Chapter 15 Maxim 241～260

241．Allow others to make fun of themselves, but don't make fun of others The former is magnanimity, the latter will get you into trouble.A person who loses his temper at a party is more annoying than his appearance.A good joke puts one in good spirits, and knowing how to take it is a mark of talent.If you act like you're angry, it will only make others pick you up more.Sometimes joking should be enough.The most serious questions often arise in the banter.Nothing requires more vigilance and skill than cracking a joke.Before you crack a joke, figure out how well other people can handle your jokes.

242．Follow through Some people try their best to start something, but they can't end it well.Capricious people, they can start but can't sustain.They can never earn credit because their actions don't follow through.For them, everything is over before reaching the end.Spaniards are known for being impatient, while Belgians are known for being patient.The latter completes the matter, the former brings it to an end: he overcomes difficulties with great effort, but is content with overcoming some difficulties, without knowing how to carry on his victories to the end.He proved that he could do it, he just didn't want to.It's a deficiency that shows an idiosyncratic character, or that he's hastily trying the impossible.Anything worth doing is worth doing.If it's not worth finishing, why start doing it?Smart hunters not only stalk their prey, but more importantly, they eventually catch them.

243．don't be too tame The cunning of the viper should be reconciled with the innocence of the dove.No one is easier to fool than a good person.People who never lie trust others easily, and people who never lie always trust others.Being fooled by others isn't always a sign of stupidity; sometimes it's a good thing.There are two kinds of people who are good at foreseeing danger: those who learn at their own expense, and those who are more intelligent and learn a lot by watching others.You should be prudent in anticipating difficulties and equally shrewd in coming out of them.Do not be so good-natured that you give others the opportunity to show that you are so bad-hearted.You should be half snake and half dove, it's not a devil, it's a genius.

244．Let others owe you a debt of favor Some disguise their own interests as those of others: they make it appear as if they are giving favors when they are actually receiving them.Some people are very shrewd, they are obviously begging for help, but people feel that they are honoring others.They honor others by gaining their own advantage.They arrange things in such a way that other people feel that they are paying a debt when they give them something.They are extremely clever, disrupting the order of subject and object, confusing people, who is the benefactor and who is the beneficiary.They earn the best with cheap compliments; they give credit and flattery to others by showing that they like something.They take ownership of something with the humility of others.They make others feel grateful for what they themselves should be grateful for.They play active and passive gimmicks on the word Oblige, and they're better at politics than grammar.This is really wonderful.But if you can break his cunning on the spot, prevent him from turning his back on the customer, let the reputation go to the rightful person, and let the benefits go to the rightful owner, then it proves that you are a smarter person.

245．Sometimes one has to reason with the unreasonable This proves that you have known people before.Don't judge too highly of what is never against you.This shows that he does not love you.It shows that he only loves himself.Don't be fooled by flattery: don't repay it, but reject it.It's an honor to be criticized, especially by someone who doesn't think highly of good people.You should feel pain when your words and actions please all: it is a sign that those of yours are not good, and that perfection belongs to a very few. 246．Don't explain to those who don't ask you for an explanation

Even if someone asks for an answer, it would be foolish to give it too eagerly.To give an answer before being asked is to implicate yourself, just as to cause yourself to bleed to cause disease when you are healthy.Making excuses for yourself beforehand tends to awaken dormant doubts.Strict people don't blink their eyes in the face of other people's doubts, otherwise they will make trouble for themselves.He should deal with people with a firm, reasonable demeanor. 247．You might as well spend more on seeking knowledge, but save a little on life. Some people put it the other way around.Better leisure is better than unsatisfactory work.We have nothing to call ourselves but time - the only home for the helpless and the homeless.Life is precious, and it is as foolish to spend it on dull things as it is to spend it on mystical things.Don't be burdened by work, or by jealousy.Otherwise you will waste your life and suffocate your spirit.Some people extend this principle to seeking knowledge.But then again, one cannot live without knowing anything.

248．Don't be obsessed with the latest Inappropriate practices are always prone to extremes.Some people only believe the latest news they hear.Their reason and desires are made of wax: the latest news of whatever kind impresses upon their hearts, and blots out all that came before.Such people are easy to win over, but also easy to lose.Everyone sees them differently.They are unreliable chums, children who never grow up.Their judgments and passions are fickle, their will and judgment are limping, leaning now one way and now that way. 249．Don't start life when it's about to end

Some people do nothing at first, and then work hard until they burn out.Do the most important things first, and later, if you have time, take care of the incidental things.Some people just want to succeed but don't want to struggle.Some people learn to do the most important things first, and postpone until later in life those things that will bring fame and profit.Some people become conceited as soon as they acquire a little wealth.Regardless of knowledge and life, the important thing is the method. 250．When to reason backwards When should I reason backwards?When others speak to us maliciously.Some people turn everything upside down: "Yes" becomes "No" and "No" becomes "Yes".If they criticize something, it shows that they think highly of it in their hearts.Jealous that the matter was not their own, they try to lower its value in the eyes of others.Well not all praise is factual.Some people praise the bad because they don't want to praise the good.If someone thinks that no one is bad, he actually thinks that no one is bad.

