《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第21则
Do not Vacillate. Let not your actions be abnormal either from disposition or affectation. An able man is always the same in his best qualities; he gets the credit of trustworthiness. If he changes, he does so for good reason or good consideration. In matters of conduct change is hateful. There are some who are different every day; their intelligence varies, still more their will, and with this their fortune. Yesterday's white is to-day's black: to-day's No was yesterday's Yes. They always give the lie to their own credit and destroy their credit with others.
注释摘要
不犹豫，这是葛拉西安对自我一致性的集中论述。标题"不要动摇"和正文第一句是同一命令的两半：不要让行动脱离你的常态——无论这种脱离来自性情上的反复，还是来自刻意的做作。这里的"abnormal"不是指不合世俗常规，而是指偏离一个人自己确立的优秀品质所应有的轨迹。葛拉西安紧接着给出了正面的标准：一个有能力的人，在他最好的那些品质上始终是同一个样子。正是这种始终…