雙語智慧書·避免“為榮譽而決斗”

47．避免"為榮譽而決斗"
　　避免"為榮譽而決斗"，這是審慎行事的最主要的一點。那些雄才大略之人總是遠離極端，以確保不偏不倚。從一個極端到另一個極端，有很長的一段路，謹慎之人經(jīng)常采取中庸之道，所以能夠從容應(yīng)對。避免招惹是非比招惹是非后再全身而退要容易一些。危險考驗我們的判斷力，最好避開，而不是征服。有時，一個事端能夠引發(fā)更大的事端，以致可能帶來恥辱。因自身秉性或種族關(guān)系，有的人容易陷入事端之中。而那些理智行事的人，對這類事總會思慮再三。征服危險并非強者，善于避險才是真正的勇士。當有傻瓜準備冒險時，你就要找借口，避免成為第二個傻瓜。

47．Avoid "affairs of honour"
　Avoid "affairs of honour"－one of the chiefest aims of prudence. In men of great ability the extremes are kept far asunder, so that there is a long distance between them, and they always keep in the middle of their caution, so that they take time to break through it. It is easier to avoid such affairs than to come well out of them. They test our judgment; it is better to avoid them than to conquer in them. One affair of honour leads to another, and may lead to an affair of dishonour. There are men so constituted by nature or by nation that they easily enter upon such obligations. But for him who walks by the light of reason, such a matter requires long thinking over. There is more valour needed not to take up the affair than to conquer in it. When there is one fool ready for the occasion, one may excuse oneself from being the second.