但是，我画的不是一顶帽子，画里代表的是一条蟒蛇正在消化着一头大象。为了让这些大人们能够了解，我只好又画了一张画：我把大蟒蛇肚子里的环境画了出来――这些大人们老是需求解释。我的第二号作品是如许的：
此次大人们做出的反应是：他们建议我把这些画着看起来仿佛敞开肚皮的蟒蛇的丹青放在一边，然后把精力放在地理、汗青、计算和语法上。这就是为甚么，在我六岁时，我放弃了成为一名职业画家的斑斓胡想。第一号、第二号作品的不胜利，令我非常懊丧。这些大人们本身甚么都不懂，还需求孩子们不竭地、不竭地解释给他们听，这真是令人感到腻烦。
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say:"That is a hat."Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
每当碰到一个在我看来脑筋略微清楚的大人时，我就拿出随身带着的我那第一号作品来测试他。我想晓得他是否真的有了解才气。但是，不管我测试的人是谁，他或者她都会说：“这是顶帽子。”是以，我也就反面他们谈大蟒蛇啊、原始丛林啊，或者星星之类的事。我会把本身降落到他们的程度，和他们谈些桥牌啊、高尔夫球啊、政治啊、领带啊这些。因而大人们就非常欢畅能熟谙我如许一个通情达理的人。
So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.