Chapter 14 Proverbs 221~240

221．Don't be rash and irritable, putting yourself or others at risk Do not be rash and irritable, putting yourself or others at risk.Some people make it difficult for themselves and others to maintain dignity, they are always on the verge of stupidity.This kind of person can be seen everywhere but is not easy to get along with.A hundred troubles in a day do not satisfy them.Everything made them feel awkward, and they were displeased with as many people as they contradicted.They reverse judgment and approve of nothing.But the people who test our prudence the most are those who can't do anything well but find fault with everything.The Wasteland of Discontent is vast and teeming with monsters of all kinds.

222．Prudent hesitation is prudence The tongue is like a beast, once it is freed it is very difficult to put it back in the cage.The tongue is the pulse of the soul, the wise use it to test our health, and the caring person uses it to listen to the voice of the heart.Unfortunately those who should be the most prudent are often the least prudent.A wise man will avoid difficulties and dangers, and can show self-control. A wise man thinks twice before acting: taking both sides into account like Janus, the ancient Roman gate god, and being vigilant like the Argives.A wiser Momus would have eyes in his hands instead of a window in his chest.

① Momus blames Hephaestus for making a man without leaving a small door in his chest through which others can peep into his secret thoughts. 223．don't be a weirdo Maybe it's a posturing, maybe it's because they didn't pay attention. Many people have obvious weird behaviors. The weird things they do are not so much a sign of being different as a defect. Some people are known for their ugly faces, but Weirds are known for the way they behave.Being eccentric will only ruin your reputation, and your idiosyncratic and inappropriate behavior will sometimes attract either ridicule or annoyance.

224．learn to see things as they are Even when things are going against you, you should never go against the flow.Everything has two sides.If you grab the blade, the best thing will hurt you; and if you grab the hilt, the worst thing will protect you.Much pain can lead to happiness if only the positive side of the matter is considered.There are always pros and cons to things; the trick is how to make things work in your favor.Things look different from different angles, so look at it from the perspective of happiness.Don't confuse good and bad.That's why some people find contentment in everything, while others always find sadness.At any time, in any pursuit, there must be a way to ward off bad luck, and this is one of the great laws of survival.

225．Know Your Major Weaknesses Every talent has its corresponding shortcomings, and if you give in to it, it will rule you like a tyrant.The way to overthrow it is to be more careful: to see what kind of defect it is at the beginning.Be as mindful of it as those who blame you for your shortcomings.To be your own master, you must learn to be introspective.Once this major defect surrenders, all others follow. 226．Make sure people like you Many people behave not out of their character, but out of helplessness.Anyone can convince us of bad things, because bad things are easy to believe, although sometimes they seem unbelievable.No matter how good we are, we also depend on the respect of others.Some people are content with their own reasonableness, but that is not enough, we must also be diligent.It takes little to gain to make others happy.Deeds are bought with words.The universe is like a home, and even a small appliance at home will be used at least once a year.Although its value is not high, we need it very much.Remember: When people talk about things, they always go with their feelings.

227．Don't cling to first impressions Some people regard the first impression they got as the main wife who the Ming media is marrying, but regard the later one as the concubine.Since delusion always comes first, truth has little room for it.Don't let the first goal that comes to you fill your will, and don't let the first idea occupy your mind, it will make you appear to have no depth.Some people are like a newly purchased wine glass, which will be stained with the smell of the first drink, regardless of whether the wine is good or bad.When others learn of your limitations, they will plan maliciously.Those with ulterior motives will color your credulity any color they please.We should always take time to think things over.Alexander always kept his ears open for the other side of the story.Pay attention to your second and third impressions.Being easily impressed shows a lack of depth, which is not far behind being sentimental.

228．don't slander others Don't be known for slandering others.Don't be shrewd in how to benefit yourself at the expense of others, because it is not difficult, but you will be spurned by others.All will seek revenge on you, speak ill of you, and since you are alone and they are outnumbered, you will be easily defeated.Don't take pleasure in other people's misfortune, and don't talk too much.A gossip is hated by people.He might be able to mingle with noble people, but they would treat him more as a joke than an example of prudence.A man who speaks ill of others will hear worse words spoken of him.

229．allocate your life reasonably Distribute your life rationally, don't make life messy.Even in an emergency, you must have foresight and judgment.Life without rest is unbearable, like walking a whole day without hitting a single shop.The way to make life pleasant is to be knowledgeable.In order to create a better life, the first thing we should do is to have a dialogue with the ancients - we must understand others and ourselves when we are born.Books are faithful and do not deceive us into adults.The second thing is to talk to the living people - to see all the beautiful things in the world.Not everything is in the same place.If the dowry is mixed up, the father of the universe will give wealth to his ugliest daughter.The third thing is entirely yours - philosophizing is the greatest joy of all.

230．open your eyes in time Not everyone who sees has his eyes open, and not everyone who has eyes open can see.Wake up too late brings not peace but remorse.Some look when there is nothing left to see - they have lost their homes and possessions long before they find themselves.It is difficult to give understanding to a man who lacks will, and it is still more difficult to give will to a man who has no understanding.People avoid and ridicule them like blind people on the road, because they are deaf to advice, they just don't open their eyes to see.Some people advocate such blindness -- because other people are not blind, so he has to be blind.A horse that belongs to a blind owner is unlucky, it will never be clean and beautiful.

