《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第47则
Do not carry Fools on your Back. He that does not know a fool when he sees him is one himself: still more he that knows him but will not keep clear of him. They are dangerous company and ruinous confidants. Even though their own caution and others' care keeps them in bounds for a time, still at length they are sure to do or to say some foolishness which is all the greater for being kept so long in stock. They cannot help another's credit who have none of their own. They are most unlucky, which is the Nemesis of fools, and they have to pay for one thing or the other. There is only one thing which is not so bad about them, and this is that though they can be of no use to the wise, they can be of much use to them as signposts or as warnings.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文第一句话构成了一个精确的诊断：不能识愚是愚，识愚而不避是更甚的愚。这里的关键不在“愚人”本身，而在那个“背”字——你把他们驮在背上。这意味着你不是被动碰到愚人，而是主动承担了他们，把他们变成了自己的负担、同伴甚至心腹。葛拉西安的着重点因而从“别人蠢不蠢”转向了“你为什么要让自己被一个蠢人拖累”。 他在文体上用了一种概念主义（concept…