《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第22则
Be Resolute. Bad execution of your designs does less harm than irresolution in forming them. Streams do less harm flowing than when dammed up. There are some men so infirm of purpose that they always require direction from others, and this not on account of any perplexity, for they judge clearly, but from sheer incapacity for action. It needs some skill to find out difficulties, but more to find a way out of them. There are others who are never in straits: their clear judgment and determined character fit them for the highest callings: their intelligence tells them where to insert the thin end of the wedge, their resolution how to drive it home. They soon get through anything: as soon as they have done with one sphere of action, they are ready for another. Affianced to Fortune, they make themselves sure of success.
注释摘要
这一则格言在原文中，标题与正文是连成一体的完整判断：宁可事情做得不够漂亮，也不能在要不要做这件事上悬而不决。这个表述本身就是一幅高度压缩的概念主义对句。上半句提出命题，下半句用水流作喻证——流水即便泛滥，造成的危害也小于被堤坝拦死、淤积不泄的死水。水在这里既是实指，也是生命能量与决断力的隐喻。葛拉西安把犹豫不决视为比执行不力更糟糕的缺陷，因为前者堵塞了行动…