This pithy statement references the annoying tendency of life to cause trouble and make things difficult.

這句精闢的話提到了生活中令人討厭的製造麻煩和刁難的傾向。

Problems seem to arise naturally on their own, while solutions always require our attention, energy, and effort.

問題似乎會自然而然地出現，而解決方案卻總是需要我們的關注、精力和努力。

Life never seems to just work itself out for us.

生活似乎從來都不是為我們而安排的。

If anything, our lives become more complicated and gradually decline into disorder rather than remaining simple and structured.

如果有的話，我們的生活會變得更加複雜，逐漸陷入無序，而不是保持簡單和有序。

Murphy's law is just a common adage that people toss around in conversation, but it is related to one of the great forces of our universe.

墨菲定律只是人們在談話中經常提到的一句格言，但它卻與我們宇宙中的一種巨大力量有關。

This force is so fundamental to the way our world works that it permeates nearly every endeavor we pursue.

這種力量是我們這個世界運行方式的根本，它幾乎滲透到我們追求的每一項事業中。

It drives many of the problems we face and leads to disarray.

它導致了我們面臨的許多問題，並導致混亂。

It is the one force that governs everybody's life, entropy.

它就是支配每個人生活的一種力量--熵。

What is entropy and why does it matter?

什麼是熵，它為什麼重要？

Imagine that you take a box of puzzle pieces and dump them out on a table.

想象一下，你把一盒拼圖倒在桌子上。

In theory, it is possible for the pieces to fall perfectly into place and create a completed puzzle when you dump them out of the box.

從理論上講，當你把拼圖塊從盒子裡倒出來時，它們有可能完美地擺放在一起，拼成一幅完整的拼圖。

But in reality, that never happens.

但在現實中，這種情況從未發生過。

Why?

為什麼？

Quite simply, because the odds are overwhelmingly against it.

很簡單，因為絕大多數情況下都不可能。

Every piece would have to fall in just the right spot to create a completed puzzle.

每一塊拼圖都必須恰到好處，才能拼成一幅完整的拼圖。

There is only one possible state where every piece is in order, but there are a nearly infinite number of states where the pieces are in disorder.

每個棋子都有序的狀態只有一種可能，但棋子無序的狀態幾乎無窮無盡。

Mathematically speaking, an orderly outcome is incredibly unlikely to happen at random.

從數學上講，有序的結果是不可能隨機發生的。

Similarly, if you build a sand castle on the beach and return a few days later, it will no longer be there.

同樣，如果你在沙灘上建了一座沙堡，幾天後再回來，沙堡就不復存在了。

There is only one combination of sand particles that looks like your sand castle.

只有一種沙粒組合看起來像你的沙堡。

Meanwhile, there are a nearly infinite number of combinations that don't look like it.

與此同時，還有幾乎無窮無盡的組合看起來並不像它。

Again, in theory, it is possible for the wind and waves to move the sand around and create the shape of your sand castle.

同樣，從理論上講，風和海浪可以使沙子移動，從而形成沙堡的形狀。

But in practice, it never happens.

但實際上，這種情況從未發生過。

The odds are astronomically higher that sand will be scattered into a random clump.

沙子隨機散落成團的機率要高得多。

These simple examples capture the essence of entropy.

這些簡單的例子抓住了熵的本質。

Entropy is a measure of disorder.

熵是無序的度量。

And there are always far more disorderly variations than orderly ones.

而無序的變化總是遠遠多於有序的變化。

Why does entropy matter for your life?

為什麼熵與你的生活息息相關？

Here's the crucial thing about entropy, it always increases over time.

關於熵，最關鍵的一點是，它總是隨著時間的推移而增加。

It is the natural tendency of things to lose order.

失去秩序是事物的自然趨勢。

Left to its own devices, life will always become less structured.

如果聽之任之，生活總會變得不那麼有條理。

Sand castles get washed away.

沙堡會被沖走

Weeds overtake gardens.

雜草佔據了花園。

Ancient ruins crumble.

古老的廢墟轟然倒塌。

Cars begin to rust.

汽車開始生鏽。

People gradually age.

人是會逐漸衰老的。

With enough time, even mountains erode and their precise edges become rounded.

隨著時間的推移，即使是山峰也會被侵蝕，其精確的邊緣也會變得圓潤。

The inevitable trend is that things become less organized.

一個不可避免的趨勢是，事情變得不再井井有條。

This is known as the second law of thermodynamics.

這就是所謂的熱力學第二定律。

It is one of the foundational concepts of chemistry and it is one of the fundamental laws of our universe.

它是化學的基本概念之一，也是我們宇宙的基本規律之一。

The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a closed system will never decrease.

熱力學第二定律指出，封閉系統的熵永遠不會減少。

The great British scientist Arthur Eddington claimed, the law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of nature.

偉大的英國科學家阿瑟-愛丁頓（Arthur Eddington）說："我認為，熵總是增加的定律在自然法則中佔有至高無上的地位。

If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell's equations, then so much the worse for Maxwell's equations.

