《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第45则
Do not show your wounded Finger, for everything will knock up against it; nor complain about it, for malice always aims where weakness can be injured. It is no use to be vexed: being the butt of the talk will only vex you the more. Ill-will searches for wounds to irritate, aims darts to try the temper, and tries a thousand ways to sting to the quick. The wise never own to being hit, or disclose any evil, whether personal or hereditary. For even Fate sometimes likes to wound us where we are most tender. It always mortifies wounded flesh. Never therefore disclose the source of mortification or of joy, if you wish the one to cease, the other to endure.
注释摘要
这则格言的标题与正文构成一句完整的判断：别把受伤的手指亮出来，因为万事万物都会往上撞。葛拉西安在这里用了概念主义常用的浓缩手法，将脆弱比作一个具体的身体意象——一根受了伤、一碰就疼的手指。一旦对手知道这根手指的存在，连最平常的碰撞都会变成精准的打击，因为恶意天然地朝向弱点运动，用他的话来说，“恶意总是瞄准可以伤到你的地方”。这并非一种偶然的观察，而是他整套…