《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第4则
Attempt easy Tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy. In the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed. For a thing to remain undone nothing more is needed than to think it done. On the other hand, patient industry overcomes impossibilities. Great undertakings are not to be brooded over, lest their difficulty when seen causes despair.
注释摘要
这则格言的英文译文起首就是一组工整的对句：把容易的事当作困难的事来做，把困难的事当作容易的事来做。前一半为防止信心沉睡，后一半为防止信心被吓退。整句话的核心不在事情本身的难度，而在人对难度的估计，以及这种估计如何反过来左右了行动的成败。葛拉西安在这里关注的不是技术策略，而是一种内在的注意力调度：容易的事，危险在于以为已经办妥，结果什么都没做；困难的事，危险…