Su Dongpo (10371101), also known as Su Shi, was the most famous poet of the Song Dynasty in China as well as a fierce critic of the government of Wang Anshi. In this famous poem, he wishes only the best in life for his son (original translation by yours truly).


On the Birth of a Son, by Su Dongpo


人皆生子望聰明
我被聰明誤一生
但原吾兒魯且愚
無災無難到公卿。


Most people, on the birth of a son
hope he will be intelligent.
I, by being intelligent,
have wrecked my whole life,
and thus my only hope for my own son
is that he be foolish and ignorant.
That way he will have no troubles in life
and rise to become a cabinet minister.