《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第10则
Know how to play the Card of Truth. 'Tis dangerous, yet a good man cannot avoid speaking it. But great skill is needed here: the most expert doctors of the soul pay great attention to the means of sweetening the pill of truth. For when it deals with the destroying of illusion it is the quintessence of bitterness. A pleasant manner has here an opportunity for a display of skill: with the same truth it can flatter one and fell another to the ground. Matters of to-day should be treated as if they were long past. For those who can understand a word is sufficient, and if it does not suffice, it is a case for silence. Princes must not be cured with bitter draughts; it is therefore desirable in their case to gild the pill of disillusion.
注释摘要
标题与正文构成一句完整的话：懂得如何打真理这张牌。这首先意味着真理被视作一种需要策略地打出的牌，而不是一种随时可以亮出的底牌。这是葛拉西安典型的思维习惯——连真理都进入了他那一套由审慎、时机、手段构成的牌局游戏当中。紧随其后的是两股互相拉扯的断言：真话危险，但好人不能不讲；因此需要巨匠般的技艺。这则格言处理的正是这个张力本身。 "最精湛的灵魂医生极其留意如…