《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第38则
Be the Bearer of Praise. This increases our credit for good taste, since it shows that we have learnt elsewhere to know what is excellent, and hence how to prize it in the present company. It gives material for conversation and for imitation, and encourages praiseworthy exertions. We do homage besides in a very delicate way to the excellences before us. Others do the opposite; they accompany their talk with a sneer, and fancy they flatter those present by belittling the absent. This may serve them with superficial people, who do not notice how cunning it is to speak ill of every one to every one else. Many pursue the plan of valuing more highly the mediocrities of the day than the most distinguished exploits of the past. Let the cautious penetrate through these subtleties, and let him not be dismayed by the exaggerations of the one or made over-confident by the flatteries of the other; knowing that both act in the same way by different methods, adapting their talk to the company they are in.
注释摘要
称赞不要等到当面才说，也不要把贬低别人当成奉承在场者的捷径。葛拉西安这则格言的完整意思是：主动成为他人优点的传递者，把你在别处见识过的卓越带到当前的谈话里，本身就是一种展示品味的方式，同时也巧妙地让眼前的人感到被尊重。反过来，那些靠贬低不在场者来讨好听众的人，自以为高明，却暴露了手段的卑下。 这里的关键词是赞美，但葛拉西安关心的不是赞美的道德价值，而是它在…