《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第13则
Know how to Contradict. A chief means of finding things out—to embarrass others without being embarrassed. The true thumbscrew, it brings the passions into play. Tepid incredulity acts as an emetic on secrets. It is the key to a locked-up breast, and with great subtlety makes a double trial of both mind and will. A sly depreciation of another's mysterious word scents out the profoundest secrets; some sweet bait brings them into the mouth till they fall from the tongue and are caught in the net of astute deceit. By reserving your attention the other becomes less attentive, and lets his thoughts appear while otherwise his heart were inscrutable. An affected doubt is the subtlest picklock that curiosity can use to find out what it wants to know. Also in learning it is a subtle plan of the pupil to contradict the master, who thereupon takes pains to explain the truth more thoroughly and with more force, so that a moderate contradiction produces complete instruction.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文构成了一道完整的主张：懂得如何反驳，是探知真相的高明手段——让别人窘迫，而自己不陷入窘迫。葛拉西安在此讨论的并不是争辩术，不是要在道理上压倒对方。他用了几组令人不安的比喻来解释这一点：反驳是“真正的拷问台”，能把对方的激情拧出来；不温不火的怀疑则是一剂“催吐剂”，让秘密从心底翻涌而出；假装的怀疑则是“最精巧的撬锁工具”，好奇心借此探入别人…