约翰斯坦贝克诺贝尔文学奖的英文获奖感言banquetspeechjohnsteinbeck'sspeechatthenobelbanquetatthecityhallinstockholm,december10,1962ithanktheswedishacademyforfindingmyworkworthyofthishighesthonor.inmyhearttheremaybedoubtthatideservethenobelawardoverothermenofletterswhomiholdinrespectandreverence-butthereisnoquestionofmypleasureandprideinhavingitformyself.itiscustomaryfortherecipientofthisawardtoofferpersonalorscholarlycommentonthenatureandthedirectionofliterature.atthisparticulartime,however,ithinkitwouldbewelltoconsiderthehighdutiesandtheresponsibilitiesofthemakersofliterature.suchistheprestigeofthenobelawardandofthisplacewhereistandthatiamimpelled,nottosqueaklikeagratefulandapologeticmouse,buttoroarlikealionoutofprideinmyprofessionandinthegreatandgoodmenwhoyfortherecipientofthisawardtoofferpersonalorscholarlycommentonthenatureandthedirectionofliterature.atthisparticulartime,however,ithinkitwouldbewelltoconsiderthehighdutiesandtheresponsibilitiesofthemakersofliterature.suchistheprestigeofthenobelawardandofthisplacewhereistandthatiamimpelled,nottosqueaklikeagratefulandapologeticmouse,buttoroarlikealionoutofprideinmyprofessionandinthegreatandgoodmenwhohavepracticeditthroughtheages.literaturewasnotpromulgatedbyapaleandemasculatedcriticalpriesthoodsingingtheirlitaniesinemptychurches-norisitagameforthecloisteredelect,thetinhornmendicantsoflowcaloriedespair.literatureisasoldasspeech.itgrewoutofhumanneedforit,andithasnotchangedexcepttobecomemoreneeded.theskalds,thebards,thewritersarenotseparateandexclusive.fromthebeginning,theirfunctions,theirduties,theirresponsibilitieshavebeendecreedbyourspecies.humanityhasbeenpassingthroughagrayanddesolatetimeofconfusion.mygreatpredecessor,williamfaulkner,speakinghere,referredtoitasatragedyofuniversalfearsolongsustainedthattherewerenolongerproblemsofthespirit,sothatonlythehumanheartinconflictwithitselfseemedworthwritingabout.faulkner,morethanmostmen,wasawareofhumanstrengthaswellasofhumanweakness.heknewthattheunderstandingandtheresolutionoffeararealargepartofthewriter'sreasonforbeing.thisisnotnew.theancientcommissionofthewriterhasnotchanged.heischargedwithexposingourmanygrievousfaultsandfailures,withdredginguptothelightourdarkanddangerousdreamsforthepurposeofimprovement.furthermore,thewriterisdelegatedtodeclareandtocelebrateman'sprovencapacityforgreatnessofheartandspirit-forgallantryindefeat-forcourage,compassionandlove.intheendlesswaragainstweaknessanddespair,thesearethebrightrally-flagsofhopeandofemulation.iholdthatawriterwhodoesnotpassionatelybelieveintheperfectibilityofman,hasnodedicationnoranymembershipinliterature.thepresentuniversalfearhasbeentheresultofaforwardsurgeinourknowledgeandmanipulationofcertaindangerousfactorsinthephysicalworld.itistruethatotherphasesofunderstandinghavenotyetcaughtupwiththisgreatstep,butthereisnoreasontopresumethattheycannotorwillnotdrawabreast.indeeditisapartofthewriter'sresponsibilitytomakesurethattheydo.withhumanity'slongproudhistoryofstandingfirmagainstnaturalenemies,sometimesinthefaceofalmostcertaindefeatandextinction,wewouldbecowardlyandstupidtoleavethefieldontheeveofourgreatestpotentialvictory.understandably,ihavebeenreadingthelifeofalfrednobel-asolitaryman,thebookssay,athoughtfulman.heperfectedthereleaseofexplosiveforces,capableofcreativegoodorofdestructiveevil,butlackingchoice,ungovernedbyconscienceorjudgment.nobelsawsomeofthecruelandbloodymisusesofhisinventions.hemayevenhaveforeseentheendresultofhisprobing-accesstoultimateviolence-tofinaldestruction.somesaythathebecamecynical,butidonotbelievethis.ithinkhestrovetoinventacontrol,asafetyvalve.ithinkhefounditfinallyonlyinthehumanmindandthehumanspirit.tome,histhinkingisclearlyindicatedinthecategoriesoftheseawards.theyareofferedforincreasedandcontinuingknowledgeofmanandofhisworld-forunderstandingandcommunication,whicharethefunctionsofliterature.andtheyareofferedfordemonstrationsofthecapacityforpeace-theculminationofalltheothers.lessthanfiftyyearsafterhisdeath,thedoorofnaturewasunlockedandwewereofferedthedreadfulburdenofchoice.wehaveusurpedmanyofthepowersweonceascribedtogod.fearfulandunprepared,wehaveassumedlordshipoverthelifeordeathofthewholeworld-ofalllivingthings.thedangerandthegloryandthechoicerestfinallyinman.thetestofhisperfectibilityisathand.havingtakengodlikepower,wemustseekinourselvesfortheresponsibilityandthewisdomweonceprayedsomedeitymighthave.manhimselfhasbecomeourgreatesthazardandouronlyhope.sothattoday,st.johntheapostlemaywellbeparaphrased:intheendistheword,andthewordisman-andthewordiswithmen.
