Original title:
bartleby
why you should never retire
pleasure cruises, golf and tracing the family tree are not that fulfilling
Bartoby column.
Why you shouldn't retire?
Happy cruises, golf, and tracing the family tree are not so fulfilling
paragraph 1]
in an episode of “the sopranos”, a popular television series which started airing in the 1990s, a gangster tells tony, from thetitularfamily, that he wants to retire. “what are you, a hockey player?” tonysnaps back
In an episode of the hit TV series The Sopranos, which began in the 1990s, a gangster tells Tony of the Sopranos that he wants to retire. Tony retorted, "What are you, ice hockey player?" ”
non-fictional non-criminals who are considering an end to their working lives need not worry about broken fingers or other bodily harm.
For law-abiding citizens who are planning to retire in reality, they don't have to worry about broken fingers or other bodily harm.
but they must stillcontend withother potentially painful losses: of income, purpose or, mostpoignantlyrelevance
However, they still have to deal with other potentially painful losses: income, purpose in life, and even more profoundly, a loss of meaning. 
paragraph 2]
some simply won’t quit. giorgio armani refuses torelinquishhis role as chief executive of his fashion house at the age of 89. being italy’s second-richest man has not dampened his work ethic.
Some people just can't stop. At the age of 89, Giorgio Armani is still holding on to his position as CEO of a fashion company. As the second richest person in Italy, his passion for work has not diminished in the slightest.
charlie munger, warren buffett’s sidekick at berkshire hathaway, worked for the investment powerhouse until he died late last year at the age of 99. mr buffett himself is going strong at 93.
Charlie Munger was the right-hand man of Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, who worked at the investment giant until his death late last year at the age of 99. Warren Buffett himself is still very motivated at the age of 93. [paragraph 3]
people like messrs armani, buffett or munger are exceptional.
People like Armani, Warren Buffett or Munger excel.
but in remaining professionally active into what would historically be considereddotage, they are not unique.
However, they are not the only ones who have been active in their careers until their traditional old age.
one poll this year found that almost one in three americans say they may never retire.
A poll this year found that nearly 1 in 3 Americans say they may never retire.
the majority of the nevers said they could not afford to give up a full-time job, especially when inflation was eating into an already measly social security cheque.
Most people who never retire say they can't afford to give up their full-time jobs, especially as inflation has eaten away at an already meager Social Security check.
but suppose you are one of the lucky ones who can choose tostep aside. should you do it?
But if you were lucky enough to be one of those who had the option to retire, would you retire?
paragraph 4]
thearcof corporate life used to be predictable. you made your way up the career ladder, acquiring more prestige and bigger salaries at every step.
In the past, the trajectory of corporate life was predictable. You climb the career ladder step by step, earning more prestige and higher salaries with each step.
then, in your early 60s, there was a friday-afternoon retirement party, maybe a gold watch, and that was that.
Then, when you're in your early 60s, there's a Friday afternoon retirement party waiting for you, maybe a gold watch as a souvenir, and that's all over.
the next day the world of meetings, objectives, tasks and other busyness faded.
From the next day, those meetings, goals, tasks, and other hectic things will fade out of your life.
if you were moderatelyrestless, you could play bridge or help out with the grandchildren. if you weren’t, there were crossword puzzles, tv and a blanket.
If you're a little restless, you can play bridge or help take care of your grandchildren. If you don't like that, you can also choose to do crossword puzzles, watch TV, or take a break with a blanket.
paragraph 5]
although intellectual stimulation tends to keep depression and cognitive impairment at bay, many professionals in the technology sector retire at the earliest recommended date to make space for the younger generation, conceding it would be unrealistic to maintain their edge in the field.
Although intellectual stimulation helps prevent depression and cognitive impairment, many tech professionals retire at the earliest recommended retirement date to make room for the younger generation, who admit that they can't hold their edge in this field all the time.
still, to step down means to le**e centre stage—leisure gives you all the time in the world but tends to marginalise you as you are no longer in the game.
Still, retirement also means being away from the center stage – there's plenty of leisure time, but it's easy to be marginalized because you're no longer in the game.
paragraph 6]
things h**e changed. lifespans are getting longer. it is true that although the post-retirement,twilight yearsare stretching, they do not h**e to lead to boredom or to a lifedevoidof meaning.
Times have changed. Humans are living longer and longer. Admittedly, while retirement is a long old age, that doesn't mean life is bound to be boring or meaningless.
once you retire after 32 years as a lawyer at the world bank, you can begin to split your time between photography andscroungingflea markets for a collection of americana.