如果有人向你指出，你所鍾愛的宇宙理論與麥克斯韋方程組不一致，那麼麥克斯韋方程組就更糟糕了。

If it is found to be contradicted by observation, well, these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes.

如果發現它與觀察結果相矛盾，那麼，這些實驗學家有時確實會弄巧成拙。

But if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics, I can give you no hope, there is nothing for it but to collapse in deepest humiliation.

但是，如果你的理論被發現違背了熱力學第二定律，我就不能給你任何希望了，你只能在最深的屈辱中崩潰。

In the long run, nothing escapes the second law of thermodynamics.

從長遠來看，任何事物都逃不過熱力學第二定律。

The pull of entropy is relentless.

熵的拉力是無情的。

Everything decays.

一切都會腐朽。

Disorder always increases.

混亂總是在增加。

Before you get depressed, there is good news.

在你沮喪之前，有一個好消息。

You can fight back against the pull of entropy.

你可以反抗熵的拉力。

You can solve a scattered puzzle.

您可以解決散落的謎題。

You can pull the weeds out of your garden.

你可以拔掉花園裡的雜草。

You can clean a messy room.

你可以打掃凌亂的房間。

You can organize individuals into a cohesive team.

您可以將個人組織成一個有凝聚力的團隊。

But because the universe naturally slides toward disorder, you have to expend energy to create stability, structure, and simplicity.

但是，由於宇宙會自然滑向無序，你必須花費精力來創造穩定、結構和簡單。

Successful relationships require care and attention.

成功的人際關係需要細心呵護。

Successful houses require cleaning and maintenance.

成功的房屋需要清潔和維護。

Successful teams require communication and collaboration.

成功的團隊需要溝通與合作。

Without effort, things will decay.

不努力，就會衰敗。

This insight, that disorder has a natural tendency to increase over time and that we can counteract the tendency by expending energy, reveals the core purpose of life.

這種洞察力揭示了生命的核心目的，即隨著時間的推移，紊亂會自然加劇，而我們可以通過消耗能量來抵消這種趨勢。

We must exert effort to create useful types of order that are resilient enough to withstand the unrelenting pull of entropy.

我們必須努力創造有用的秩序，使其具有足夠的彈性，能夠抵禦熵的無情拉扯。

The ultimate purpose of life, mind, and human striving, to deploy energy and information to fight back the tide of entropy and carve out refuges of beneficial order, maintaining organization in the face of chaos is not easy.

生命、思想和人類奮鬥的終極目的，是調配能量和資訊來抵禦熵的浪潮，開闢有益的秩序庇護所，在混亂中保持組織性並非易事。

In the words of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, the hardest thing in the world is to simplify your life because everything is pulling you to be more and more complex.

用巴塔哥尼亞創始人伊馮-喬伊納德（Yvon Chouinard）的話說，世界上最難的事情就是簡化你的生活，因為所有的事情都在促使你變得越來越複雜。

Entropy will always increase on its own.

熵總是會自行增加。

The only way to make things orderly again is to add energy.

讓一切恢復有序的唯一辦法就是增加能量。

Order requires effort.

秩序需要努力。

Entropy helps explain many of the mysteries and experiences of daily life.

熵有助於解釋日常生活中的許多奧祕和體驗。

For example, why life is remarkable.

例如，生命為何非凡。

Consider the human body.

考慮一下人體。

The collection of atoms that make up your body could be arranged in a virtually infinite number of ways and nearly all of them lead to no form of life whatsoever.

構成你身體的原子集合可以有幾乎無窮無盡的排列方式，而幾乎所有的排列方式都不會產生任何生命形式。

Mathematically speaking, the odds are overwhelmingly against your very presence.

從數學的角度來看，你的存在是非常不利的。

You are a very unlikely combination of atoms.

你是一個非常不可能的原子組合。

And yet, here you are.

然而，你還是來了。

It is truly remarkable.

這確實很了不起。

In a universe where entropy rules the day, the presence of life with such organization, structure, and stability is stunning.

在熵主宰一切的宇宙中，生命的存在具有如此的組織、結構和穩定性，令人驚歎。

Why art is beautiful.

藝術為何美麗

Entropy offers a good explanation for why art and beauty are so aesthetically pleasing.

熵很好地解釋了為什麼藝術和美如此具有美感。

Artists create a form of order and symmetry that, odds are, the universe would never generate on its own.

藝術家們創造了一種秩序和對稱的形式，而這很可能是宇宙本身永遠不會產生的。

It is so rare in the grand scheme of possibilities.

這在所有可能性中是如此罕見。

The number of beautiful combinations is far less than the number of total combinations.

美麗組合的數量遠遠少於組合總數。

Similarly, seeing a symmetrical face is rare and beautiful when there are so many ways for a face to be asymmetrical.

同樣，當一張臉有很多不對稱的地方時，看到一張對稱的臉是非常難得和美麗的。

Beauty is rare and unlikely in a universe of disorder.

在無序的宇宙中，美是罕見的，也是不可能的。

And this gives us good reason to protect art.

這讓我們有充分的理由保護藝術。

We should guard it and treat it as something sacred.