231．Don't show others what you haven't finished Everything needs to be perfected for people to appreciate.Everything is shapeless at the beginning, and if you show it casually at this time, you will always leave an incomplete image.Even after we have finished it, it turns us off to think that it was an imperfect thing.Glancing at a giant object prevents us from observing its parts, but it satisfies our aesthetic sense.All things do not exist until they exist; when they come into existence, they are still close to non-existence.Even watching the cooking of the most delicious dish can turn off your appetite.True masters are careful not to let their work in progress be seen.Learn from nature, as long as your work is not beautiful to the human eye, don't show it to others.

232．practice a little It's not all about thought, you also have to act.The most intelligent people are the most gullible -- they may have a lot of extraordinary knowledge, but they don't know the most common needs of life.Contemplation of high things keeps them from approaching low, common things.Because they do not know what is the first thing in life--a field in which everyone else is deep--they are either praised by the less informed public, or they are regarded as ignorant.So let the wise man practice a little, that he may not be deceived, ridiculed.To know how to get things done--this is not necessarily the highest thing in life, but it is the most essential.What good is knowledge if it cannot be practiced?Today, real learning consists in knowing how to live. 233．Don't misunderstand other people's taste Don't misunderstand other people's taste.People who try to win someone over and act obnoxious do so because they don't understand the other person's character.The same thing, some people regard it as flattery, while others regard it as an insult.You feel like you've done someone a favor and they feel offended.Sometimes, with a little effort, it's easier to please someone than to annoy them.When you start to feel lost in trying to please others, you have lost their appreciation and invite blame for being polite.You cannot please another person if you do not know their character, and that is why some people who think they are flattering are taken for an insult: it is their own fault.We feel our souls being harassed by gossip when others think they are complimenting us. 234．If you have entrusted your reputation to another, let him pledge it For both of you, the punishment for talking too much is as valid as the admonition that there will be benefits in keeping silent.When it comes to reputation, everyone's interests are the same: to pay attention to protecting the reputation of others for the sake of one's own reputation.It is best not to reveal the secret to others; when it is revealed, the matter should be arranged so that the person who listens to the secret will be cautious.Only when we are closely related can we share interests, and your confidant will not use your own secrets against you. 235．know how to ask Some things are difficult for some people, but easy for others.There are some people who just can't say "no", and you don't have to use any tricks or scheming with such people.Others are in the habit of saying "no" so that you have to work harder.When interacting with such people, you must choose the right time.Unless the other person is on the alert and sees through your intentions, make your request when they are in a good mood, soul and body.Happy days are when people are happy to be kind, because happiness radiates from the inside out.If you see that someone has already been rejected, don't move forward. Once the word "no" is out of the mouth, it will be said without any scruples.Also, you won't get anything from the sad person.It is the best policy to let others owe you first, unless that person is mean and vulgar, and will not reciprocate. 236．convert repayment into grace Turning rewards into favors is shrewd strategy.Giving kindness to others is more noble than rewarding others, and timely help will make your reputation spread far and wide.Giving help without waiting for it to be asked makes the recipient feel a greater obligation.Plus, obligation can translate into gratitude.The transformation is subtle; initially you are paying the debt, and then the debt is transferred to the creditor.This only applies to educated people; for Yuan Lai, the payment in advance is a restriction, not an encouragement. 237．Don't share secrets with people who are stronger than you You may think that you can share the peaches, but in fact you can only share the peeled skins.Many people die badly because they shared other people's secrets.They are like spoons made of breadcrumbs, and soon go to the same fate as soup.To hear a prince pour out his secrets is not a privilege but a burden.Many people break the mirror because the mirror made them see their own ugliness.They cannot stand those who have seen their ugly faces.If you see someone's disgraceful side, people will never look at you kindly.Never let people think that they owe you something, especially those powerful people.To associate with them, rely on the help you have given them, not the help they have given you.Confidence between friends is the most dangerous thing in the world. Those who tell their secrets to others turn themselves into slaves. This is an atrocity that a monarch cannot tolerate. In order to regain their lost freedom, they will Don't hesitate to trample on anything, any axiom.secret?Can't hear, can't speak. 238．know what you're missing Many people may become perfect if they make up for the little things that people lack.Some people may be much more perfect if they pay more attention to small things.Some people are not serious enough, which dulls their talents; others are not gentle enough, which is what their friends and family crave most, especially when they are in high positions.There are those who are indecisive, and those who are not contemplative, and they can easily improve themselves if they notice these defects.Because once you pay attention, habits can become second nature. 239．Don't be too smart It is better to be cautious.If you use too much scheming, it is easy to miss the point, or self-defeating, or self-contradictory.This is often the case with ordinary cunning people.Common sense would be safer.Being smart is a good thing, being pedantic is not.Reasoning mostly becomes an argument.For some important conclusions, it is best to only talk about the truth that has to be said. 240．take advantage of stupidity Even the wisest people use this trick from time to time, and sometimes the greatest wisdom lies in appearing ignorant.You don't have to be an idiot to just pretend to be.Wisdom does not matter to fools, and madmen pay no attention to reason at all.So speak to everyone in your own language.Those who appear to be fools are not fools, but fools themselves are fools.As long as you know how to act stupid, you are not stupid.If you want to be respected by others, you must learn to hide your intelligence.