《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第15则
Set those under you difficult Tasks. Many have proved themselves able at once when they had to deal with a difficulty, just as fear of drowning makes a swimmer of a man. In this way many have discovered their own courage, knowledge, or tact, which but for the opportunity would have been for ever buried beneath their want of enterprise. Dangers are the occasions to create a name for oneself; and if a noble mind sees honour at stake, he will do the work of thousands. Queen Isabella the Catholic knew well this rule of life, as well as all the others, and to a shrewd favour of this kind from her the Great Captain won his fame, and many others earned an undying name. By this great art she made great men.
注释摘要
把艰巨的任务交给手下人，不是为难他们，而是给他们一个发现自己的机会。葛拉西安这一则讲的是一个相当古典的信念：许多人身上藏着连自己都不知道的勇气、见识或机敏，但这些东西平时被一种看似无害的品性——缺乏进取心——永远埋在底下。非得有一场灭顶之灾、一个难度大到让人本能想退缩的任务，才能像溺水迫人游泳一样，把这些沉睡的才能逼出来。这里的譬喻很硬，也完全在耶稣会对人…