wisdom of life

Chapter 13 Recommendations and Maxims (4)
No.30 six sections

The Chinese regard politeness as the first virtue, and one of the reasons for maintaining politeness has been discussed in my article "Two Fundamental Questions of Ethics"; another reason is as follows.To be polite is to make a pact to keep our mouths shut: we will both ignore and refrain from blaming each other for our moral and intellectual deficiencies.That way, our flaws don't come to light so easily, which benefits each other.It is wise to be polite, therefore it is foolish to say or do something impolite.To have a grudge against someone by treating someone casually and unnecessarily in a disrespectful manner is as crazy as setting fire to your own house.Polite words and deeds are like counterfeit money. It is unwise to be stingy and stingy when using counterfeit money, but it is wise to give generously.People of all nationalities write "your humble servant" at the end of their letters.Only the Germans refuse to use the word "servant" - because, of course, that's not true!However, to sacrifice one's own interest for the sake of politeness is like paying gold bullion instead of counterfeit money.Wax is hard and brittle in nature, but it becomes soft with a little warmth, and one can shape it into any shape one likes.In the same way, by exercising courtesy and friendliness, even a stubborn and hostile person becomes submissive and easy.Therefore, politeness is to people what warmth is to wax.

Of course, maintaining politeness becomes a difficult task when politeness requires us to show all people the utmost attention that, in fact, most people do not deserve.We then have to pretend to be interested in people when, in fact, we would be much happier if we didn't have to deal with them.How to combine politeness and pride is a very delicate thing.

If we were not exaggeratedly concerned with our own worth and dignity, and thus harbored a certain disproportionate arrogance; Insults - insults are really expressions of contempt for others.What a contrast between the sensitivity of most men to words of slight reproach, and what their acquaintances say about them behind their backs!We should always remember that ordinary politeness is only a mask for a smiling face.So don't be surprised when people occasionally shift or put away their masks for a moment.If a person behaves quite rudely, he takes off his clothes and stands naked in front of people.Of course, in such a situation, like most people, he would give a pitiful, ugly look.

No.30 Seven Sections

To judge what we should do and what we should not do, we should not follow others as an example, because everyone's position, situation, and relationship are different, and the difference in personality will also make people think about things. The handle is stained with some different colors. "Two people do the same thing, but it's not the same thing anymore".After some deliberation, we must act in ways that fit our character.Therefore, when dealing with practical affairs, our own unique insights are indispensable, otherwise, what we do will not match our own.

No.30 Eight Sections

Instead of refuting the views of others, we should remember that we would not have accomplished the task even if we had Methuselah [27] in it, if we tried to make a man abandon all the absurdities in his views.Also, when talking to someone, we don't try to correct them, even though what we say is well-intentioned; because it is easy to offend and offend someone, but it is quite difficult, if not impossible, to make amends .

If we happen to overhear someone making absurd remarks that start to piss us off, we have to imagine that it's just a conversation between two fools in a comedy.This fact has been proven for a long time: whoever came into this world to educate people on the most important issues with seriousness, is lucky if he can get out of it unscathed.

No.30 Nine Sections

Whoever wants others to believe his opinion has to express it calmly and without passion.For all violent emotions come from the will.Thus, if a man expresses his opinion violently, his opinion is regarded as the product of his will, and not of knowledge, which is calm in its nature.Since the will is intense and primary in man, and the cognition is only secondary and superfluous, people are more convinced that our perceptions are due to the excited will than that the excitement of the will is our own. caused by the judgment.

Section No.40
Even if we have every right to praise ourselves, we cannot be tempted to do so.Because vanity is so common, and human realism so unusual, that whenever we appear to compliment ourselves—even if we only do so indirectly—people bet 28 to [-] : It is vanity for us to say such things, and we lack enough common sense to realize how ridiculous what we say is.However, in any case, Bacon's words [[-]] are not entirely wrong.What he said applies not only to rumors and slander, but also to self-praise.Therefore, he suggested that we might as well praise ourselves as appropriate.