我們應該守護它，將它視為神聖的東西。

Why marriage is difficult.

婚姻為何艱難

One of the most famous opening lines in literature comes from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

文學作品中最有名的開場白之一出自列夫-托爾斯泰的《安娜-卡列尼娜》。

He writes, Happy families are all alike.

他寫道：幸福的家庭都是相似的。

Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

每個不幸的家庭都有自己的不幸。

There are many ways a marriage can fail.

婚姻失敗的方式有很多種。

Financial stress.

財務壓力。

Parenting issues.

育兒問題。

Crazy in-laws.

瘋狂的岳父母

Conflicts in core values.

核心價值觀的衝突。

Lack of trust.

缺乏信任。

Infidelity.

不忠

And so on.

等等。

A deficiency in any one of these areas can wreck a family.

任何一個方面的不足都會毀掉一個家庭。

To be happy.

要快樂

However.

然而

You need some degree of success in each major area.

您需要在每個主要領域都取得一定程度的成功。

Thus.

是以。

All happy families are alike because they all have a similar structure.

所有幸福的家庭都是相似的，因為它們都有相似的結構。

Disorder can occur in many ways.

失調可以通過多種方式發生。

But order.

但要有秩序。

In only a few.

只有幾個。

Why optimal lives are designed not discovered.

為什麼最佳生活是設計出來的，而不是發現出來的？

You have a combination of talents.

你集多種才能於一身。

Skills.

技能

And interests that are specific to you.

以及你特有的興趣。

But you also live in a larger society and culture that were not designed with your specific abilities in mind.

但是，你們也生活在一個更大的社會和文化中，而這個社會和文化在設計時並沒有考慮到你們的特殊能力。

Given what we know about entropy.

鑑於我們對熵的瞭解。

What do you think the odds are that the environment you happen to grow up in is also the optimal environment for your talents.

你認為你的成長環境是你發揮才能的最佳環境的機率有多大？

It is very unlikely that life is going to present you with a situation that perfectly matches your strengths.

生活中不太可能出現與你的優勢完全匹配的情況。

Out of all the possible scenarios you could encounter.

在您可能遇到的所有情況中。

It's far more likely that you'll encounter one that does not cater to your talents.

更有可能的是，你會遇到一個不符合你才能的人。

Evolutionary biologists use a term called mismatch conditions to describe when an organism is not well suited for a condition it is facing.

進化生物學家使用了一個術語，叫做 "不匹配條件"，來描述當生物體不適合它所面臨的條件時的情況。

We have common phrases for mismatch conditions, like a fish out of water or bring a knife to a gunfight.

我們有一些常用的短語來形容不匹配的情況，如魚死網破或帶著刀去槍戰。

Obviously.

很明顯

When you are in a mismatch condition.

當您處於不匹配狀態時。

It is more difficult to succeed.

成功的難度更大。

To be useful.

要有用。

And to win.

並贏得勝利。

It is likely you'll face mismatch conditions in your life.

在生活中，你很可能會遇到不匹配的情況。

At the very least.

至少

Life will not be optimal.

生活不會達到最佳狀態。

Maybe you didn't grow up in the optimal culture for your interests.

也許你的成長環境並不適合你的興趣。

Maybe you were exposed to the wrong subject or sport.

也許你接觸了錯誤的主題或運動。

Maybe you were born at the wrong time in history.

也許你生在了錯誤的歷史時期。

It is far more likely that you are living in a mismatch condition than in a well-matched one.

你生活在不匹配環境中的可能性遠遠大於生活在匹配環境中的可能性。

Knowing this.

知道這一點。

You must take it upon yourself to design your ideal lifestyle.

你必須自己設計出理想的生活方式。

You have to turn a mismatch condition into a well-matched one.

你必須把不匹配的條件變成匹配的條件。

Optimal lives are designed.

設計最佳生活。

Not discovered.

未發現。

Finally.

最後

Let's return to Murphy's law.

讓我們回到墨菲定律。

Anything that can go wrong.

任何可能出錯的事情。

Will go wrong.

會出問題。

Entropy provides a good explanation for why Murphy's law seems to pop up so frequently in life.

熵很好地解釋了為什麼墨菲定律在生活中頻頻出現。

There are more ways things can go wrong than right.

出錯的方式比正確的方式更多。

The difficulties of life do not occur because the planets are misaligned or because some cosmic force is conspiring against you.

生活中的困難並不是因為行星錯位，也不是因為某種宇宙力量對你不利。

It is simply entropy at work.

這只是熵在起作用。

As one scientist put it.

正如一位科學家所說

Entropy is sort of like Murphy's law applied to the entire universe.

熵就像是適用於整個宇宙的墨菲定律。

It is nobody's fault that life has problems.

生活中出現問題不是任何人的錯。

It is simply a law of probability.

這只是一個概率法則。

There are many disordered states and few ordered ones.

無序狀態很多，有序狀態很少。

Given the odds against us.

考慮到我們的困難

What is remarkable is not that life has problems.

令人矚目的並不是生活中存在問題。

But that we can solve them at all.

但我們能解決這些問題。

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