有些金錢(qián)的代價(jià)，太過(guò)昂貴

有些金錢(qián)的代價(jià)，太過(guò)昂貴

When I got my first grown-up job after college my dad asked me how much money I'd be willing to embezzle.

大學(xué)畢業(yè)后，我得到了成年后的第一份工作，我爸問(wèn)我愿意貪污多少錢(qián)。

My dad was an aerospace engineer, one of the most straight-edge ethical men you can imagine. So I told him the truth, "You raised me to be honest. There is no amount of money that could induce me to steal."

我爸是個(gè)航天工程師，是個(gè)你能想象的那種最正直最講道德的人。所以我告訴了他事實(shí)：“你從小教我要誠(chéng)實(shí)。根本就沒(méi)有什么錢(qián)能讓我去偷。”

But he wasn't having it. "A thousand dollars?" he asked, "Ten thousand?"

但是他并不接受這個(gè)回答。“一千美金?”他問(wèn)道，“還是一萬(wàn)?”

"Will I get caught?"

“我會(huì)被抓嗎?”

"No one who embezzles thinks they will get caught."

“沒(méi)有哪個(gè)貪污的人會(huì)認(rèn)為自己會(huì)被抓。”

"Ok, so it would have to be enough to escape the country and get a new identity."

“好吧，那這些錢(qián)足夠我逃到國(guó)外并且獲得另一個(gè)身份。”

"Which is?" he asked.

“要多少?”他問(wèn)。

"Fifty million dollars." I said. "If they left fifty million with me and I thought I could get away scout free, I might take it."

“5000萬(wàn)美金。”我說(shuō)。“如果他們把5000萬(wàn)給了我，我覺(jué)得我可以逃過(guò)檢查然后拿走它。”

"Excellent," he said. "Now never sell out for a box of pens and a three hole punch. If fifty million dollars is your price, never steal a penny less."

“好，”他說(shuō)。“現(xiàn)在開(kāi)始，永遠(yuǎn)不要為了一盒筆或者一個(gè)三孔的打孔機(jī)而出賣(mài)了自己。如果你要的是5000萬(wàn)美金，那就一分都不能少。”