《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第36则
Do not become responsible for all or for every one, otherwise you become a slave and the slave of all. Some are born more fortunate than others: they are born to do good as others to receive it. Freedom is more precious than any gifts for which you may be tempted to give it up. Lay less stress on making many dependent on you than on keeping yourself independent of any. The sole advantage of power is that you can do more good. Above all do not regard responsibility as a favour, for generally it is another's plan to make one dependent on him.
注释摘要
这一则谈的是自由与依附的边界，话讲得很硬。标题与正文本是一体，核心意思在第一句就已经完整给出：不要把事事、人人都揽到自己身上负责，否则你会沦为奴隶，而且是所有人的奴隶。后半句“slave of all”压了一层双重依附——既被事捆绑，又被人支配。接下来的展开几乎全是用对比与限定来把这条原则加固。值得注意的是，葛拉西安并不反对做事、不反对负责，他反对的是不加…