《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第7则
Show no Self-satisfaction. You must neither be discontented with yourself—and that were poor-spirited—nor self-satisfied—and that is folly. Self-satisfaction arises mostly from ignorance: it would be a happy ignorance not without its advantages if it did not injure our credit. Because a man cannot achieve the superlative perfections of others, he contents himself with any mediocre talent of his own. Distrust is wise, and even useful, either to evade mishaps or to afford consolation when they come, for a misfortune cannot surprise a man who has already feared it. Even Homer nods at times, and Alexander fell from his lofty state and out of his illusions. Things depend on many circumstances: what constitutes triumph in one set may cause a defeat in another. In the midst of all incorrigible folly remains the same with empty self-satisfaction, blossoming, flowering, and running all to seed.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文开篇本是一句连贯的判断，葛拉西安在第一句话里就给出了一个精巧的对应结构：既不可对自己不满，那是“怯懦”；也不可自满，那是“愚蠢”。两端都错，他真正标举的其实是一种居于其间的清醒自疑——不是因为自卑，而是因为审慎。关键词出现在正文中部：distrust（西班牙原文对应的是 desconfianza，不信任），被他称为“明智的，甚至有用的”，…