If the surprises are too great, then they induce overstrain and we throw away the book in frustration and despair.

如果令人惊讶之处过多，则会导致读者过劳,最后因失望或绝望而抛开它。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选

My belief in books had risen more out of a sense of desperation than from my abiding conviction of their ultimate value.

我对书的信仰更多的是来自一种绝望,而非我对其本质的长期依赖，“

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

But if I'm poor and I'm desperate, like I might commit a crime to feed my family and that can affect others.

但如果我又穷又绝望，我就可能会为了养家糊口而犯罪,那就影响到别人了。

耶鲁公开课 - 公正课程节选