《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第6则
Know that there are vulgar Natures everywhere, even in Corinth itself, even in the highest families. Every one may try the experiment within his own gates. But there is also such a thing as vulgar opposition to vulgarity, which is worse. This special kind shares all the qualities of the common kind, just as bits of a broken glass: but this kind is still more pernicious; it speaks folly, blames impertinently, is a disciple of ignorance, a patron of folly, and past master of scandal; you need not notice what it says, still less what it thinks. It is important to know vulgarity in order to avoid it, whether it is subjective or objective. For all folly is vulgarity, and the vulgar consist of fools.
注释摘要
科林斯在古典传统里是富庶与奢靡的代名词，但保罗书信也明说那里并不自动等于高尚。葛拉西安用这个地方只是随手一击：别以为血统、财富或门第能豁免庸俗，庸俗到处都在，最高贵的门庭里一样找得到。他接着把话锋一转，提醒读者还有一种更隐蔽也更恶劣的东西——以庸俗的方式来反对庸俗。这才是这一则真正的靶心。 庸俗在他笔下不是道德堕落的大罪，而首先是一种心智品质的残缺，表现为…