雙語智慧書·善用朋友

158．善用朋友
　　善用朋友。這需要所有的判別技巧。有的朋友適合遠交，有的朋友適合近處。有的朋友不善言辭，卻可以成為很好的筆友。所謂距離產(chǎn)生美，距離能讓人忽略一些親近之時無法忍受的缺點。交友更要注重實效，而非只為享樂。因為正如一些人所言，朋友通常有著世間一切美好事物所共有的三大品質(zhì)：和諧、誠實、善良。朋友是一切的一切。稱得上好朋友的并不多，如果不善選擇，好朋友就更加難求。珍惜老友比結(jié)交新知更重要。你所選擇的應(yīng)是那些能與你長久交往的朋友，如果起初的新朋友，將來變成老朋友，這也算是些許安慰。最好的朋友絕對是那些經(jīng)年累月者，盡管他們可能需要不斷經(jīng)受考驗。一個人活著，若無友誼，則其人生比沙漠還荒涼。友誼可使人生的美好翻倍，不幸減半。友誼是治療失意的不二良藥，是滋潤靈魂的新鮮空氣。



158．Make use of your friends
　Make use of your friends. This requires all the art of discretion. Some are good afar off, some when near. Many are no good at conversation but excellent as correspondents, for distance removes some failings which are unbearable in close proximity to them. Friends are for use even more than for pleasure, for they have the three qualities of the Good, or, as some say, of Being in general: unity, goodness, and truth. For a friend is all in all. Few are worthy to be good friends, and even these become fewer because men do not know how to pick them out. To keep is more important than to make friends. Select those that will wear well; if they are new at first, it is some consolation they will become old. Absolutely the best are those well salted, though they may require soaking in the testing. There is no desert like living without friends. Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil. It is the sole remedy against misfortune, the very ventilation of the soul.