5. Create a feeling of dependence Create a feeling of dependence. Not he that adorns but he that adores makes a divinity. The wise man would rather see men needing him than thanking him. To keep them on the threshold of hope is diplomatic, to trust to their gratitude boorish; hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one. More is to be got from dependence than from courtesy. He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well, and the orange once sucked falls from the golden platter into the waste-basket. When dependence disappears, good behaviour goes with it as well as respect. Let it be one of the chief lessons of experience to keep hope alive without entirely satisfying it, by preserving it to make oneself always needed even by a patron on the throne. But let not silence be carried to excess lest you go wrong, nor let another’s failing grow incurable for the sake of your own advantage. 5. 让别人依赖你 让别人依赖你。神之所以为神,不在于人们装饰其雕像,而在于人们诚心诚意地崇拜它。智者宁愿他人时刻需要自己,而非感激自己。保持他人的希求是智慧的,期望别人的感激是愚蠢的;期盼让人牢记,而感激使人忘却。受人依赖,比受人恭敬更有益。人解了渴之后,往往转身离开井边;橘子一旦榨干,便会被人从金盘子中扔到垃圾筐里。当人们对你的依赖消失,良好的品行和尊敬也会随着消失。努力保持人们对你的渴求之心,且不使其得到完全满足,这是最重要的人生经验之一。此法让你变得不可或缺,甚至连王座上的君主也永远需要你。但是不要做得太过分,以免误入歧途,也不要为了一己之私而让别人陷入病入膏肓的绝境。 6. A man at his highest point A man at his highest point. We are not born perfect: every day we develop in our personality and in our calling till we reach the highest point of our completed being, to the full round of our accomplishments, of our excellences. This is known by the purity of our taste, the clearness of our thought, the maturity of our judgment, and the firmness of our will. Some never arrive at being complete, somewhat is always awanting; others ripen late. The complete man, wise in speech, prudent in act, is admitted to the familiar intimacy of discreet persons, is even sought for by them. 6. 至善至美的境界 至善至美的境界。我们并非天生完美之人,因此应日求渐进,做到德业兼修,直至尽善尽美,禀赋圆成,成就非凡。完美与否,如何判断?这正是大家所常说的:品味是否纯正,头脑是否清醒,判断是否成熟,意志是否坚定。有些人从来达不到至善的境界,总是有所欠缺;另外一些人则大器晚成。完美的人,言辞中透出智慧,行事谨慎小心,会使贤达之人乐于与之为伍,甚至追随。 7. Avoid victories over superiors Avoid victories over superiors. All victories breed hate, and that over your superior is foolish or fatal. Superiority is always detested, let alone superiority over superiority. Caution can gloss over common advantages; for example, good looks may are cloaked by careless attire. There are some that will grant you precedence in good luck or good temper, but none in good sense, least of all a prince; for good sense is a royal prerogative, any claim of superiority in that is a crime against majesty. They are princes, and wish to be so in that most princely of qualities. They will allow a man to help them but not to surpass them, and will have any advice tendered them appear like a recollection of something they have forgotten rather than as a guide to something they cannot find. The stars teach us this finesse with happy tact: though they are his children and brilliant like him, they never rival the brilliancy of the sun. 7. 不要比上司更耀眼 不要比上司更耀眼。所有的成功都会引起嫉恨,若超过上司,更是愚蠢,甚至是致命的。优越者总是引起他人的憎恨,更别说超过位高权重之人。人要善于将自己的优势深藏不露。举个例子,姣好的面容可以用不经意的装束来遮掩。也许有人不在乎你有好的运气或是温良的秉性,但是没人会乐意——尤其是君主——你在判断力上超过他,因为优秀的判断力是王者特有的能力,你一定要僭越,便是对其不敬。身为君主,自然希望在判断力这一最高贵之特质上远胜一筹。他们可以允许旁人辅佐,却不允许有人超越;要让他们采纳建议,就要像是帮他们回想起忘掉的东西,而不是指引他们去找其久寻不得之物。天上的星辰教会了我们这种愉快的处世策略:它们是太阳之子,并且与太阳一样光亮,却从不与太阳争辉。 8. To be without passions To be without passions. It is a privilege of the highest order of mind. Their very eminence redeems them from being affected by transient and low impulses. There is no higher rule than that over oneself, over one’s impulses: there is the triumph of free will. While passion rules the character, do not let it threaten your position, especially if it is a high one. It is the only refined way of avoiding scandals; nay, it is the shortest way back to good repute. 8. 不被激情左右 不被激情左右。这是最优秀的头脑才有的品质。这种优良品质使人免受短暂而低俗的冲动影响。没有什么驾驭能高于驾驭自身及自身之冲动——这是一种意志上的胜利。即便激情控制了你的脾气,也不要让它威胁你的地位;如果地位不低,你更需注意。这是避免丑闻的唯一坦途,也是重获荣誉的最短路径。