Section No.40

If we suspect a man of lying, we should pretend to believe what he says; for then he becomes bolder, and more confident in telling a lie, and exposing himself at last.But we should feign disbelief if we find that his words give away part of the truth that he really wants to keep hidden.Stimulated by such resistance, he mobilizes the rest of the truth to fight.

No.40 Section Two

We must keep our personal private affairs a secret.Let our acquaintances know nothing that they cannot see with their own eyes.This is because their knowledge of even the most impeccable things about us can work against us as time and circumstances change.Generally speaking, we should show our opinions more by what we don't say than by what we say.It is wise to choose the former, but it is vanity to adopt the latter.We often have the opportunity to do both, but we usually choose the latter for momentary gratification at the expense of the permanent benefits of the former.Even the practice of talking loudly to yourself to relax, which warm, lively people like to practice, should be avoided, lest it become a habit.For once the habit is formed, thought and speech are intimately connected.Slowly, even conversation with other people evolves into vocal thinking, and if we are wise, we keep a considerable distance between thinking and speaking.

Sometimes we think other people will never believe us about certain things, but in fact, it has never occurred to others to doubt these things.But if they were really suspicious of these things because of what we did, they certainly wouldn't believe them.We often expose ourselves simply because in our imagination it is impossible for others not to notice and notice something.It is like standing on a high place and falling from it because we are dizzy, that is, because we think it is impossible to stand firm.The heart-wrenching feeling of standing on a high place is so uncomfortable, and it will make people feel better if it is stopped early.This illusion is called Schwindel. 【29】

On the other hand, we should realize that some people who show no insight in other respects can be experts in the private affairs of others.With only a small amount of situation mastered, they can solve the most complex problems.For example, if we tell these people a certain past event without naming any names or describing anyone involved, then we must be careful not to say anything definite and specific, such as when, where, who was involved. name, and other things that are only indirectly related to the event, although these are not eye-catching and have little meaning.Because of this certain information, those experts can use their tricky insight to discover all other situations one by one.So strong is the curiosity of these men in this respect, that it is intended to stimulate and stir their intellects to the most solitary and inconspicuous results of fact, for although these men are incapable of perceiving and Not interested, but passionate about individual truths.

In light of this, all the masters of worldly wisdom are eager to advise, with many arguments, to be silent.For this reason, I can stop here on this subject.However, I would also like to share with you a few insightful but little-known Arabic proverbs: "Whatever your enemies may not know, tell your friends not." "If you keep silent about my secrets, then, This secret is my prisoner; if it is slipped, I am its prisoner." "The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace."

No.40 Three Sections

We make the money we are cheated out of ourselves worth so much that no other money can be spent, because with that money we buy back wisdom straight away.

No.40 Four Sections

We want to avoid hostility to others as much as possible, but we must pay attention to the behavior of each person and keep it in our hearts, because in this way we can determine the value of this person-at least his value to me, and we must pay attention to the behavior of each person. Based on this, formulate the attitude and behavior to be adopted towards this person.It must always be remembered that human character does not change.At any time, forgetting the badness in a person's character is like throwing away our hard-earned money.Only in this way we will not get too close to people and form stupid friendships with people.

"Neither love nor hate" contains one half of all worldly wisdom; "Talk neither nor believe" the other half of life wisdom.But, of course, we should avoid a world in which this and the following laws must be obeyed.

No.40 Five Sections

It is futile, unwise and dangerous, ridiculous and clichéd to express anger and hatred in words or in looks.So, we must not show hatred or anger except in action.The more successful we are at avoiding anger in words and looks, the more successful we are at expressing it in action.Cold-blooded animals are the only ones that are poisonous.

No.40 six sections

Don't emphasize the tone when speaking 【30】.It is an ancient lesson of the world that the meaning of what we say is to be found by other people's understanding, because the understanding of ordinary people is slow, and we have finished speaking before they understand what we mean.But when we speak with emphasis, we are appealing to another person's feelings, and things will have the opposite effect.There are quite a few people with whom we can speak politely, in a friendly tone, and say truly offensive things without being in immediate danger.

