《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第32则
Have a Touch of the Trader. Life should not be all thought: there should be action as well. Very wise folk are generally easily deceived, for while they know out-of-the-way things they do not know the ordinary things of life, which are much more needful. The observation of higher things leaves them no time for things close at hand. Since they know not the very first thing they should know, and what everybody knows so well, they are either considered or thought ignorant by the superficial multitude. Let therefore the prudent take care to have something of the trader about him—enough to prevent him being deceived and so laughed at. Be a man adapted to the daily round, which if not the highest is the most necessary thing in life. Of what use is knowledge if it is not practical, and to know how to live is nowadays the true knowledge.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文形成一种巴洛克式的张力：标题说的是“要有一点生意人的本事”，正文却劈头就讲生活不能全是思考，必须有行动。葛拉西安在此攻击的不是商人，而是一种纯书斋式的智慧。标题里的 trader 并不是今天意义上的商人，而是指那种懂得具体事务、能在日常周旋中不被欺骗的人。原文西班牙语标题很可能用的是一个类似的词，强调的是“实务通达者”而非“逐利者”。正文…