《智慧书·第二辑·五一至一百》第47则
Obtain and preserve a Reputation. It is the usufruct of fame. It is expensive to obtain a reputation, for it only attaches to distinguished abilities, which are as rare as mediocrities are common. Once obtained, it is easily preserved. It confers many an obligation, but it does more. When it is owing to elevated powers or lofty spheres of action, it rises to a kind of veneration and yields a sort of majesty. But it is only a well-founded reputation that lasts permanently.
注释摘要
声誉这则格言的核心是一个法学比喻：reputation（名誉）被定义为fame（声名）的usufruct，即用益权。“用益权”是罗马法里的概念，指一个人有权使用他人的财产并从中获益，却没有所有权或处置权。葛拉西安把声名比作一笔你并不真正拥有、只能从中提取收益的资产——这等于说名声从来不是一个人自己说了算的东西。这一定位贯穿了全则的推理：因为声誉是对声名的使…