Once you've retired after 32 years as a lawyer at the World Bank, you can start dedicating your time to photography and scooping up American collections at flea markets.
you don’t h**e to miss your job or suffer from a lack of purpose.
You don't have to miss your job or suffer from not having a goal.
self-worth and personal growth can derive from many places, including non-profit work or mentoring others on how to set up a business.
Self-worth and personal growth can come from many places, including working in a nonprofit or coaching others on how to start a business.
paragraph 7]
but can anything truly replace the framework and buzz of being part of the action?
But is there really anything that can replace the sense of architecture and excitement that comes with being in the middle of it?
you can h**e a packed diary devoid of deadlines, meetings and spreadsheets and flourish as a consumer of theatrematinees, art exhibitions and badminton lessons.
You can have a full schedule without facing deadlines, meetings, and **, and enjoy theatre matines, art exhibitions, and badminton lessons.
hobbies are all well and good for many. but for the extremely driven, they can feel pointless and even slightly embarrassing.
For many people, hobbies are wonderful. But for those who are very enterprising, this may seem meaningless and even slightly embarrassing.
paragraph 8]
that is because there is depth in being useful. and excitement, even in significantly lower doses than are typical earlier in a career, can act as an anti-ageingserum
The reason for this is that there is a deep sense of satisfaction in making a contribution. Even if the excitement is much lower than earlier in my career, it still works like an anti-aging serum.
whenever mr armani is told to retire and enjoy the fruits of his labour, he replies “absolutely not”.
Whenever Mr. Gimani was advised to retire and enjoy the fruits of his labor, he would answer "never".
instead he is clearly energised by being involved in the running of the business day to day, signing off on every design, document and figure.
Obviously, being involved in the day-to-day running of the company, approving every design, every document, and every number energizes him.
paragraph 9]
when this guest bartleby entered the job market, she assumed that when the day came she too would be a pensioner in a pastel-coloured shirt opting for the “early-bird special”.
When Bartoby, the columnist, entered the job market, she thought that one day she would be a retiree in a pastel-hued shirt and an "early bird."
a quarter of a century on, your 48-year-old columnist hopes to be writing for the economist decades from now, even if she trundles to her interviews supported by a zimmer frame. but ask her again in 21 years.
Twenty-five years on, the 48-year-old columnist hopes to still write for The Economist decades from now, even if she has to hobble to interviews on a walker. But ask her again in 21 years.
Congratulations on reading, this English vocabulary is about 816, with deletions).
Originally published in The Economist's Business section on January 27, 2024.
Intensive Reading Notes** In: The Road to Free English.
This article has been translated and organized by Irene
Edited and proofread by Irene
It is for personal English learning communication only.
[Supplementary Information].(from the Internet).
The Sopranos, a fictional television series in the United States that reflects the theme of the party, has gone from high to the top of its ratings and has become a regular winner of the Golden Globe and Emmy Awards in recent years. The whole drama was broadcast on the HBO television network from January 10, 1999 to June 10, 2007, with a total of 6 seasons and 86 episodes. The show has a large viewership, and its groundbreaking realistic portrayal of party life, American family members, the Italian-American community, the world dominated by violence and the gray area of morality has won many applause from audiences, film critics, and even created a cultural phenomenon. The gloomy atmosphere in the play is breathless, and the plot is tense and fascinating. The show won two Emmy Awards for Best Drama Series in the Drama category, and lead star James Gandolfini also won Best Actor in a Drama Series three times. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named the "101 Best TV Series", and this show topped the list. In September 2019, the show was selected as one of the 100 best TV dramas of the 21st century by The Guardian, ranking No. 1.
A Zimmer frame, also known as a Zimmer walking frame, is a metal frame that is mainly used by people who have difficulty walking, such as the elderly or those with leg problems. These walkers are usually equipped with rubber wheels and handles to facilitate movement and support. By using a walker, these people can walk more easily, improving their quality of life.
[Key sentences].(3) but they must still contend with other potentially painful losses: of income, purpose or, most poignantly, relevance
However, they still have to deal with other potentially painful losses: income, purpose in life, and even more profoundly, a loss of meaning.
still, to step down means to le**e centre stage—leisure gives you all the time in the world but tends to marginalise you as you are no longer in the game.
Still, retirement also means being away from the center stage – there's plenty of leisure time, but it's easy to be marginalized because you're no longer in the game.
self-worth and personal growth can derive from many places, including non-profit work or mentoring others on how to set up a business.
Self-worth and personal growth can come from many places, including working in a nonprofit or coaching others on how to start a business.