《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第50则
Leave Something to wish for, so as not to be miserable from very happiness. The body must respire and the soul aspire. If one possessed all, all would be disillusion and discontent. Even in knowledge there should be always something left to know in order to arouse curiosity and excite hope. Surfeits of happiness are fatal. In giving assistance it is a piece of policy not to satisfy entirely. If there is nothing left to desire, there is everything to fear, an unhappy state of happiness. When desire dies, fear is born.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文合并起来是这样一句话：总要留一些可以盼望的东西，才不至于因十足的幸福而受苦。这并不是一句宽泛的劝人知足的生活格言，而是一个对人性机制的冷酷诊断。葛拉西安在这里思考的，是圆满本身何以成为毒药。 他把身体与灵魂拉成一组对句：身体要呼吸，灵魂要渴望。西班牙原文里respire与aspire形成了音韵上的呼应，同时也在意义上做了一层区分呼吸是维持…