1. Everything is at its acme
Everything is at its acme, especially the art of making one's way in the world. There is more required nowadays to make a single wise man than formerly to make Seven Sages, and more is needed nowadays to deal with a single person than was required with a whole people in former times.
1.万物已近极致
万物已近极致，为人处世的艺术更是如此。当今若想成就一位智者，花费的功夫比造就希腊七贤（小亚细亚的拜阿斯，斯巴达的开伦，罗得岛的克利奥布拉斯，科林斯的勃立安得，密提利那的庇达卡斯，雅典的梭伦和米利都的泰勒斯）还要多；现在要应付一个人，所需的智谋比从前应付整整一个民族还要多。
2. Character and intellect
Character and intellect: the two poles of our capacity; one without the other is but halfway to happiness. Intellect does not suffice, character is also needed. On the other hand, it is the fool's misfortune, to fail in obtaining the position. the employment, the neighbourhood, and the circle of friends that suit him.
2. 品性与智慧
品性与智慧，是组成人类才能的两个要素。要走向幸福生活，缺少哪一个都将半途而废。仅仅拥有智慧是不够的，还要有好的品性。蠢人的不幸，在于没有适合他的地位、职位、邻居与朋友圈子。
3. Keep matters for a time in suspense
Keep matters for a time in suspense. Admiration at their novelty heightens the value of your achievements. It is both useless and stupid to play with the cards on the table. If you do not declare yourself immediately, you arouse expectations, especially when the importance of your position makes you the object of general attention. Mix a little mystery with everything, and the very mystery aourses veneration. And when you explain, be not too explicit, just as you do not expose your inmost thoughts in ordinary intercourse. Cautious silence is the holy of holies of worldly wisdom. A resolution declared is never highly thought of; it only leaves room for criticism. And if it happens to fail, you are doubly unfortunate. Besides you imitate the Divine way when you cause men to wonder and watch.
3. 做事时常留有悬念
做事时常留有悬念。若你的成功出人意料，则更能受到钦佩。任何事若昭然若揭，都会让人感到索然无味。若不急于公开自己所做之事，就会使人期待。若你地位显赫，将更能引人注目。将任何事都染上一层神秘的色彩，正是神秘引起尊崇。即便是阐明情况，也不要过于直白，就像在日常交往中不会暴露自己真实的想法一样。谨慎地保持沉默是世间智慧之精髓。公开声明的决心从不会获得高的评价，只给他人的品头论足留下口实。若所行之事恰巧以失败收场，你就会遭受双重的打击。若想引人惊奇与注意，就向那些缄默的神灵学习吧。
4. Knowledge and courage
Knowledge and courage are the elements of Greatness. They give immotality, because they are immortal. Each is as much as he knows, and the wise can do anything. A man without knowledge, a world without light. Wisdom and strength, eyes and hands. Knowledge without courage is sterile.
4. 有识亦应有胆
有识亦应有胆，这是成为伟人的要素。知识与勇气是不朽的，同样可使人不朽。懂得多少，便有多伟大；若你学识渊博，则无事不可为。一个人无知，正如世界没有光明。智慧与力量，就像双眼与双手。有识无胆者亦无所成。
5. Create a feeling of dependence
Create a feeling of dependence. Not he that adores makes a divinity. The wise man would rather see men needing him than thanking him. To keep them on the threshold of hope is diplomatic, to trust to their gratitude boorish; hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one. More is to be got from dependence than from courtesy. He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well, and the orange once sucked falls from the golden platter into the waste-basket. When dependence disappears, good behaviour goes with it as well as respect. make oneself always needed even by a patron on the throne. But let not silence be carried to excess lest you go wrong, nor let another's failing grow incurable for the sake of your own advantage.
5. 让别人依赖你
让别人依赖你。神之所以为神，不在于人们装饰其雕像，而在于人们诚心诚意地崇拜它。智者宁愿他人时刻需要自己，而非感激自己。保持他人的希求是智慧的，期望别人的感激是愚蠢的；期盼让人牢记，而感激使人忘却。受人依赖，比受人恭敬更有益。人解了渴之后，往往转身离开井边；橘子一旦榨干，便会被人从金盘子中扔到垃圾筐里。当人们对你的依赖消失，良好的品行和尊敬也会随着消失。努力保持人们对你的可求之心，且不使其得到完全满足，这是最重要的人生经验之一。此法让你变得不可或缺，甚至连王座上的君主也永远需要你。但是不要做得太过分，以免误入歧途，也不要为了一己之私而让别人陷入病入膏肓的绝境。
本文章已上传至github，感兴趣的读者可进行章节完善： 请点击链接
网友评论