《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第39则
Utilise Another's Wants. The greater his wants the greater the turn of the screw. Philosophers say privation is non-existent, statesmen say it is all-embracing, and they are right. Many make ladders to attain their ends out of wants of others. They make use of the opportunity and tantalise the appetite by pointing out the difficulty of satisfaction. The energy of desire promises more than the inertia of possession. The passion of desire increases with every increase of opposition. It is a subtle point to satisfy the desire and yet preserve the dependence.
注释摘要
利用他人的需求，这是全书中最不带掩饰的政治算计之一。标题与正文第一句构成一个完整的推理：你要利用别人的需求，而对方的需求越迫切，你拧紧螺丝的力度就可以越大。拧螺丝这个意象在西班牙原文里就是渐次加压的意思，葛拉西安把人际间的权力关系想象成一种可以调节松紧的机械装置，这是一个相当冷酷的比喻。 接着他摆出了哲学家与政治家的对立。哲学家说缺失不存在，这指的是斯多亚…