《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第35则
Never die of another's Ill-luck. Notice those who stick in the mud, and observe how they call others to their aid so as to console themselves with a companion in misfortune. They seek some one to help them to bear misfortune, and often those who turned the cold shoulder on them in prosperity give them now a helping hand. There is great caution needed in helping the drowning without danger to oneself.
注释摘要
这则讲的是一个极其冷峻的生存直觉。标题和正文合起来说了一件事：不要被别人的厄运裹挟，以至于自己也搭进去。葛拉西安用的不是一个温和的建议，而是一个带着死亡字眼的警告。“别因他人的厄运而死”——这里的“死”自然是比喻性的，说的是毁掉自己的处境、名声或前程，但在这个宫廷社会里，处境毁掉有时比肉体死亡更难翻身。他紧接着给出一幅观察画面：看那些深陷泥潭的人，他们自己…