《智慧书·第一辑·一至五十》第14则
The Thing Itself and the Way it is done. "Substance" is not enough: "accident" is also required, as the scholastics say. A bad manner spoils everything, even reason and justice; a good one supplies everything, gilds a No, sweetens truth, and adds a touch of beauty to old age itself. The how plays a large part in affairs, a good manner steals into the affections. Fine behaviour is a joy in life, and a pleasant expression helps out of a difficulty in a remarkable way.
注释摘要
这则格言开宗明义，借用了经院哲学里一对最基础的术语。实体与偶性，在亚里士多德和托马斯·阿奎那的体系里，区分的是事物的本质与其外在的可变属性。一个人之为人的本质是实体，他此刻的脸色、语调、穿什么衣服，是偶性。按经院哲学的正统说法，实体才是真正重要的东西，偶性附着在实体上，可有可无。葛拉西安把这对概念拿过来，却把价值判断整个翻转了：实体是不够的，偶性也是必须的…