《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第7则
Never let Matters come to a Rupture, for our reputation always comes injured out of the encounter. Every one may be of importance as an enemy if not as a friend. Few can do us good, almost any can do us harm. In Jove's bosom itself even his eagle never nestles securely from the day he has quarrelled with a beetle. Hidden foes use the paw of the declared enemy to stir up the fire, and meanwhile they lie in ambush for such an occasion. Friends provoked become the bitterest of enemies. They cover their own failings with the faults of others. Every one speaks as things seem to him, and things seem as he wishes them to appear. All blame us at the beginning for want of foresight, at the end for lack of patience, at all times for imprudence. If, however, a breach is inevitable, let it be rather excused as a slackening of friendship than by an outburst of wrath: here is a good application of the saying about a good retreat.
注释摘要
通篇只讲一件事：破裂本身带来的伤害，往往大于引发破裂的那个是非。葛拉西安说这句话，并不是在劝人无原则地退让，而是在谈论一种他观察到的、几乎不受具体事件影响的社交后果——一旦事情走到公开决裂，名声就会在这场碰撞中受损，不管你有理没理。下一句“做一个敌人，谁都可以变得重要”把逻辑讲得很直白：你在朋友中未必能做成多少好事，但任何一个人一旦站到对立面，几乎都能对你…