《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第35则
Never stake your Credit on a single Cast; for if it miscarries the damage is irreparable. It may easy happen that a man should fail once, especially at first: circumstances are not always favourable: hence they say, "Every dog has his day." Always connect your second attempt with your first: whether it succeed or fail, the first will redeem the second. Always have resort to better means and appeal to more resources. Things depend on all sorts of chances. That is why the satisfaction of success is so rare.
注释摘要
这一则的标题和正文构成一个完整的谏言：永远不要把你的信誉押在一次孤注上，因为一旦失手，损害无法弥补。葛拉西安在这里谈的是信誉（reputación）这一贯穿全书的核心资本，而不是单纯的金钱或机会。在宫廷社会中，一个人的信誉既是通行证也是全部身家，它的积累极慢，摧毁却可以在瞬间完成。他提醒读者，失败本身并非不可承受——尤其第一次尝试，环境未必有利，失手并不稀…