作家应该是蓄电池。

对于蓄电池不应该只看它的外表。它的外表，立体，或方，或圆，硬硬的，呆板，漆黑，粗糙，给人以肮脏的感觉，甚至使人心生厌恶。它的内在则不如此，虽然只有一些铅板和硫酸稀释溶液，却能储蓄着电：电灯需电时，一接通便能大放光明；马达需电时，一接通便能发动；如果电少了，只要有锌板和硫酸稀释溶液，便可再充电，再储蓄电；电充够了，储蓄够了，再拿来使用，发挥它的功能……如此循环不已。

有些读者在和作家见面以前，很崇拜他，但是和他见了面以后便冷了；因为见他相貌不过尔尔呀！这样的读者，便是以外表取人的，分明庸俗不堪。他们是以看电影明星或歌星的态度来看作家的。其实，作家是不能用这种态度来看的。电影明星或歌星往往是以外表取胜的，常常要作秀，要流行。一个作家如果和电影明星或歌星一样，一天到晚穿得花红柳绿，到处作秀、开会、座谈，跟着人家流行，他便该被除籍了。作家要是蓄电池，外表不一定美丽，内在则需美丽，尤其心灵应该多储蓄，以便有能力点亮蜡烛，烛照世人，引人出迷津，走向光明。那么，作家像蓄电池，常充电便很重要了。充了电，储够了电，才有能力点亮蜡烛，烛照世人呀！

所以我说：作家应该是蓄电池。

1986年4月11日台湾日报副刊

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. @

责任编辑：林芳宇