《智慧书·第五辑·二〇一至二五〇》第36则
Make an Obligation beforehand of what would have to be a Reward afterwards. This is a stroke of subtle policy; to grant favours before they are deserved is a proof of being obliging. Favours thus granted beforehand have two great advantages: the promptness of the gift obliges the recipient the more strongly; and the same gift which would afterwards be merely a reward is beforehand an obligation. This is a subtle means of transforming obligations, since that which would have forced the superior to reward is changed into one that obliges the one obliged to satisfy the obligation. But this is only suitable for men who have the feeling of obligation, since with men of lower stamp the honorarium paid beforehand acts rather as a bit than as a spur.
注释摘要
这则格言讲的是把人情债的时机颠倒过来的手腕。正常的顺序是：某人先立了功，你随后给他奖赏，这是一笔结清的账。葛拉西安教的刚好相反——在对方还没有任何功劳的时候，你就先把恩惠给出去。一旦这么做了，这笔恩惠就不再是未来的奖赏，而是当下已经形成的义务。收下的人被一种尚未偿还的负债感套住，接下来他做的事往往不是为了再挣一笔，而是为了补上已经欠下的情。原文里的 obl…