王国维在《人间词话》说:“古今之成大事业、大学问者,必经过三种之境界:‘昨夜西风凋碧树。独上高楼,望尽天涯路’。此第一境也。‘衣带渐宽终不悔,为伊消得人憔悴。’此第二境也。‘众里寻他千百度,蓦然回首,那人却在,灯火阑珊处’。此第三境也。”
Since ancient times all people of accomplishment and great learning must have experienced three kinds of stages:
The first state can be described by,
Last night the west wind shriveled the green trees.
Alone I climbed the lofty tower
To gaze at the endless roads.
The second state can be described by,
My clothes are getting looser and looser;
For her sake, I have no regrets.
The third state can be described by,
I search for her in the crowd a thousand times
And, all of a sudden, as I turn around
I discover her there where the lantern lights are dim. (Translated by Guo Shenghu)