Quote of the Day: Yevgeny Yevtushenko on Life & Wisdom

The internet rewards speed: hot takes, instant replies, perfectly polished posts. In that noise, we start demanding the same from ourselves, be flawless, be fast, be liked. But life isn’t a feed; it’s a translation. As Yevgeny Yevtushenko put it, “Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful, it is most certainly not beautiful.”

Set aside the dated metaphor and you’ll find a merciful truth: every meaningful effort is a trade-off between precision and power. When you try to be “faithful” to every detail, every expectation, every rule, every possible critique, your work can become stiff. You may technically be correct, yet fail to move anyone, including yourself.

But chasing “beauty”, the elegant message, the compelling story, the clean execution, can also mean leaving things out. Translation reminds us that this isn’t dishonesty; it’s judgment. The practical question isn’t “Can I keep everything?” It’s “What must be preserved for this to be true, and what can be adapted so it can be heard?” That mindset reduces anxiety and restores courage: you’re not failing when you choose, you’re practicing discernment.

Yevgeny Yevtushenko earned the right to speak about fidelity and artistry through a life of public witness, from his poem “Babi Yar” to stadium-sized readings, prolific prose, and years teaching literature across languages and cultures.

Today, translate one thing on purpose: take a message you’ve been over-editing and rewrite it in two versions, one brutally faithful, one beautifully clear, then send the one that serves the reader with humility. May your choices be brave, and your words land where they’re needed.