Part Four: Our attitude towards fate and the development of worldly events
No.40 Seven Sections

Whatever form life may take, it is still composed of the same elements.So, whether this life is spent in a hut, in a palace, in a barracks, or in a monastery, it is ultimately the same life.Despite the diversity of chances, adventures, happiness or misfortune, life is still like candy: in all shapes and colors, it is all made of the same candy pulp.One person's experience is far more akin to another's than we think from other people's descriptions.The events in our lives are like the pictures in a kaleidoscope. Every time we turn the kaleidoscope, we see different pictures, but in fact, what we see is the same kaleidoscope.

No.40 Eight Sections

An old writer said quite precisely and to the point that there are three forces in this world: Wisdom, Strength, and Luck.I believe that luck is very important.Our whole life can be compared to the voyage of a ship.Luck--good or bad--plays the part of the wind, and it can propel us swiftly on our course, or it can push us back a great distance;Our efforts and struggles are just oars.After hours of exhausting oars and oars we had made some progress, when a sudden gust of wind set us back the same distance.The power of fate is beautifully expressed in a Spanish proverb: "Wish your son luck and throw him into the sea!"

But luck is an evil, dangerous force that should be at its mercy as little as possible.Of all the bestowers, is there any one who, while bestowing upon us, makes it clear to us that we have no title or right to what he bestows, We need to thank the giver for their kindness and grace to receive these gifts, rather than attribute these gifts to our own actions; so we can only accept more undeserved gifts with great humility and joyful hope?This giver is luck.It knows how to use a royal style and art to make us clearly understand that all our merits and achievements are insignificant and powerless before its kindness and grace.

When we look back at the path we have traveled in life, when we look at the "labyrinth of mistakes" as a whole, the many blessings we missed, the misfortunes we incurred - it is so easy to blame ourselves too much.In fact, it is not entirely our doing that we have gone through such a journey in life.It's a combination of two factors—a chain of external events and the decisions we make over time.These two factors are intertwined and influence each other.In addition, our field of vision in the above two areas is quite narrow and cramped.We cannot predict what decisions will be made, let alone foresee external events that will occur.We only know what is happening and what we are going to do right now.Therefore, when our goal is still far away, we can't even go straight to this goal, but can only rely on guesswork to move forward in the direction of this goal.Therefore, we often have to carefully adjust and change the direction of travel.All we can do is make decisions based on the circumstances of the moment and hope that doing so will bring us closer to our goals.Usually, external events and our basic purpose are like two forces pulling in different directions, and the diagonal line formed by these two forces becomes the trajectory of our life.Terrence said: Life is like a game of dice. If the dice you throw are not in line with your wishes, then you can only rely on skills to improve the dice allocated by fate.Here, Terrence should be referring to something like craps.We can put it a bit more succinctly: Fate shuffles and deals cards, and we play them.The following metaphor best expresses what I mean here: life is like a game of chess, we plan a set of moves, but the conditions for implementing this set of plans are determined by the players in the game—namely life. Luck in life—determined by will.Usually, we have to make drastic adjustments and revisions to our plans, so that by the time the plan is implemented, the original plan has become unrecognizable.

Also, there is something in the course of our lives that transcends all of this.What I am saying here is a simple but proven truth: many times we are dumber than we believe, but on the other hand, smarter than we believe.We will have this discovery only after things have passed, and that is after a relatively long period of time.We have something smarter than our minds in ourselves.The great moves we make and the major steps we take in the course of our lives follow not so much our clear sense of what is right and wrong as an inner impulse--we may call it an instinct , which springs from the deepest part of our nature.After things happen, we are critical and critical of our own behavior, but at this time, we are only based on well-reasoned but insufficient, far-fetched, or even fake concepts, and we compare our things with those general concepts. Compare the rules with the examples of others.We have not given much thought to the maxim: "One rule cannot be universal".We can easily treat ourselves unfairly.But things always come to light.Only those who are lucky enough to live to old age have the ability to judge subjectively and objectively what is right and wrong in their life.

