《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第13则
To be the First of the Kind is an Excellence, and to be eminent in it as well, a double one. To have the first move is a great advantage when the players are equal. Many a man would have been a veritable Phoenix if he had been the first of the sort. Those who come first are the heirs of Fame; the others get only a younger brother's allowance: whatever they do, they cannot persuade the world they are anything more than parrots. The skill of prodigies may find a new path to eminence, but prudence accompanies them all the way. By the novelty of their enterprises sages write their names in the golden book of heroes. Some prefer to be first in things of minor import than second in greater exploits.
注释摘要
这则格言的前半句—标题与正文的首句—原本是一句完整的话：在一个品类中成为第一是一种卓越，而同时在那个品类中出类拔萃，则是一种双重的卓越。葛拉西安在这里做的，不是简单鼓励人去争第一，而是拆开了两个概念。第一是品类上的首创：你做了一件此前没人做过的事，开创了一个类型。第二是质量上的顶尖：你不仅开了头，还做到了那个类型里最好的水平。只有后者才能让首创不至于变成一…