《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第29则
Never complain. To complain always brings discredit. Better be a model of self-reliance opposed to the passion of others than an object of their compassion. For it opens the way for the hearer to what we are complaining of, and to disclose one insult forms an excuse for another. By complaining of past offences we give occasion for future ones, and in seeking aid or counsel we only obtain indifference or contempt. It is much more politic to praise one man's favours, so that others may feel obliged to follow suit. To recount the favours we owe the absent is to demand similar ones from the present, and thus we sell our credit with the one to the other. The shrewd will therefore never publish to the world his failures or his defects, but only those marks of consideration which serve to keep friendship alive and enmity silent.
注释摘要
这一则的标题和正文合起来是一个完整的判断句：永远不要抱怨，因为抱怨总是让你丧失信誉。葛拉西安在这里处理的是一个严格的人情社会里的信誉经济问题。抱怨之所以致命，不在于它暴露了你的痛苦，而在于它暴露了你的脆弱，而脆弱在一个以权力和名声为通货的世界上，不是唤起同情，而是发出可被攻击的信号。 他说宁愿做一个自力更生的榜样，也不要做别人怜悯的对象。这话表面上是讲自尊…