《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第2则
Never have a Companion who casts you in the Shade. The more he does so, the less desirable a companion he is. The more he excels in quality the more in repute: he will always play first fiddle and you second. If you get any consideration, it is only his leavings. The moon shines bright alone among the stars: when the sun rises she becomes either invisible or imperceptible. Never join one that eclipses you, but rather one who sets you in a brighter light. By this means the cunning Fabula in Martial was able to appear beautiful and brilliant, owing to the ugliness and disorder of her companions. But one should as little imperil oneself by an evil companion as pay honour to another at the cost of one's own credit. When you are on the way to fortune associate with the eminent; when arrived, with the mediocre.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文原本是一句连续的断言：切勿与让你相形见绌的人结伴。葛拉西安在这里处理的是一个非常具体的处境——在宫廷与沙龙里，一个人的光彩并不只是内在品质的映射，更是比较的结果。同一个房间里有两个人，如果另一个处处高出你一截，那你在他身边就会被重新定义：你不再是"有才能的人"，而只是"那个永远排在他后面的人"。 西班牙原文里有一个贯穿整则的核心动词 ec…