《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第31则
The Truth, but not the whole Truth. Nothing demands more caution than the truth: 'tis the lancet of the heart. It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it. A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity. The deceit is regarded as treason and the deceiver as a traitor, which is worse. Yet not all truths can be spoken: some for our own sake, others for the sake of others.
注释摘要
这句格言的标题与正文构成一个完整命题：真相要说，但不能全说。它不是鼓励撒谎，而是在真话内部划出了一条审慎的边界。葛拉西安一开篇就把真相比作“心脏的柳叶刀”——西班牙原文里用的是 lanceta del corazón，柳叶刀是外科手术刀，锋利、精准，但也意味着切入过深就会致命。真相有同样的双重性：它可以救人，也可以伤人。所以他说，讲真话所需的谨慎丝毫不亚于…