作家應該是蓄電池。

對於蓄電池不應該只看它的外表。它的外表，立體，或方，或圓，硬硬的，呆板，漆黑，粗糙，給人以骯髒的感覺，甚至使人心生厭惡。它的內在則不如此，雖然只有一些鉛板和硫酸稀釋溶液，卻能儲蓄著電：電燈需電時，一接通便能大放光明；馬達需電時，一接通便能發動；如果電少了，只要有鋅板和硫酸稀釋溶液，便可再充電，再儲蓄電；電充夠了，儲蓄夠了，再拿來使用，發揮它的功能……如此循環不已。

有些讀者在和作家見面以前，很崇拜他，但是和他見了面以後便冷了；因為見他相貌不過爾爾呀！這樣的讀者，便是以外表取人的，分明庸俗不堪。他們是以看電影明星或歌星的態度來看作家的。其實，作家是不能用這種態度來看的。電影明星或歌星往往是以外表取勝的，常常要作秀，要流行。一個作家如果和電影明星或歌星一樣，一天到晚穿得花紅柳綠，到處作秀、開會、座談，跟著人家流行，他便該被除籍了。作家要是蓄電池，外表不一定美麗，內在則需美麗，尤其心靈應該多儲蓄，以便有能力點亮蠟燭，燭照世人，引人出迷津，走向光明。那麼，作家像蓄電池，常充電便很重要了。充了電，儲夠了電，才有能力點亮蠟燭，燭照世人呀！

所以我說：作家應該是蓄電池。

1986年4月11日台灣日報副刊

Storage Battery  Hsu ChiCheng

Writer ought to be the storage battery.

We ought not to look only the appearance about storage battery. Its appearance is solid, may square or circular, hard, idiot, blackened, rough, offers the feeling of dirty, even arose boring. On the contrary, it’s not just like that, it can store electricity though it just some stereotype and thin liquid sulphuric acid, yet it can store electricity: the lamp will burning brightly in the sky as if it connect with; the motor will move as if it connect with; when there lack of electricity, just there is stereotype and thin sulphuric acid, it can charge electricity again, store electricity again; and use it when it charged enough electricity, stored enough electricity, plays the role of it…circle ceaselessly.

Some readers worship the writer before they meet him, but faint after met him; because they know him just like this! This kind of reader is judged a person by the appearance, it’s too vulgar obviously. In fact, the writer can’t know with this manner. The movie star or singer often can win through appearance, often need show, need in fashion. If a writer likes the movie star or singer, wears in bonuses Liulv, shows , attends in meeting, informal discussion in fashion as all others, he ought to be dismiss from this party. A writer must be the storage battery, he is not necessarily be beauty all day long, but he must beauty in internality, particularly there are storage in his mind, in order to kindle the candle to illuminate other people, lead them to guide someone how to get onto the right path, go to bright way. And then, it’s very importance for a writer to charge electricity. Charged electricity, stored enough electricity, will enable him to kindle candle, and illuminate other people!

So I say, a writer ought to be the storage battery. @

責任編輯：林芳宇