Perhaps the inner impulses of man are unconsciously guided by our dreams, which carry foreshadowing content and are forgotten when we wake up, but it is our dreams that give our lives a certain quality. A well-proportioned tune and a certain dramatic unity—something our hesitant, vacillating, erring minds can't give us.The man who, for example, is born destined for great things, secretly feels this fact in his heart from his youth, thanks to sleep.He will work hard to accomplish his mission like a worker bee building a hive.For each individual it is what Gracian calls "La Gran sindéresis," the great protection of the ego by instinct.Once it is lost, the person is doomed.Acting on abstract principles is difficult, it takes a lot of practice, and it doesn't always work out.Abstract principles are often not enough.In contrast, every man is born with certain specific principles, which are in his blood and marrow, because they are the result of all his thoughts, feelings, and wills.Man does not realize these principles of himself in abstract thought.It is only when we look back at our own lives that we notice that we have been acting on our own principles all the time, and that these principles hold us like an invisible string.These principles vary from person to person.People follow these principles to lead to happiness or misfortune.

No.40 Nine Sections

We should keep in mind the role of time and the ephemeral nature of things.So, immediately and clearly imagine the opposite of whatever is happening.Therefore, when we are rich, we can see abjection and misfortune, from friendship to enemy, when the weather is sunny, we can see lightning and thunder, from love to hatred, from trust and confession to betrayal and guilt, etc., and vice versa. Of course.Doing so will permanently increase one's true, earthly wisdom, for we will become deliberate and not so easily deceived.In many cases, we can predict the role of time from this.However, experience is perhaps more necessary than any other kind of knowledge for a correct understanding of the capricious nature of things. Just because a certain state or condition exists necessarily and absolutely rationally during its duration, every The year, the month, and the day seem to have a reason and a right to exist forever and ever.But nothing retains this right, only change is eternal.A wise person is actually one who will not be deceived by the immutable appearance of things, and he even foresees the direction in which things are about to change【31】.But in general, ordinary people regard the present state of things or the direction in which they are developing as permanent.This is because the average man only sees effects, but does not understand the causes of these effects, which contain the seeds of future changes.But the only effects seen by ordinary people do not have these seeds.People cling to the present effect, thinking that the cause which they cannot see, which caused the present effect, can still maintain the status quo.Ordinary people, however, have the advantage that, if they err, they err in unison.Therefore, when they erred and suffered calamity, that calamity generally affected all.But when a thinker errs, he is alone.Here, incidentally, we see the confirmation of my principle, namely, that fallacies always arise in the process of inferring the cause from the effect of things (cf. Chapter 15 of the first volume of "The World as Will and Representation").

However, we should only expect things in the future theoretically and by predicting the results of things, instead of asking time in advance for things that only time can bring in real life.Whoever does this will find that there is no usurer who is more exacting and unkind than time.If we force time to advance, time charges more interest than any Jewish usurer.For example, with quicklime and temperature we can hasten the growth of a tree so that it leaves, blooms, and bears fruit in a few days; but the tree soon withers and withers.If a lad wants to do reproductive work that a mature man can do—even for a few weeks—while he is a teenager doing what he can easily do at 30, time will still work against him. An advance, however, is that a great deal of the man's later life—indeed, a considerable part of his life—is the interest he will pay.We are able to recover completely from many diseases simply because we allow them to develop naturally, and when this process is completed, they disappear of their own accord without leaving a trace.But if we demand immediate health and well-being, time can only be forewarned: the disease is cured, but the interest will be a weakened body and repeated attacks of disease later in life.In times of war or domestic turmoil, we need money immediately.We had to sell our real estate or government bonds for a third of their normal price, or even less.In fact, if we are willing to wait for the development of time, then we will receive the full price of our property.But we force time to make advances.Or, we need to get some money for a long trip.In a year or two we can raise this expense from our income, but we do not want to wait, so we borrow money from others or draw it out of our own capital, that is, time does not We made an advance.Then paying interest would mess up our books and we would never be able to get out of the deficit, which is the usury of time.All those who are impatient are its victims.Trying to force normal, moderate times to pick up the pace is an extremely expensive act.So, we should be careful not to owe high-interest debt to time.

