《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第27则
Display yourself. 'Tis the illumination of talents: for each there comes an appropriate moment; use it, for not every day comes a triumph. There are some dashing men who make much show with a little, a whole exhibition with much. If ability to display them is joined to versatile gifts, they are regarded as miraculous. There are whole nations given to display: the Spanish people take the highest rank in this. Light was the first thing to cause Creation to shine forth. Display fills up much, supplies much, and gives a second existence to things, especially when combined with real excellence. Heaven that grants perfection, provides also the means of display; for one without the other were abortive. Skill is however needed for display. Even excellence depends on circumstances and is not always opportune. Ostentation is out of place when it is out of time. More than any other quality it should be free of any affectation. This is its rock of offence, for it then borders on vanity and so on contempt: it must be moderate to avoid being vulgar, and any excess is despised by the wise. At times it consists in a sort of mute eloquence, a careless display of excellence, for a wise concealment is often the most effective boast, since the very withdrawal from view piques curiosity to the highest. 'Tis a fine subtlety too not to display one's excellence all at one time, but to grant stolen glances at it, more and more as time goes on. Each exploit should be the pledge of a greater, and applause at the first should only die away in expectation of its sequel.
注释摘要
这一则的西班牙原文标题是 Ostentación，英文译本译作 Display yourself，但 ostentación 在十七世纪西班牙语里兼有褒贬两面：本义是展示、显现，危险义是炫示夸耀。葛拉西安起手就把它拉回正面：展示是才能的照明。才能犹如被遮蔽之物，需要光才能被人看见，而光从他写下的那一刻就有明确的犹太-基督教创世回音：光是创世记第一件被造之物…