蘇軾一生經歷了宋朝仁宗、英宗、神宗、哲宗和徽宗五個皇帝，神宗熙寧年間，因為反對新法，觸怒新黨，自請外任以避禍，出任杭州通判，後徙知密州，又徙徐州，再徙湖州。烏臺詩案出獄後貶居黃州，量移汝州。哲宗即位，知登州，到官五日即以禮部郎中被召還朝。在朝中，復因反對司馬光等舊黨盡廢新法，主張要參用所長，受到舊黨的攻擊，蘇軾復不安於朝，不斷請求外任。哲宗元祐四年出知杭州，六年請知潁州，七年徙揚州，又知定州。在定州六、七個月，於哲宗紹聖元年遠貶嶺南，先是謫知英州，後謫寧遠軍節度副使、惠州安置。紹聖四年再貶瓊州別駕、昌化軍安置。仕宦四十多年，遍歷南北十多州的流離生活。 造成蘇軾仕途起落如此之大的原因，一般論著皆以為來自於外在的黨爭，其實蘇軾本自具足的個性也是問題的主要源頭。本文透過文本及詩話雜叢的記載釐析蘇軾的性格，探求造成他仕途坎坷的內在因素，包括「不羈的麋鹿性格」、「忠誠為國，正直敢言」、「善譏刺，好戲謔」、「一肚子不入時宜」等。所引詩文，盡可能繫年，並且參照相關年代事跡，以便能更透徹了解他的個性特質影響政途的來龍去脈。

Su-Shi was a well-known metrist of Sung dynasty. He had experienced five Emperors, Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong, Zhezong, and Huizong, of the Northern Sung dynasty. During the period of Xining, reigned by the Emperor Shenzong, Su-Shi left the central government to be a local officer of Hangchow, because he against the laws laid down by the New party. After that, he had been the prefect of Michow, Xiuchow, Houchow, Hwangchow, Juchow, and Denchow. He was called back to central government within the Zhezong’s reign. But Su-Shi was in opposition to the advocacy of the Old party too. He departed from the central government again in 1989 and had been the prefect of Hangchow. Then he experienced the live of Yenchow, Tangchow, Dingchow, Yingchow, Hweichow, and Chunchow. What is the reason of Su-Shi’s falling from grace? Most of the researchers devoted it to the conflict of the New and Old party. But the inherent characters of Su-Shi are the major consideration in this problem. In this paper, I will study the personal characters of Su-Shi based on his letters and articles. The individuation includes deer character, allegiance, candor, espieglerie, and doesn't fit in with those people etc. According to the cited poems and the stories of Su-Shi, we can understand the reason why the inherent characters affect his officer career.