《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第3则
Do not Explain overmuch. Most men do not esteem what they understand, and venerate what they do not see. To be valued things should cost dear: what is not understood becomes overrated. You have to appear wiser and more prudent than he requires with whom you deal, if you desire to give him a high opinion of you: yet in this there should be moderation and no excess. And though with sensible people common sense holds its own, with most men a little elaboration is necessary. Give them no time for blame: occupy them with understanding your drift. Many praise a thing without being able to tell why, if asked. The reason is that they venerate the unknown as a mystery, and praise it because they hear it praised.
注释摘要
这一则从标题到正文的推进，本身就是在实践它所劝告的原则。标题说“不要解释过度”，正文却不直截了当地展开论证，而是把好几种彼此不无矛盾的观察压在一小段里，读起来像是在不同角度之间快速切换。葛拉西安开门见山的那句话其实是一个两段论：大多数人不重视自己看得懂的东西，反而崇拜看不见的东西。这听上去是对人类认知弱点的总判断，但他立刻把它扭向处世的实用层面——被理解意…