Families, when a child is born, want it to be intelligent.
I, through intelligence
having wrecked my whole life,
only hope the baby will prove
ignorant and stupid.
Then he will crown a tranquil life
by becoming a cabinet minister.
--Chinese poet 蘇軾 Su Shi (1037-1101), also known as Su Dongpo, on the birth of his son. Translation by Arthur Waley (1889-1966).
人皆生子望聰明
我被聰明誤一 生
但原吾兒魯且愚
無災無難到公卿。
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