《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第31则
Never let Things be seen half-finished. They can only be enjoyed when complete. All beginnings are misshapen, and this deformity sticks in the imagination. The recollection of having seen a thing imperfect disturbs our enjoyment of it when completed. To swallow something great at one gulp may disturb the judgment of the separate parts, but satisfies the taste. Till a thing is everything, it is nothing, and while it is in process of being it is still nothing. To see the tastiest dishes prepared arouses rather disgust than appetite. Let each great master take care not to let his work be seen in its embryonic stages: they might take this lesson from Dame Nature, who never brings the child to the light till it is fit to be seen.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文合在一起，讲的是一个非常朴素的判断：任何尚未完成的东西都不该被外人看见。葛拉西安的理由并不复杂——所有开端都带着某种丑陋，而这种丑陋的印象一旦在观看者心中扎下根，日后即使作品完成了，它也很难被彻底抹去。所以他要你藏住胚胎阶段，藏住制作过程，藏住一切尚未达到完整形态的东西，直到它“适合被看见”。 原文中“吞咽巨大的事物”（swallow s…