Festival
The typical difference between a mediocre man and a wise man is reflected in everyday life in assessing and considering the existence of possible dangers. The former merely raises and considers the question whether a similar danger has occurred, while the latter thinks Similar dangers can arise, and keep in mind the Spanish proverb: "What does not happen in a year can happen in a few minutes." Of course, it is normal for these two kinds of people to ask different questions, because considering What is going to happen requires insight, but seeing what has happened requires only the senses.

But our motto should be: Sacrifice must be made to the evil god.In other words, we have to spend time, manpower, money, and endure tediousness, inconvenience, and reducing our needs in order to prevent the possibility of misfortune.The greater the sacrifice we make, the less and more remote is the possibility of misfortune.The clearest example of this is the payment of insurance premiums.This is the sacrifice offered by the people to the evil god.

one period

One reason why we should not be overly happy or overly sad about something is that everything changes, and another reason is that our judgment of what is good and what is bad is illusory.So, almost everyone has been sad about something at one time or another, but in the end it turned out to be a great thing.Or, what once was a source of exhilaration for us turns out to be the source of our anguish.The mindset I recommend here is beautifully expressed by Shakespeare:
I have tasted the joys and sorrows of the world,

Therefore, no matter what kind of sudden change,

nor soften me like a woman,
Weep and cry.

——"Finally Married", Act III, Scene II
Generally speaking, if a person can keep calm when encountering various misfortunes and disasters, it shows that he clearly knows that the possible sufferings in life are great and innumerable; for this reason, he puts himself Misfortunes encountered are considered only a drop in the ocean of many sufferings that have occurred.This is the attitude advocated by the Stoic philosophy: we should never "forget the human condition", but always remember that human existence is generally a miserable, pitiful fate, which suffers innumerable disasters and unfortunate attacks.We need only look around to renew this realization: wherever we go, we can see people struggling and struggling and suffering for this miserable, barren and futile existence.For this reason, we should reduce and moderate our expectations and demands, learn to accept and adapt to unsatisfactory events and situations, and always be on the lookout to prevent or bear unfortunate disasters.This is because misadventures, big and small, are a part of our lives, and we should always keep that in mind.So we should not, like a perpetually dissatisfied being, growl, with Barisford [32], bemoaning the constant misery of life; Call the gods."On the contrary, we should be cautious and careful to foresee and avoid possible misfortunes, whether they come from people or things.In this regard, we should spare no effort and strive for perfection, just like a clever fox, dexterously avoiding large and small disasters (in many cases, the so-called small disasters are just minor inconveniences in disguise).

It is less difficult to endure disaster if we assume from the outset that it is likely to occur at any moment, and, as they say, prepare for it.This is mainly because: before the disaster comes, if we calmly regard it as a possibility, then we can clearly consider the degree and scope of the disaster from many aspects in advance, so that it is at least limited. and clear at a glance.When disasters do occur, they do not affect us unduly.But if we fail to do this, and if misfortune strikes us unprepared, our terrified minds will not at first accurately measure the extent and scope of the misfortune, Without counting, the scourge would appear elusive, or at least easily appear more serious than it really was.In the same way, ambiguity and uncertainty make every danger appear more serious than it really is.Of course, at the same time that we regard misfortune as a possibility, we also take into account the help and remedies we will have; or at least get used to the idea of ​​misfortune in our minds.

There is no better way to help us to accept with poise the misfortunes and disasters that happen to us than to be convinced of this truth: "Everything, great or small, that happens, happened of necessity." In the award-winning paper "Freedom of Will", I deduce and confirm this truth from the most basic grounds.People are quick to accept what is inevitable.A knowledge of this truth will help one to regard all things that happen, even those brought about by the most bizarre accidents, as necessarily happening; It is generally no different from what happens in people's expectation.I refer the reader to Chapter 55, Volume [-] of my The World as Will and Representation, where I have discussed the comfort and peace of mind that comes from recognizing the truth that things are inevitable and inevitable.He who understands this truth deeply and fully will do his part first; and will suffer willingly what he has to suffer.

