《智慧书》这本书作为警世箴言类著作,以精妙的语言和深刻的思想,给读者提供了处世的技巧和原则。翻译者语言功底深厚,词汇运用巧妙,属于较高级英语水平的译文,便需慢嚼细咽,细细体味。全书由三百则箴言警句构成,并与另外两本著作《君王论》和《孙子兵法》共称为人类思想史上处世智慧的三大奇书。
今日分享《智慧书》中的一则箴言:
Use good instruments
工欲善其事,必先利其器
Some would have the subtlety of their wits proven by the poorness of their instruments.
有些人会使用一些蹩脚的工具,试着去证明自己才思敏捷本领超群。
It is a dangerous satisfaction, and deserves a fatal punishment.
这是一种非常危险的自我满足倾向,必然会受到致命的惩罚。
The excellence of a minister never diminished the greatness of his lord.
一国之宰相无论成就多大, 也卑为人臣,即使功离盖主,也无法抹杀他所伺奉的君主的伟大。
All the glory of exploits reverts to the principal actor; also all the blame.
所有的功绩与荣耀最终都将归功于领导者,正如失败是也会将所有的过错全都归咎于他一样。
Fame only does business with principals.
名誉向来都是与领导职人互通有无。
She does not say,"This had good, that had bad servants." but, "This was a good artist, that a bad one."
人们不会说:“这个领袖失败是收下办事不利,那个领袖成功是部下个个精明”, 而会说:“这个领袖有领导艺术,那个领袖不懂得如何带兵”。
Let your assistants be selected and tested therefore, for you have to trust to them for an immortality of fame.
因此,去精挑细选反复考验那些可能辅助你的人吧,你很可能会靠他们成就一番伟业的。
生词学习:
servant [英]ˈsɜ:vənt [美]ˈsɚvənt
n. 仆人,佣人,雇工;[美]奴仆,奴隶;