2008年，一次偶然，接觸到《蘇格拉底文集》，看過之後觸發了靈感，決定嘗試翻譯一些原著，並且自作多情地取名《懷念蘇格拉底》。
原著：
On Giving
Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.
You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.
論奉獻
一位富人說：“給我們講講奉獻吧。”
於是，蘇格拉底說：
當你奉獻出自己的財富時，其實你奉獻的為數甚少。
當你奉獻出自己的時候你才真正意義上有所奉獻。
那麼什麼是你用心保存、精心呵護以備明日之需的財富呢？
對於尾隨朝聖者在前往聖城的途中小心翼翼地將骨頭埋在人跡罕至的沙地裡的狗犬來說，明天又能帶來什麼呢？
為什麼說真正害怕的是害怕本身呢？
乾渴是不可避免的，難道說井中水滿就不用擔心乾渴了嗎？
有人富甲一方卻奉獻無幾，僅僅為了傅彩而已，這種隱藏的動機使得其贈品大為玷汙。
但也有人擁有甚少卻奉獻全部。他們是生命的信徒與慷慨，他們的保險箱從不空蕩。
有人奉獻快樂，並因此得到快樂。
有人奉獻痛楚，這痛楚正是他們的考驗。
有人不知道也不會奉獻出痛楚，不會尋求快樂，也不會因為留意美德去奉獻。
他們像遙遠峽谷中的桃金娘（植物名）向空氣中釋放芬芳那樣默默奉獻著。
他們的雙手代表了上帝的號召，從他們的眼中可以看到上帝在向著大地微笑。
在受到求助時施以援手值得肯定，然而給予理解主動援助更為可取。
對於慷慨大方的人來說，對快樂的追求遠大於作出的奉獻。
那麼你還有什麼東西需要保留嗎？
你所有的一切總有一天要被奉獻出來，那麼就在此刻奉獻出來吧，這個奉獻的季節應當屬於你，而不是留給自己的子孫後代。
也許你經常會說：“我只奉獻給值得的人。”
但是你果園裡的果樹和牧場裡的羊群卻不以為然。
它們以奉獻為生，保留就意味著死亡。
當然，每一個值得活著的人就有理由從你這裡得到一切援助。
每一個從生命海洋裡取水而飲的人都能夠從你的小溪中汲水解渴。
難道有相比於發自勇敢和自信的接受更偉大的背棄慈善的逃避嗎？
難道會有人在你面前撕開胸膛、揭去傲慢的面紗以便讓你看到他赤裸裸的價值觀和不知廉恥的傲慢嗎？
首先讓自己做一個奉獻者，做一個奉獻的倡導者。
事實上，是生活奉獻給了生活，而你，自信為奉獻者的你，僅僅是一個見證人而已。
對於所有的接受者來說，不應當表現出沉重的感激之情，以免給自己和奉獻者帶來負擔。
把來自奉獻者的饋贈當作翅膀和他一道展翅飛翔吧！
因為如果你過於在意自己虧欠的情誼，那就是在懷疑以天為父、以地為母的自由心靈的慷慨。
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