雙語智慧書·時刻做好防備

256．時刻做好防備
　　時刻做好防備。要防備粗魯無禮、背信棄義、自以為是及各種愚蠢行為。世界上這些行為隨處可見，最審慎的做法就是盡量避開它們。你每天都要當心，要用防御的武器武裝自己，這樣才能打敗它們的攻擊。你要防備這種情況，不要讓自己的名聲陷于粗鄙的威脅之中。以謹慎武裝自己，就不會因為他人的粗魯而投降。世道艱難，到處是可以顛覆我們名譽的陷阱。最好是劍走偏鋒，仿照聰明的尤利西斯(1)的做法。遇到上面所說的冒犯，裝作領會不到是很有用的。加之禮貌相助，將大有益處。這通常也是我們走出困境的唯一途徑。


256．Go armed, always
　Go armed, always, against discourtesy, perfidy, presumption, and all other kinds of folly. There is much of it in the world, and prudence lies in avoiding a meeting with it. Arm yourself each day before the mirror of attention with the weapons of defence. Thus you will beat down the attacks of folly. Be prepared for the occasion, and do not expose your reputation to vulgar contingencies. Armed with prudence, a man cannot be disarmed by impertinence. The road of human intercourse is difficult, for it is full of ruts which may jolt our credit. Best to take a byway, taking Ulysses as a model of shrewdness. Feigned misunderstanding is of great value in such matters. Aided by politeness it helps us over all, and is often the only way out of difficulties.
　　
(1) 羅馬神話中的人物，亦即希臘神話中的奧德修斯，荷馬史詩《奧德賽》的主人公，智勇雙全。