《智慧书·第六辑·二五一至三百》第39则
Nothing depreciates a Man more than to show he is a Man like other Men. The day he is seen to be very human he ceases to be thought divine. Frivolity is the exact opposite of reputation. And as the reserved are held to be more than men, so the frivolous are held to be less. No failing causes such failure of respect. For frivolity is the exact opposite of solid seriousness. A man of levity cannot be a man of weight even when he is old, and age should oblige him to be prudent. Although this blemish is so common it is none the less despised.
注释摘要
这则格言的核心命题极具挑衅性：一个男人的贬值，恰恰在于他展示出自己与旁人一样是个“人”。葛拉西安这句话的发力点不在形而上学的人性论上，而是在于一种对公共声望的精密计算。原文中几次出现的西班牙语关键词是关键的线索。frivolity 在西班牙原文里是 ligereza，它的根本意思是“轻”，与“重”（gravedad，即本则所说的 solid serious…