《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第44则
Keep the extent of your Abilities unknown. The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he desires to be honoured by all. He allows you to know them but not to comprehend them. No one must know the extent of his abilities, lest he be disappointed. No one ever has an opportunity of fathoming him entirely. For guesses and doubts about the extent of his talents arouse more veneration than accurate knowledge of them, be they ever so great.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文原是一句话的两半，合起来就是：保持你才能的边界不被探知。葛拉西安在这里讲的是一个社会感知的问题。通达之人不会让别人把自己的学识与能力度量到底，因为敬畏的机制恰好系于未知。他容许你知道他有一些东西，却不让你确切知道那究竟有多少、边界在哪里。这背后不是简单的藏拙，而是一种对人际感知结构的计算：一旦对方以为已经看透了你，无论你的实际水平多高，对…