《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第18则
It is better to help with Intelligence than with Memory. The more as the latter needs only recollection, the former νοῦς. Many persons omit the à propos because it does not occur to them; a friend's advice on such occasions may enable them to see the advantages. 'Tis one of the greatest gifts of mind to be able to offer what is needed at the moment: for want of that many things fail to be performed. Share the light of your intelligence, when you have any, and ask for it when you have it not, the first cautiously, the last anxiously. Give no more than a hint: this finesse is especially needful when it touches the interest of him whose attention you awaken. You should give but a taste at first, and then pass on to more when that is not sufficient. If he thinks of No, go in search of Yes. Therein lies the cleverness, for most things are not obtained simply because they are not attempted.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文合在一起，是一句完整的判断：用智力来帮助人，胜过用记忆来帮助人。葛拉西安在这里把“记忆”理解为一种单纯的复述能力——你记住了某事、某个先例、某条准则，然后在别人需要时把它说出来。这种帮助当然有用，但它不涉及对当下情境的判断，只是把现成的东西搬过来。而“智力”在这里的所指更接近洞察力：不是记住什么，而是看出什么。英文译本特意保留了希腊词νο…