We can regard those little misfortunes which are trivial and trouble us every moment as intentional exercises and exercises for us, so that we will not lose the ability to bear great misfortunes in ease.The petty annoyances we encounter in our daily intercourse, the condescending attitudes and improprieties of others, the trivial offenses of others—with regard to these we should be like Siegfried with the horn [33], that is to say, , we should remain unmoved, let alone take these things to heart.We should regard these things as small stones on the way forward, be insensitive, and kick them away.We really can't seriously think about and think about these trivial things.

二节

But what people generally call fate is usually their own stupidity.Therefore, we might as well memorize a sentence from Homer in verse 23 of the Iliad.Homer recommends to us a clever method of introspection.This is because if people's evil deeds will be punished in the next life, then people's stupid actions are punished in this life, although sometimes we get some pardons.

It is man's cunning, not man's rage, that is most dangerous and terrible.Indeed, the human mind is a more powerful weapon than the lion's claws.

A truly sophisticated person never hesitates or hesitates in doing things, and such a person will not act in a hurry.

Three sections

Courage is a quality so crucial to our happiness, second only to intelligence.Of course, we can't give ourselves either of these qualities—the former we get from our fathers, the latter from our mothers—but, regardless of the degree to which we possess them, they can be increased through determination and practice.In this world where "iron dice decide everything" [34], we need a sense of consciousness as strong as iron, as an armor weapon to withstand fate and guard against others.This is because human life is a battle.Every step we take creates a fight.Voltaire was quite right. "In this world we prosper only if we go with the sword drawn; and we die with the weapon in our hand." Thus, if a man sees clouds in the sky—or simply on the horizon— If you are depressed and discouraged, and complain about others, then this person is a cowardly and cowardly person.Our motto should be: "Don't give in to evil, but face it with courage." (Virgil)

Even if it is a dangerous matter, as long as its ending is still pending, as long as there is still the possibility of a better ending, then we should not be timid and hesitant, but should fight hard, just as we only see a small piece of blue We should not despair of the weather.Indeed, we should say this: "Even if the world collapses, the ruins will not change his face."

Not to mention all the benefits in life, even the whole life is not worth our trembling for it:

Therefore, he lives bravely and bravely faces the blow of fate.

— Horace
But this can go too far: for courage breeds audacity.A certain amount of shyness is necessary for our survival in this world, and cowardice is simply fear beyond its limits.Bacon's etymological account of fear goes a step further than what survives Plutarch's account, and he expresses it admirably.He draws this out of "Pan," the anthropomorphic nature.He said: The nature of things makes all creatures have fear, which enables them to avoid disasters and preserve their lives.But this nature knows no moderation, it always mixes useless and empty fears with those useful fears, and all living things (if we can look into their hearts), especially human beings are full of this. A fear common to nature.Furthermore, it is typical of the fears common to nature that it is not clearly aware of the grounds for which it is based, and that it assumes rather than recognizes these grounds.Indeed, when absolutely necessary, fear itself becomes a reason for fear.

注释
[1] The original text is in Greek with a Latin translation. - translator

【2】According to the Bible, there is a raging fire burning in hell. - translator

【3】A metaphor for a place with pastoral life. - translator

[4] Anwari (about 1126-1189): One of the greatest ode writers in Persian literature. - translator

[5] An opera composed by the Austrian composer Mozart. - translator

[6] Petrarch (1304-1374): Italian poet, one of the pioneers of humanism. - translator

[7] The motto inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Dife.

[8] Just as clothes cover our bodies, lies cover our minds.Our words, deeds, and our whole nature are false and deceitful, and through this veil we can barely guess our true emotions, just as we can only guess the shape of a person's body through clothes.

【9】French proverb. - translator

【10】It is well known that misfortunes and disasters are much lessened if shared by all.People seem to regard boredom as a kind of misfortune and disaster, so the purpose of their gathering is to share weal and woe and be bored together.Just as our love of life is really nothing more than the fear of death, so our desire for social intercourse is not, after all, an immediate desire.It is not based on a fondness for social groups, but out of a fear of being alone.For it is not so much that people actively seek the pleasant company of others as that they are fleeing from the desolation and depression of solitude, from their own tedious ideology.For this reason, we have to accept bad people and tolerate the depression and embarrassment that comes with dealing with them.But if a distaste for these inconveniences gets the better of him, and he develops the habit of being alone, honing his capacity to bear the sensations and impressions of being alone, then solitude can no longer produce the above-mentioned effects.At this point, we can derive pleasure from solitude without craving the company of crowds; for the need of crowds is not an immediate need after all, and we are now used to the delightful advantages of solitude. Woolen cloth.

