《智慧书·第一辑·一至五十》第3则
Keep Matters for a Time in Suspense. Admiration at their novelty heightens the value of your achievements. It is both useless and insipid to play with the cards on the table. If you do not declare yourself immediately, you arouse expectation, especially when the importance of your position makes you the object of general attention. Mix a little mystery with everything, and the very mystery arouses 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.
注释摘要
这则格言的标题和正文是同一句话劈成两半：前半句说要把事情悬着一段时间，后半句给理由——新奇会引发钦佩，从而抬高你的成就。格里西安所说的“悬念”（suspense）并不是现在意义上的叙事张力，更接近一种“搁置不宣”的状态：你已经做了事，但不急于向他人摊开全部底牌。 葛拉西安用了一连串意象来说明这一点。玩牌时把牌全亮在桌上，既无用又乏味；与人交往时不暴露心底最…