一 words and expressions
1. Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.
be commensurate with: matching something in size, quality, or length of time〔在尺寸、质量或时间长度上〕与…相当的，相称的
2. the other is pedantic and vague.
pedantic: paying too much attention to rules or to small unimportant details拘泥于规则（细节）的，学究式的，书呆子气的: [+about]
3. There is a deep yearning for human contact and a resentment of bombast.
bombast: language that is intentionally difficult, usually to make something sound more important than it is浮夸的言语；大话，空话 形容词是bombastic
4. if I were an employee I wouldn’t be cheered—or informed—by these efforts to raise my morale.
morale： the level of confidence and positive feelings that people have, especially people who work together, who belong to the same team etc士气，斗志; 精神面貌:
low / high morale boost / raise / improve / build morale
5. I urged them to believe in themselves as writers and not to relinquish control.
relinquish：to let someone else have your position, power, or rights, especially unwillingly〔尤指不情愿地〕放弃，交出〔职位、权力、权利
6. . I sensed an undercurrent of fear: do things the company way and don’t risk your job trying to make the company human.
undercurrent：an emotion, belief, or characteristic of a situation that is hidden and usually negative or dangerous but that has some effect（通常指负面的或危险的）潜在的情绪（或思想等）
7. I said that Mr. Bell was being done a disservice
do sb a dis'service：to do sth that harms sb and the opinion that other people have of them 损害；伤害；危害
8. they acquiesce in the process of being pumped up and dried out.
acquiesce: to do what someone else wants, or allow something to happen, even though you do not really agree with it默许; 顺从: [+in / to]
二 Thoughts
今天读的是如何进行商业写作，也就是在一些公司，学校等一些组织机构如何写通知，备忘录等。
Actually a simple style is the result of hard work and hard thinking; a muddled style reflects a muddled thinker or a person too arrogant, or too dumb, or too lazy to organize his thoughts. Remember that what you write is often the only chance you’ll get to present yourself to someone whose business or money or good will you need.
这句话很触动我。其实不仅仅在商业领域，对于我们学生来说，简介的文章与表达恰恰是经过深思熟虑和努力反复修改的。当然，还要区别simple和incomplete的区别。
The way to warm up any institution is to locate the missing “I.” Remember: “I” is the most interesting element in any story.
一篇好的文章，尤其是组织内下发的通知，要充满humanity，充满“人情味”。不要老用一些词替换。
Preoccupied with their high technology, they forget that some of the most powerful tools they possess—for good and for bad—are words.
这点和上章提到的科学写作的要求一致。不要因为你熟知一些东西，就用满篇的jargon。对于商业领域，易懂的writing更为重要，因为你的受众是员工和广大的消费者。
If you work for an institution, whatever your job, whatever your level, be yourself when you write. You will stand out as a real person among the robots.
be yourself with humanity and warmth 可以说是写作的Platinum Rule
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