉之躯，在人生波涛翻滚，个中的滋味——你能体会？你愿意替代尝尝吗？你关心社会上的困难境况吗？你懂得体谅无助无奈者的叹息吗？或者你是那些曲尽心思，有万万千千借口的人，只会说：「不公义与不公平是人生必然之理」或「对不起，我不能施以援手。何为富？何为贫？我自己也是受害者。」

也许，你们这一代面对最大的挑战，是社会不平等的恶化。解决此问题的方案，将主导社会未来的改变，需要每个人和政府积极、主动地克服这挑战。每人有不同的能力和道德标准，恻隐足以为仁，但仁不止于恻隐。有能力的人，要主动积极，推进社会的幸福、改善和进步，这是我们的任务。不仅是对社会的投资，帮助和激励别人同时能丰盛自己的人生。

政府要鼓舞民志，要在发展企业精神、创造机会的大前提下，制定和推行明智知远兼正当有效的政策。政府要鼓舞民智，要投放更多的资源，在教育范畴推动更大的改革。教育是防范社会出现持续不公平现象的可靠卫士。今天在逆境中奋斗的人，不要让内心的愤怒燃烧，而影响你解决问题的能力。

在医院期间，我非常感激医生与护士们专业与悉心的照顾，手术的伤口没有任何痛楚，凄楚的是心上的回忆。这个小指头头上是我第一个疤痕，这疤痕是我 14 岁的时候愤怒的印记。那年，一个寒风透骨的冬天下午，我单独在露台外，忙了一整天，要把堆得高高的皮带切割，为明天生产工序作好准备。从窗框中，看见高层他们坐在暖暖的室内，悠闲地品茗。我默然感到很孤独、很怨愤，错手割伤自己，深可见骨，我还记得血从伤口由红变黑，当时心中只有一个念头——自己一定不再成为那可怜的人。

我知道，只有怨愤而欠缺思维，只会令你更软弱、更惶恐，使你付出更大的代价和承受更大痛苦。我要把愤怒转为对自己更高的要求，和更专注解决问题的动力。只有能面对现实的人才可征服现实，只有更加勤奋、更具观察力和韧力的人，才可改变困境，创造机会和缔造希望。

各位同学，在过去数十年，别人给我的昵称是「华人首富」，这是一个很复杂的滋味。我的一生充满了竞争与挑战，历程是毫不容易的。常常要有智慧、要有远见、要有创新，怎不令人身心劳累？四方风风雨雨中，我还是不断在学习笑对人生，作为一个人、一个爱自己民族的中国人、一个企业家，我不断在各种责任矛盾中，尽了一切所能服务社会。

各位同学，你具备卓越的专业知识与才干，迎接人生的各种挑战，你们的前途成就可比我更光明，为社会缔造明天，舍你其谁？你一生谨守正知、正行、正念，路漫漫其修远，你对社会永远的关怀和参与这一份坚持，就是解决不公平问题的最实际方案。我知道今天的你以汕大为荣，明天汕大将会以你为荣。再次祝贺大家！

English Original

Council Chairman and members, Professor Xu Bing, Distinguished Guests, Faculty and Graduates,

Good morning and welcome. I am so delighted that we are all here to share the happiness of our 2,599 students graduating today.

I recently suffered acute cholecystitis and underwent a gallbladder removal surgery. Well, I am fully recovered and fit as a fiddle to soldier on. True to form, I tried to be ‘productive’ during my few days of “sick leave”, with much time spent musing the relevancy of past wisdom and perspectives in this era of accelerating pace of change. Invaluable as they are, I wondered whether they still give our young the edge to overcome current difficulties they face.

I don’t think one should simply assume Mencius’ great wisdom that enduring long suffering in itself would be inspiring enough to build perseverance. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Each of us needs to be thoughtful on how to ride this big wave of progress and all it entails.

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart, but many things are often easier said than done. We may not be blind or unaware to the suffering and misfortune of others, except in the classic novels, no prince would be willing to trade stations with the pauper. Is your spectrum of empathy so filled with “no service” zones that you cannot pick up the sighs and signals of helplessness? Maybe you are one of those privileged skeptics, fixated on justifying ennui and indifference. Here I can give you a few handy examples -“injustice and inequality are the sad realities of life” or “sorry, wealth and poverty are all relative, I can’t be of help as I see myself also as a victim.” Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. We must want to see things become better, not just say that things should be better.

The exacerbation of inequality could be “the perfect storm” of this generation. How we redress it will determine if the future could be a better tomorrow. It will require proactive effort and participation from both individuals and government.

We may differ in capabilities and moral bearings, but we share the same duty to probe and push for social progress, justice and prosperity, values that transcend inequalities. This is the best investment that pays out dividends of hope and social enrichment.

Government must invigorate the entrepreneurial spirit to create jobs with smart policies that are appropriate and effective for today and beyond.

Government must invigorate the minds of its people by pouring resources behind education reforms to bolster capabilities. Education is the best safeguard against the deepening divide of social inequality.

For those fighting adversity today, don’t let anger blind and cloud your judgment.

When I was in the hospital, I am grateful for the attentive care of the nurses and doctors who looked after me. The surgery itself was quite painless when compared against the pain that memories elicited.

This little finger bore my first scar, an imprint to the fury of despair. When I was 14, on a cold harsh winter day, I toiled all day cutting up piles of leather cords readying them for production the next day. Alone on the balcony, I saw through the window “elders” clustering near the heater and savoring a lovely cup of hot tea. Distracted by a sudden rush of bitterness, forlornness and loneliness, I cut myself deep to the bone. I can still see the blood turning from red to black, and remember the only thought on my mind then was not pain, but that I must not remain “the pitiful”.

I know that rage without reflection will only make you more vulnerable and weak, directional-less and heading nowhere. I instead, will take that rage and channel it into a disciplined and purposeful state of mind, and a rigorous focus on solving my problems at hand. Only those who face up to reality can overcome it; perseverance, diligence and judiciousness can turn quandary into opportunity and hope.

My dear students, for the past few decades, I have often been nicknamed as “the richest man in China”, it gives me a most complex feeling. No doubt my life is filled with challenges and it has not been an easy journey. The constant demand for one to be wise, to be far-seeing and to be creative is certainly tiring, yet throughout the years, I continue to stay positive, and try to serve society to the best of my ability amongst the sometimes conflicting roles and responsibilities as a human being, as a citizen who loves my country, and as a businessman.

My dear students, with your skill sets and talent, your future should certainly be brighter than mine. Who but you can create a better tomorrow for our society? If the way we feel, think and act are committed to all that is just and good, your commitment to care and participate will be the most pragmatic and real solution to address inequality. On this long and arduous road of humanity, act now — the solution is waiting round the bend!

Thank you.