251．Good at using people's means Be good at using the human way as if the divine way does not exist, and be good at observing the divine way as if the human way does not exist.A master ① once advised people to understand this, but there is no need to comment. ① Refers to the founder of the Society of Jesus, Loyola (saint lgnatius of Loyola, 1491-1556). 252．Don't live completely for others, don't live completely for yourself It's a bit vulgar and bossy.If you want it all for yourself, you want to keep everything for yourself.Such a person does not know how to give even a little, or give up even a little comfort.They never win the favor of others.They trust their wealth and have a false sense of security because of it.Sometimes you might as well consider for others, the advantage is that others will also consider for you.If you hold public office, you must be a public servant.As an old woman said to Hadrian: Take up the burden, or step aside.Yet some people live entirely for others, because overdoing always leads to stupidity, and they don't even have an hour to themselves, but give themselves completely to others.The same is true for understanding problems.Some people know everything about other people and nothing about themselves.If you are sensible.You will understand that when people ask you for advice, it is not for you, but for themselves.They are interested in what you can do for them. ①Hadrian (Hadrian, 76-138): Roman emperor, reigned from 117-138.

253．don't express your thoughts too clearly Most people look down on what they can understand, and often admire what they don't understand.To make things valuable, you have to make them hard to come by.If people can't understand what you mean, they will think highly of you.To be respected, you have to appear wiser and more prudent than the people you are dealing with expect.But in moderation.Wise people value intelligence, but most value status and status.Let them figure out what you mean, don't give them a chance to accuse you.Many people can't tell why they praise others.They admire everything that is hidden or mysterious, and they praise because they hear others praise it.

254．Don't be indifferent to little evil Don't be indifferent to lesser evils, for they never go alone, but follow one another.So is happiness.Luck and misfortune are usually gathered in the place of Fuduo or Woduo.Most people try to avoid misfortune and approach happiness.Even the ignorant dove knows to fly to the whitest pigeonhole.The unhappy man has nothing: he has no self, no reason, no consolation.Don't wake up your misfortune when it's asleep.Unlucky things do little at first, but then fatal misfortunes happen. 255．know how to show favor A little at a time, but often.Don't give too much favor that people can't repay.Giving too much is not giving, but selling.Don't drain other people's gratitude.Be grateful and fail to repay, and they will stop dealing with you.To lose them, all you have to do is make them owe you a lot.If they don't want to repay, they will go far away and even become your enemy.A statue does not want to see the sculptor who sculpted him, and a beneficiary would rather never see his benefactor again.Remember the subtlety of giving favors: Only urgent and inexpensive gifts are liked by the recipient. 256．be prepared Be always ready to deal with the rude, the obstinate, the vain, and all kinds of fools.There are many such people, and it is prudent to avoid them all, so that you will not be attacked by them.Think ahead and don't let your reputation be threatened by some vulgar incident.He who is armed with prudence is invulnerable to folly.The road to relationships is full of sharp rocks that can ruin your reputation.The best way is to take other routes, think about how the clever Ulysses did it, then clever evasion will be very effective.The most important thing is to be generous and polite, which is the fastest way to get out of trouble. 257．be cautious about breaking off diplomatic relations Be careful not to break ties, or your reputation will be damaged.Anybody can be a deadly enemy, but not all can be a helpful friend.Few people can do good, but almost everyone can do evil.After breaking with the beetle, the eagle feels threatened even when it builds its nest in Jupiter's arms.Talking too bluntly will irritate some hypocrites, and they will bide their time to retaliate against you.The friends you offend will be your worst enemies: they love their faults and hate yours.When people see us parting ways with our friends, they make all the comments they want. They criticize that the friendship didn't start out right (that we didn't have a vision) and that it didn't end well (that we shouldn't have let it go. long before breaking up).When you feel that you must break off with someone, do so in a reasonable, not sudden, but gradual way, and the adages on how to withdraw wisely are helpful. ①See. ②See brother 38 aphorisms. 258．Find someone to help share your misfortune Find someone to help share your misfortune, so that you will not be alone.You don't have to be forced to bear the total abhorrence of other people, even in dangerous situations.Someone wants to be responsible for everything, and the result can only be that all criticism is directed at him.So you should find someone who can forgive you and is willing to help you share the difficulties.With the two side by side, neither bad luck nor the mob dared to attack.The doctor may have made a wrong diagnosis, and it would be wise for him to ask other doctors if they could carry the coffin for him.Together they shared the weight of the coffin and the grief.Take your misfortune alone, and it will be doubly hard to bear. 259．Anticipate insults and turn them to advantage It is wiser to avoid insult than to retaliate.Turning a potential foe into a confidant is a masterful skill.People who would have attacked your reputation became its protectors.It can be beneficial to know how to make others appreciate you and turn what would otherwise be an insult into gratitude.Learn to turn suffering into happiness, and you will truly know how to live.Turn someone with malicious intent into your confidant. 260．You can't be completely yours, and no one can be yours Family affection cannot be like this, friendship or even gratitude to the greatest extent cannot be like this, because it is difficult for you to give your heart to someone.Even the closest union has its place of estrangement.No matter how close you are with a person, there are still principles of politeness to follow.We keep secrets of one sort or another from our friends, and a son won't even confess everything to his father.What you hide from some people may tell others, and vice versa.So you confess everything and hide everything at the same time, just for different people.