MIT的Bill Freeman教授曾經(jīng)給所有在“麻省理工大學(xué)計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)與智能機(jī)器實(shí)驗(yàn)室”（CSAIL)的同事發(fā)過(guò)一份郵件，問(wèn)他們對(duì)這樣一個(gè)問(wèn)題：要想在研究上有所建樹(shù)，一個(gè)researcher（研究人員）所需要的最重要的quality（條件）是什么？談?wù)勛约旱南敕ā?/p>

其中《Introuction to Algorithms》（《算法導(dǎo)論》是基礎(chǔ)算法方面最權(quán)威、最詳細(xì)的著作之一，在很多國(guó)際著名大學(xué)被用于算法課的教材。）的作者之一Charles Leiserson教授回了一封有趣的郵件：

Bill,

比爾，

I'll tell you a joke instea.

我來(lái)給你講個(gè)故事吧。

A rabbit is caught by a wolf. The wolf is about to eat the rabbit,but the rabbit protests,"I'm only a few weeks away from efening my Ph.D. issertation. I have worke so har,an everyone tells me I have so much promise. It woul be a shame to kill me when I have such a bright future of research contributions ahea of me that will bene?t the worl."

一只小兔子不幸被一頭狼給逮住了。這只狼想要把兔子吃掉，但是兔子抗議道：“我還有幾個(gè)星期就要進(jìn)行我的博士論文答辯了。我如此努力的工作學(xué)習(xí)，所有人都對(duì)我擁有著極高的期待。我的研究成果擁有輝煌的未來(lái)并且將給世界帶來(lái)巨大的貢獻(xiàn)，所以如果你現(xiàn)在吃掉我你將是世界的罪人。”

The wolf says,"You're writing a Ph.D. issertation? What is it on?" The rabbit replies,"It's entitle,The Superiority of Rabbits over Foxes an Wolves." The wolf says,"That's about the stupiest thing you coul have sai. I'll eat you right now."

于是狼便說(shuō)道：“你在寫(xiě)博士論文？關(guān)于什么的？”兔子說(shuō)：“題目是‘兔子之于狐貍與狼的優(yōu)越性’?！薄斑@是你說(shuō)過(guò)的最愚蠢的話了，我現(xiàn)在就要把你吃了?！崩菓崙嵉恼f(shuō)。

The rabbit says,"Wait,wait! Come to my en an rea my thesis raft. If you on't agree with my conclusions,I will willingly give myself up to you." So,the wolf goes off with the rabbit to the rabbit's en … an the wolf never comes out.

“等等！等等！”兔子急忙道“來(lái)我的寢室讀讀看我的論文草稿。如果你不同意我的觀點(diǎn)，我會(huì)心甘情愿的當(dāng)做你的晚餐?！?于是狼便和兔子去了它的寢室…狼一去不復(fù)返。

A few weeks later,the rabbit is caught by a fox. The fox is about to eat the rabbit,but the rabbit protests,"I'm only a few ays away from efening my Ph.D. issertation. I have worke so har,an everyone tells me I have so much promise. It woul be a shame to kill me when I have such a bright future of research contributions ahea of me that will bene?t the worl."

幾個(gè)星期之后，兔子又不幸的被一只狐貍抓到了。狐貍也想要吃掉這只兔子，而兔子又抗議道：“我還有幾個(gè)星期就要進(jìn)行我的博士論文答辯了。我如此努力的工作學(xué)習(xí)，所有人都對(duì)我擁有著極高的期待。我的研究成果擁有輝煌的未來(lái)并且將給世界帶來(lái)巨大的貢獻(xiàn)，所以如果你現(xiàn)在吃掉我你將是世界的罪人。”

The fox says,"You're writing a Ph.D. issertation? What is it on?" The rabbit replies,"It's entitle,The Superiority of Rabbits over Foxes an Wolves." The fox says,"That's about the stupiest thing you coul have sai. I'll eat you right now."

于是狐貍也問(wèn)：“你在寫(xiě)博士論文？關(guān)于什么的？”兔子說(shuō)：“題目是‘兔子之于狐貍與狼的優(yōu)越性’?！?“這是你說(shuō)過(guò)的最愚蠢的話了，我現(xiàn)在就要把你吃了?！焙偼瑯討崙嵉恼f(shuō)。

The rabbit says,"Wait,wait! Come to my en an rea my thesis raft. If you on't agree with my conclusions,I will willingly give myself up to you." So,the fox goes off with the rabbit to the rabbit's en … an the fox never comes out.

“等等！等等！”兔子急忙道“來(lái)我的寢室讀讀看我的論文草稿。如果你不同意我的觀點(diǎn)，我會(huì)心甘情愿的當(dāng)做你的晚餐?！?于是狐貍也和兔子去了它的寢室…同樣，狐貍再也沒(méi)有出來(lái)。

A few weeks later,the rabbit is out an meets up with his ol frien the muskrat. The muskrat says,"I hear you ?nally earne your Ph.D. Congratulations!" The rabbit says,"Yes,I just efene my Ph.D. thesis a few ays ago." The muskrat asks,"What was your thesis topic?" The rabbit answers,The Superiority of Rabbits over Foxes an Wolves."

又過(guò)了幾個(gè)星期，兔子出來(lái)見(jiàn)到了它的老朋友麝鼠。麝鼠說(shuō)：“我聽(tīng)說(shuō)你終于是獲得了你的博士學(xué)位，恭喜你??！”“是的，我?guī)滋烨皠倓傋隽水厴I(yè)答辯?！蓖米踊卮稹ｗ晔蠼又鴨?wèn)：“你的論文是關(guān)于什么的？”兔子回答說(shuō)：“兔子之于狐貍與狼的優(yōu)越性。”

The muskrat says,"That's quite interesting. Can I rea it?" The rabbit says,"Sure. Come to my en." They enter the en,an the muskrat sees the bones of foxes an wolves all over the ?oor. In the corner is a large lion.

“這個(gè)論題可太有意思，我能讀讀嗎？”麝鼠好奇的問(wèn)。兔子說(shuō)：“當(dāng)然，來(lái)我房間吧。”他們走進(jìn)了兔子的房間，麝鼠看到了狼和狐貍的骨頭布滿了地面，而在角落有一只威猛的獅子?！?/p>

Which brings us to the moral of the story: More important than your thesis topic is who your avisor is.

這個(gè)故事告訴我們：你的導(dǎo)師是誰(shuí)比你在研究什么課題更重要。

Charles Leiserson

【微語(yǔ)】你踏上異國(guó)的土地,追逐夢(mèng)想的翅膀,愿風(fēng)總是順著你的方向,讓每一步都充滿力量。