《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第26则
Take care to be Obliging. Most talk and act, not as they are, but as they are obliged. To persuade people of ill is easy for any, since the ill is easily credited even when at times it is incredible. The best we have depends on the opinion of others. Some are satisfied if they have right on their side, but that is not enough, for it must be assisted by energy. To oblige persons often costs little and helps much. With words you may purchase deeds. In this great house of the world there is no chamber so hid that it may not be wanted one day in the year, and then you would miss it however little is its worth. Every one speaks of a subject according to his feelings.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文第一句话需要连在一起读。“留心做个与人方便的人”——因为大多数人说话做事，并非出自他们自己是什么样的人，而是出自他们领受了怎样的情分。这句话在英译本里丢失了一个关键的双关：西语原文里 obliged 同时兼有“领情”与“受缚”两义，葛拉西安把人情往来看成一个由恩惠与义务编织而成的网络，人在其中几乎没有纯然自发的言行，他们的行为更多是被施与…