The Art of Worldy Wisdom (40)

2009-12-30 23:44| 发布者: patrick| 查看: 681| 评论: 0

Gain people's goodwill. It is much to gain universal admiration; more, universal affection. It depends on natural disposition, more on practice: the first founds, the second then builds on that foundation. Brilliant parts are not sufficient, though they are presupposed; win good opinion and it is easy to win goodwill. Kindly acts are required to produce kindly feelings, doing good with both hands, good words and better deeds, loving so as to be loved. Courtesy is the politic witchery of great personages. First lay hand on deeds and then on pens — words follow swords and the goodwill to be won among writers is eternal.

《处世之道——300则永恒的人间智慧》，Baltasar Gracian 著