a counsel of despair

an action to be taken when all else fails

一切都失败后采取的行动

a counsel of perfection

advice that is ideal but not feasible

理想而不切实际的劝告

keep one's own counsel

say nothing about what one believes, knows, or plans

对信仰（或所知、计划）闭口不提

she doubted what he said but kept her own counsel.

她对他的话感到疑惑，但却不说出来。

take counsel

discuss a problem

商量问题；商讨问题

the party leader and chairman took counsel together.

政党领导和主席共同商讨问题。