《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第21则
Do not make a Business of what is no Business. As some make gossip out of everything, so others business. They always talk big, take everything in earnest, and turn it into a dispute or a secret. Troublesome things must not be taken too seriously if they can be avoided. It is preposterous to take to heart that which you should throw over your shoulders. Much that would be something has become nothing by being left alone, and what was nothing has become of consequence by being made much of. At the outset things can be easily settled, but not afterwards. Often the remedy causes the disease. 'Tis by no means the least of life's rules: to let things alone.
注释摘要
把不是事的事当成正事来办，这就是葛拉西安在这则格言里要拆穿的一种姿态。原文的标题和正文其实是一句话的两半：前半句是禁令，后半句展开那些把生活全部塞进“正事”模子里的人长什么样。有人能把任何闲谈都变成机密，任何意见出入都变成争端，任何原本可以轻轻放过的事都要用郑重其事的口气去谈。葛拉西安称这种人为“把一切都变成正事”的人，跟那种把一切变成流言的人是镜子的两面…