《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第19则
Avoid becoming Disliked. There is no occasion to seek dislike: it comes without seeking quickly enough. There are many who hate of their own accord without knowing the why or the how. Their ill-will outruns our readiness to please. Their ill-nature is more prone to do others harm than their cupidity is eager to gain advantage for themselves. Some manage to be on bad terms with all, because they always either produce or experience vexation of spirit. Once hate has taken root it is, like bad repute, difficult to eradicate. Wise men are feared, the malevolent are abhorred, the arrogant are regarded with disdain, buffoons with contempt, eccentrics with neglect. Therefore pay respect that you may be respected, and know that to be esteemed you must show esteem.
注释摘要
这则格言的标题与正文衔接得极其紧密，把一句完整的判断拆成了两半：标题说“避免被人憎恶”，正文立刻接上“无需刻意去招它，它不请自来，而且来得飞快”。葛拉西安想说的并不是劝导读者去讨好每一个人，而是在描绘一种令人无奈的人际现实——憎恶这件事带有自发性，它常常在你还没反应过来的时候就已经产生了。正文里“有些人的恶意远比我讨好他们的意愿来得更快”这一句，把主动与被…