《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第10则
We belong to none and none to us, entirely. Neither relationship nor friendship nor the most intimate connection is sufficient to effect this. To give one's whole confidence is quite different from giving one's regard. The closest intimacy has its exceptions, without which the laws of friendship would be broken. The friend always keeps one secret to himself, and even the son always hides something from his father. Some things are kept from one that are revealed to another and vice versa. In this way one reveals all and conceals all, by making a distinction among the persons with whom we are connected.
注释摘要
这一则的标题与正文是同一句话的两半，合起来就是一句斩钉截铁的断语：我们不属于任何人，任何人也不属于我们，完完全全。它要讲的根本不是一般的处世距离，而是在一切人际关系最亲密处划出一条不可逾越的界限。葛拉西安用了一连串排除来推进：亲属关系不行，友谊不行，最深的交情也不行。然后他做了一个关键的区分：把自己的全部信赖交给一个人，和把自己的好感交给一个人，是两回事。…