《皇帝的新裝》，1837 年

the Emperor’s New Suit, 1837

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安徒生所寫的這個講述說實話的孩子的故事贏得了許多讚賞者，因為它有力地歌頌了青春和純真。

Andersen’s tale of the truth - speaking child has won many admirers because it pays powerful tribute to youth and innocence.

“當我還是個孩子的時候，” 歷史學家露絲?羅森寫道，“我最喜歡的故事是《皇帝的新裝》。一群成年人讚揚皇帝的新衣櫥，但是一個孩子脫口說出了真相：

“when I was a child,” historian Ruth Rosen writes, “my favorite story was ‘the Emperor’s New clothes.’ A chorus of adults praises the Emperor’s new wardrobe, but a child blurts out the truth:

皇帝實際上是完全赤裸的。

the Emperor is in fact stark naked.

從這個故事中，我瞭解到成年人可能會被脅迫而認可各種胡言亂語。”

From this tale, I learned that adults could be intimidated into endorsing all kinds of flummery.”

安徒生的這個故事包含著許多可能的教訓，而且每個讀者似乎都從中得到不同的資訊。

Andersen’s tale is encoded with many possible lessons, and every reader seems to take a different message from it.

對於認知科學家史蒂文?平克來說，這個故事提供了一個 “關於集體幽默的顛覆力量的美妙寓言”，揭示了人多力量大以及笑聲發出的 “不自覺、破壞性和有感染力的訊號” 的力量。

For the cognitive scientist Steven pinker, the story offers a “nice parable of the subversive power of collective humor,” revealing the strength that es in numbers as well as the power of the “involuntary, disruptive, and contagious signal” sent by laughter.

安徒生故事中的孩子，無禮、無畏且充滿活力，即使成年人 —— 恭敬、害怕且缺乏安全感 —— 太容易屈服於欺騙，他也向權勢說出真相。

the child in Andersen’s story, who is irreverent, fearless, and spirited, speaks truth to power even as adults—deferential, intimidated, and insecure—succumb all