《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第12则
Keep to Yourself the final Touches of your Art. This is a maxim of the great masters who pride themselves on this subtlety in teaching their pupils: one must always remain superior, remain master. One must teach an art artfully. The source of knowledge need not be pointed out no more than that of giving. By this means a man preserves the respect and the dependence of others. In amusing and teaching you must keep to the rule: keep up expectation and advance in perfection. To keep a reserve is a great rule for life and for success, especially for those in high place.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文合在一起，讲的是一个颇为微妙的道理：把自己技艺当中那几下真正的收束功夫、最后的完成手法，始终留在自己手里，不教给别人。标题里说的 the final touches，“最后的笔触”，便是那种让成品从好变成出色的细部处理、点睛之笔。正文把这件事从技艺传授升格为一条处世的通则：永远保持某种优越性，永远留住自己的主人的位置。葛拉西安用了 art…