【11】This is English. - translator

[12] On a cold winter day, a group of porcupines huddled together to keep warm to avoid freezing, but they were soon stung by each other's hard spines.In this way, they are forced to separate.But in order to keep warm, their bodies had to get closer again, and the hard spines on their bodies stung them again.They are repeatedly tortured by these two troubles, until they finally find a distance just enough to tolerate each other (Appendix and Addendum, Chapter 31, § 396). - translator

【13】Bondy Forest is a dangerous small forest on the outskirts of Paris.

[14] Anginus (1624-1677): Polish Catholic mystic poet. - translator

【15】In such schools, students take the method of teaching each other, which was studied and developed by André Bell and Joseph Lancaster at the end of the eighteenth century. - translator

【16】People who feel jealous indicate that they are unhappy; their constant attention to other people's affairs indicates that they have difficulty with their own time.

【17】French proverb. - translator

【18】Sleep is a short period of death that we borrow to restore and renew the life worn out by the day. "Sleep is a loan from death." Sleep borrows from death to sustain life; or rather, sleep is the interest on a loan temporarily charged by death, and death itself is the payment of the entire debt.The higher the interest paid and the more frequently it is paid, the later the final payment date required by death.

[19] means to indulge sexual desire. - translator

[20] From Goethe's "Faust" line 3483.

[21] Legal Principles of the Roman Empire.

【22】If the good in people outweighs the bad—and most of the time it does—then we would rather trust their justice, fairness, loyalty, gratitude, love, and sympathy than rely on their fear.But if the reverse is the case, then the opposite approach is appropriate.

【23】It means friends of family or house. - translator

[24] Baltazar Gracian (1601-1658): Spanish philosopher and writer.In 1829, Schopenhauer translated his major works "Fables of the World" and "The Art of Discretion" into German. - translator

【25】It can be said that the will is endowed by man himself, because man is the will itself; but intelligence is the endowment that man has obtained from heaven, in other words, man obtains his intelligence from the eternal and mysterious destiny and its inevitability. , his mother is just a tool for him to acquire intelligence.

【26】In this world, to be able to eat well, friends are crucial.But having superior talent always makes a person proud, and thus makes us unfit to flatter and flatter people with mediocre talents.In fact, we should hide and deny our talents.But being aware of one's mediocre talents can have the exact opposite effect.Complementing this mediocrity is the humility and friendliness of such people; they have a good temper, and they still show respect for bad and bad people.Therefore, such people can have friends and supporters.What I have said here applies not only to the civil servants of the country, but also to those who occupy honorable positions and positions and enjoy reputations in the academic world.Therefore, in the academy, mediocre people always occupy high positions, while those who are really capable enter the academy very late, or even never get in.Such situations abound.

【27】Methuselah: The ancestor in the Christian Bible, who lived to be 969 years old. - translator

【28】Referring to "As it is often said, people who speak out boldly and slanderously achieve a little purpose; in the same way, we can also say: If we sing the praises of ourselves boldly, if this praise is not completely Shameful and ridiculous, that kind of self-admiration always has a certain effect."

[29] means "dizziness". - translator

【30】French proverb. - translator

[31] Luck has a great deal of room in human affairs; when we try to prevent some remote and threatening danger by making sacrifices, this danger often disappears because of unexpected changes in events.In this way, not only are the sacrifices we have made undone, but even the changes that these sacrifices bring about—in already transformed circumstances—begin to work against us.Therefore, in taking measures against the future, we must not go too far, but let luck take into account, face the dangers bravely, and hope that they will pass like dark clouds.

[32] Author of the two-volume "The Misery of Man" (1800). - translator

【33】The hero in the German folk epic "Song of the Nibelungen" in the early 13th century. - translator

[34] The opening sentence of Schiller's poem "Battle".

(End of this chapter)