《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第30则
Do and be seen Doing. Things do not pass for what they are but for what they seem. To be of use and to know how to show yourself of use, is to be twice as useful. What is not seen is as if it was not. Even the Right does not receive proper consideration if it does not seem right. The observant are far fewer in number than those who are deceived by appearances. Deceit rules the roast, and things are judged by their jackets, and many things are other than they seem. A good exterior is the best recommendation of the inner perfection.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文第一句话其实是一句被切断了的完整判断：做事，并且要让人看见你在做事。葛拉西安劈头就给出了他整套表象论的最浓缩版本——事物本身是什么并不决定它在世间通行时的命运，决定命运的是它看起来是什么。这个句子里的“pass for”译自西班牙语原文里的 pasar por，意思恰恰是“被当作、被认作”，而这个概念在葛拉西安的世界里比“是”更根本。 紧…