《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第12则
Use good Instruments. Some would have the subtlety of their wits proven by the meanness of their instruments. 'Tis a dangerous satisfaction, and deserves a fatal punishment. The excellence of a minister never diminished the greatness of his lord. All the glory of exploits reverts to the principal actor; also all the blame. Fame only does business with principals. She does not say, "This had good, that had bad servants," but, "This was a good artist, that a bad one." Let your assistants be selected and tested therefore, for you have to trust to them for an immortality of fame.
注释摘要
这则格言劈头就批评了一种相当阴险的自恋：有人偏要用拙劣的工具来证明自己手段高明。葛拉西安把这种心态称为“危险的满足”，甚至说它活该遭受致命的惩罚。这里的关键词是“工具”（instrumentos），在十七世纪西班牙宫廷语境里，它首先指的就是助手、代理人、下属——一切替你执行意志的人。所谓“用拙劣的工具来证明自己精妙”，说到底是一种把公共事务当成私人舞台的傲…